LTO: Confiscation of license plates prohibited

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified on Friday that law enforcers and their deputized agents are not allowed to confiscate the license plates of vehicles apprehended for traffic violations.

It issued the reminder amid complaints from some motorists that authorities have seized their vehicle registration plates, a move known as “baklas plaka.”

The agency noted that LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade has released a memorandum on this prohibition.

It added that the rule is based on Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01.

Citing the JAO, the LTO said that in all cases where the penalty includes the suspension or revocation of a motor vehicle registration, or the impounding of a vehicle, “the driver's license, student permit or motor vehicle as the case may be shall be put on alarm until the proper penalty may be implemented.”