No exceptions
It is not difficult to see on the streets of Hanoi drivers wearing the uniforms of ride-hailing companies violating traffic laws, such as running red lights, driving in the wrong direction, not wearing helmets... potentially causing traffic accidents. Notably, many drivers also cover their license plates.
Faced with this situation, Hanoi City Police have increased the handling of violations.
At the checkpoint of Special Task Force No. 7 (Hanoi City Police) on duty on Lang Ha Street (Dong Da District), a series of violations were requested to stop vehicles for inspection. Among them, running red lights and covering license plates were the two basic violations that the authorities discovered among app-based motorbike taxi drivers.
"I intended to pick up more passengers and cover the sign so the company wouldn't detect me," driver N.T.L (from Ha Nam) told the authorities.
Driver D.V.N (from Thanh Hoa) said that because his car was broken, he borrowed his friend's car to pick up passengers. Because he was worried that the license plate number did not match the one registered in the application, he intentionally covered it up to avoid being reported to the hotline by passengers.
According to Captain Chu Manh Dung - Head of Special Task Force No. 7, regarding the act of covering the license plate, the authorities will carefully verify the identity of the vehicle driver and the reason for covering the license plate.
"These vehicles may be stolen and used for bad purposes, so checking the chassis number, engine number and related documents must be strict," Captain Chu Manh Dung shared.
At the Tam Trinh - Minh Khai intersection, the working group of the Road Traffic Police Team No. 4 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) also continuously detected violations by app-based motorbike taxi drivers. In particular, they focused on violations such as running red lights, carrying passengers without helmets or covering their license plates.
Sharing with reporters, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung (a passenger) said that he had seen his driver run red lights many times, however, Mr. Hung admitted that he had never once reminded the driver.
"I have a habit of not talking when getting in the car, just let the driver take me to the destination safely. From next time, I will pay more attention, if the driver violates the rules, I can immediately evaluate it through the car booking app," Mr. Hung shared.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Tu Ngoc Minh - Officer of Traffic Police Team No. 4, the handling of traffic violations against app-based motorbike taxi drivers is being promoted by the unit, especially without any exceptions in the handling process. The act of covering the license plate sometimes makes it difficult for the authorities to verify violations, especially through the camera system for monitoring and issuing fines.
Currently, the fine for covering the license plate of a motorbike is from 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND, and for a car is from 4-6 million VND. Lieutenant Colonel Tu Ngoc Minh said that in the coming time, relevant authorities need to study and propose heavier penalties for covering the license plate of vehicles on the road to create deterrence.
Proposal to increase fines for covering license plates
The Traffic Police Department is consulting on the development and completion of a draft Decree regulating administrative penalties for violations of road traffic order and safety; and points deduction and points restoration for driving licenses.
In particular, the authorities plan to increase the fines for some groups of violations, such as: running red lights, going the wrong way, weaving; some groups of behaviors that do not comply with regulations on vehicle ownership; attaching license plates not issued by competent authorities, covering license plates...
The act of a driver or vehicle owner pasting or covering a license plate, or using a license plate not issued by a competent authority (fake license plate) is considered an intentional offense aimed at evading the handling of the authorities.
According to the advisory agency, through the monitoring system for fines, violators cover or paste license plates to avoid paying fines. Some people do this to hide their illegal acts, thereby escaping, making it difficult for the police to track down the vehicle.
The new fine for covering or pasting license plates could be four times higher than the current fine.
