"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.
"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."