License plates now available at BMV

License plates are now available at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, according to BMV acting officer-in-charge Juana Leon Guerrero.

Leon Guerrero disclosed yesterday that the BMV received a batch of plates last Wednesday and currently have plates for all months of the year with the exception of January and February and plates for motorcycles.

“Currently on stock are 100 pairs of plates for May, 100 for June, 300 for August, 300 for September, and 300 for October,” she said. “People can now come and purchase the plates for $5, however, they must surrender the plates they presently have.”

Leon Guerrero also noted that plates for November and December fall into the January category.

Meanwhile, Leon Guerrero said the Bureau is expecting some 600 pairs in about two to three weeks, with 300 for January and the other 300 for February. She added that several personalized plates are also expected to arrive within the same period.

Earlier, DPS commissioner Edward C. Camacho said funds have been identified within the department to support the ordering of plates. He said about $5,000 was needed for the ordering of plates.

This after a new law was passed requiring all vehicles to display license plates at both the front and rear.

Camacho, however, said enforcement of the law would not take effect until Aug. 15 after revealing that the BMV was experiencing shortage on plates.

“People are coming in and are claiming to have lost their plates, so they need a new pair. I am not going to burden operators, and I am acting on giving them an extension,” he said.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta sign House Bill 14-18 into law on July 12 requiring the display of plates on both ends of all vehicles, citing that measure would enhance the “ability of our law enforcement officials to quickly identify vehicles and assist residents to recognize vehicles entering their private property.”

The bill stated that the display of plates at the rear of vehicles has presented problems for the DPS, “creating difficulty on identifying fleeing vehicles.”

The new law states that operating a vehicle with no license plates on either rear or front sides is a misdemeanor, entailing imprisonment or fine.

Also, Babauta suggested to the Legislature to come up with another bill that would seek to regulate the display of license plates on modified vehicles.