Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Special Operations Group Strike-Force Head Gabriel Go, on behalf of MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes, personally turned over and endorsed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) documents containing images of motorists who intentionally covered, concealed, and tampered the license plates of their vehicles to evade the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) or “Takip Plaka” method that were captured through the agency’s CCTV cameras, reported to the MMDA, or monitored on social media.
“More than 50 drivers are possibly facing criminal charges for obscuring their license plates,” Go said in a press briefing held at the LTO office in Quezon City.
“Within a week of the NCAP’s implementation, 90% of those apprehended had their license plates veiled, and generally were motorcycles.”
“Within a week of the NCAP’s implementation, 90% of those apprehended had their license plates veiled, and generally were motorcycles,” he explained.
“Chairman Artes ordered our field personnel to physically apprehend and to issue citation tickets to vehicles with concealed license plates immediately. The MMDA continuously monitors traffic situations using CCTV cameras at our MMDA Communication and Command Center,” Go added.
LTO Executive Director Greg Pua Jr. assured that they will immediately send show cause orders to the traffic violators.
Pua also warned motorists against fraudulently concealing their license plates to avoid NCAP apprehension, citing Republic Act No.11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, following the provisions of Article II, Section 12, which states that purposely concealing a readable license plate is punishable with imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to two years, or a fine of not more than P10,000.
“No one escapes the law.”
“No one escapes the law; the LTO will immediately send show cause orders against motorists who tampered their vehicles’ license plates and will be penalized,” he explained.
“Covering a license plate is already a traffic code violation. We will use all our resources to identify violators. This is also to ensure road and public safety.” Pua added.
LTO is also coordinating with the Anti-Cybercrime Group and other law enforcement agencies to track down those promoting illegal tactics on social media and selling items intended to hide the details on the license plates.
LTO and MMDA are urging the public to report such infractions so they could act on it.
