In a letter to Reyes, CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee expressed concern on the impoundment of newly acquired vehicles that were held by authorities despite having valid conduction stickers or permits.

Even vehicles being delivered from the assembler to its dealers were also impounded by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in line with the renewed drive on the no plate, no license policy, Lee said.

While reiterating their support to the no plate, no travel policy of the government, Lee emphasized that government agencies involved in its implementation must first coordinate among themselves "to establish the cause of the problem and find ways to resolve such problem before the vehicle owners are penalized."

CAMPI said that they are aware that there is no shortage of license plates from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) although the problem with regard to the agency "maybe elsewhere."

She also said that other possible problem points may be from the registration process for brand-new vehicles at the Bureau of Customs (BoC) which issues the Certificate of Payment of Duties and Taxes.

Lee added that another government agency to be looked into concerning the implementation of the no plate, no travel policy is the Philippine National Police (PNP) Traffic Management Group (TMG) which was authorized to issue its own motor vehicle clearance.

"May we respectfully suggest for these government agencies, in coordination with your office, to look into this matter together in order to ensure that the no plate, no travel policy is properly and effectively implemented," Lee said in her letter. (Aris Ilagan)

The PNP-TMG has impounded more than 1,000 vehicles, majority of them brand new units, after the government revived the implementation of the no plate, no travel policy as a deterrent to criminal elements.

Many if those impounded vehicles had valid conduction stickers, it was learned.

Pending the identification and resolution of the problems of new vehicles traveling public roads without license plates, Lee asked Reyes to allow brand new units with valid conduction stickers to travel or be released from government custody.

Lee recalled that car manufacturers and other government agencies that included the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) agreed to allow newly purchased vehicles with valid conduction stickers to travel.

When they are flagged down by authorities, they were only reminded to secure their LTO license plates — and not impounded — within the seven-day validity period of the conduction sticker starting from the day they were acquired from the car dealers.

"Moreover, those new vehicles being delivered from the assembler to its dealers should not only be impounded provided these are properly covered with the required documents," she emphasized. (Aris R. Ilagan)