Batas Pambansa Blg. 43, enacted on November 14, 1979, amends Section 17 of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to establish the issuance of permanent reflective number plates for motor vehicles and trailers registered with the Bureau of Land Transportation. Owners must pay a reasonable fee for these plates, which will be permanently assigned to their vehicles. The law prohibits the transfer of plates without a permit, imposing penalties of fines or imprisonment for violations. Additionally, the Act outlines the issuance of validating tags and stickers for vehicle registration renewals, subject to fee approval by relevant government ministers.
November 14, 1979
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 43
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMANENT NUMBER PLATES TO OWNERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION SEVENTEEN OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FORTY-ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX
SECTION 1. Section seventeen of Republic Act Numbered Forty-one hundred and thirty-six otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 17. Number plates, preparation and issuance of . —
"The Bureau of Land Transportation shall cause reflective number plates to be prepared and issued to owners of motor vehicles and trailers registered and recorded in the Bureau of Land Transportation under this Act, as amended, for a reasonable fee: Provided, That the fee shall be subject to the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Communications in consultation with the Minister of Finance, and, Provided, further, That the identification, numbers and letters of any motor vehicle number plate shall be permanently assigned to such motor vehicle during its lifetime. No motor vehicles shall be exempted from payment of registration fees. Motor vehicles for hire and privately owned motor vehicles shall bear plates of reflective materials so designed and painted with different colors to distinguish one class from another. casia
"The transfer of motor vehicle plates whether temporary or regular, validating tags and/or stickers from one motor vehicle to another without permit from the Bureau of Land Transportation, except security number plates on authorized vehicles, shall be punishable with a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) and/or imprisonment of six months at the discretion of the Court.
"For purposes of renewal of registration of motor vehicles, the Director or his Deputies shall issue validating tags and stickers indicating the year of registry, charging a reasonable fee: Provided, That the fee shall be subject to the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Communications in consultation with the Minister of Finance."
SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. casia
Approved: November 14, 1979
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 75 No. 50 Page 10039 on December 10, 1979.