30 vehicles impounded, 882 flagged down

A total of 30 vehicles were impounded and 882 units were flagged down at various checkpoints during the first four days of the implementation of the "no plate, no travel" policy of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

In their weekly morning radio program, MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said that the joint project of the NAKTF, the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the MMDA and the Traffic Management Group (TMG) netted 30 vehicles. The checkpoints also flagged down 882 vehicles, 726 of which were warned to install their car plates and complete the supporting documents within 15 days.

Under the existing rule, the MMDA would not seize the car even if it has only one plate if its owner or driver can produce the official receipt, certificate of registration, delivery receipt and sales invoice of the car. But if the owner cannot show any document and spotted driving with only one plate, the car would be automatically impounded.

The NAKTF on March 10 revived the program to boost its fight against crime. They said kidnapping syndicates and bank robbers usually use unmarked cars as their getaway vehicles.

Meanwhile, MMDA Director Angelito Vergel de Dios, of the Traffic Operations Center (TOC), said that the office handling the technical impounding of vehicles as well as the Anti-smoke Belching Division (ABD) recently requested for additional manpower because their offices are always swamped with motorists claiming confiscated car plates.

"I was told that during the first two days since the policy took effect, 50 motorists went to the ABD to redeem their car plates. We had to send additional personnel to help search through the thousands of plates piled up in their stockroom," Vergel de Dios added.

Before the NAKTF implemented the policy, some 12,000 plates were stashed at the MMDA-ABD. He said drivers do not immediately redeem their confiscated plates. There was no sense of urgency. But this time, everybody was eager to get back their plates to avoid the hassle of being flagged down at every NAKTF checkpoint.

In a previous interview, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said that only 50 percent of the people are actually paying fines, while other people usually delay payment for their dues. It is only when they renew the registration of their vehicles that the unpaid dues are being paid.