Section 17Sec./Art. 17

Number plates, preparation, preparation and issuance of . -

(a) The Commissioner shall cause number plates to be prepared and issued to owners of motor vehicles and trailers registered under this Act, charging a fee of four pesos for each pair including the numerals indicating the year of registry: Provided, however, That in case no number plates are available, the Commissioner or his deputies may issue, without charge, a written permit temporarily authorizing the operation of any motor vehicles with other means of identification: Provided, further, That all motor vehicles exempted from payment of registration fees, motor vehicles for hire, and privately-owned motor vehicles shall bear plates so designed and painted with different colors to distinguish one class from another: Provided, furthermore, That the plates of motor vehicles exempted from payment of registration fees shall be permanently assigned to such motor vehicles during their entire lifetime while exempted from payment of the fees: And, provided, finally, That the owner thereof shall return such plates to the Land Transportation Commission within a period of seven working days after such owner has lost his exemption privilege or has transferred the vehicle to a non-exempt owner.

(b) In case the design of the number plate is such that the numerals indicating the year of registry are on a detachable tag, the Commissioner or his deputies may, in their discretion, issue the said tag only for subsequent re-registration charging a fee of one peso for each tag issued.