VERIFICATION. A traffic enforcer of the Land and Transportation Office verifies the documents of a motorcycle rider along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila on Feb. 15, 2024. The LTO on Friday (June 21) said 6,064 apprehensions were made in the first half of June alone as part of the agency's crackdown on unregistered motor vehicles. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) continues its crackdown on unregistered or "colorum" vehicles, apprehending over 6,000 vehicles in the first half of June.
In a statement on Friday, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said 6,064 motor vehicles were apprehended – 5,127 were motorcycles while the rest were four-wheeled vehicles.
“The renewal of the registration is not only an obligation to the government, it is also an obligation to yourself and your family because doing so would compel you to ensure the road worthiness of your motor vehicles, for your safety, for the safety of your loved ones,” Mendoza said.
Of the total, 5,470 were issued violation tickets while 981 had their vehicles impounded.
“Mataas ang penalty at may kasama pang impound. Pero ang mas matindi dito at kung ang pagsasawalang-bahala natin ay mauwi sa aksidente (The penalty is high and your car can get impounded. But what’s worse is your carelessness resulting in an accident),” Mendoza said.
During the period, the LTO also apprehended several colorum public utility vehicles – 34 passenger jeepneys and seven passenger buses.
“Patuloy nating ipapatupad ng mahigpit ang patakaran ito. Huwag na nating hintayin na magka-aberya pa bago gawin ang tama na pagpapa-rehistro ng inyong sasakyan (We will continue implementing this policy. Do not wait until there’s a problem to register your vehicle),” Mendoza said.
On June 11, the LTO announced a “no release” policy for impounded colorum PUVs despite payment of fines.
Despite paying fines as much as PHP200,000 per van and up to PHP1 million per bus, the LTO said these impounded PUVs would be released back to their owners and operators only through a court order. (PNA)
