Last week thursday I was passing by Mantrade on my way to my office in Pioneer Mandaluyong (my daily route). I was signalled by a MAPSA officer to stop and I pulled over. He informed me that my plate covers are illegal. I explained to him that it's been over a year that I've been using the plate covers as protection for my plates and that they're not hindering the visual display of my plates. I also told him to look at the plates if they are not readable and he replied yes they are readable but still they are illegal. He insisted that he remove the plate covers. So he removed them then took the plate covers into his motorcycle. It took him 15 minutes to issue me a ticket but I was in a hurry so I made no move to contest the ticket. I also did not want to bribe the officer.

This morning I went to Makati City Hall to redeem my license and to get my plate covers. WTF the cashier informed me to pay 2500!!! I was shocked!!! I tried to talk to her but she told me to go to the complaints office. So I went. The lady inside the office was nice to explain my violation. It's under the MAKATI TRAFFIC ORDINANCE Article 18 section 137 which was newly amended (not publicly announced) to include colored plate covers as illegal equal to tinted plate covers and using illegal commemorative plates.

I filled-up the complaint form and a hearing is scheduled on Oct. 17 at 2 PM. I also stated in the complaint that my car was just registered the week before and LTO checked my plate covers and they said that it was just fine. Here is the pic of my plate with the plate cover. Mas green pa yung plate numbers ko kesa sa mismong plate covers.

http://smbmountaineers.com/pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0


Any of you have a take on this??? Maybe some of you guys know someone who experienced this and may like to share so that I will know what to do during the hearing. BTW our lawyer is also looking at this case kc para sa kanya kung may violation man daw ako Php2500.00 is way too much a fine. Ni hindi nga raw traffic violation yung case ko.

Thanks!