Unpredictable consequences of license plate covering
Having worked as a technology motorbike taxi driver for many years, Mr. Hoang Anh (Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi) said that he has often encountered cases of drivers speeding and recklessly overtaking while covering their license plates.
"Since the implementation of Decree 168, people participating in traffic have become much more aware. In the past, on the roads where I often pick up and drop off passengers such as Cau Giay Street; Lang Street; Pham Hung Street, there were often traffic jams, so people often ran red lights and went in the opposite direction. However, since the application of increased fines along with the handling of cold fines through surveillance cameras, this situation has clearly decreased.
Most of the cases of intentional violations are people using masks, tape, and markers to manipulate or cover the license plate to avoid fines. That's why many times I intended to take photos to report violations but couldn't because these vehicles covered the license plate..." - Mr. Hoang Anh shared.
Mr. Le Phong, currently working as a security guard at an apartment building on Pham Van Dong Street, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, shared: "A few days ago, I witnessed a young man driving a motorbike crashing into a fruit seller near Ke Ve market (Dong Ngac ward, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi). Immediately after causing the accident, the young man sped away. Although many people there witnessed the accident, they could not report it to the authorities because the subject was wearing a mask and part of the license plate was covered by decorative decal stickers."
Talking to Lao Dong about this issue, lawyer Nguyen Van Phi - Lawkey Law Firm said that all acts of covering license plates when participating in traffic are violations of the law.
According to Clause 3 and Clause 8, Article 14 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, drivers who do not attach a license plate (for vehicles that are required to attach a license plate); attach a license plate that does not match the vehicle registration certificate or attach a license plate that is not issued by a competent authority; or drive a vehicle with a license plate that is not in the correct position or does not comply with regulations; attach a license plate with unclear letters or numbers or use other materials to paint or paste over the letters or numbers of the license plate; attach a license plate that is bent, obscured, or changes the letters, numbers, color (of letters, numbers, license plate background), shape, or size of the license plate... will be fined from 4 to 6 million VND.
A representative of Lawkey Law Firm also added that, in addition to being subject to penalties, drivers who cover their license plates will also have their driving license deducted from 2-6 points depending on the severity of the violation.
Increase penalties to limit violations
According to Dr. Phan Le Binh, a traffic expert from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the act of covering license plates to avoid fines is common and if not strictly punished, it will leave many bad consequences.
"The act of covering the license plate will reduce the effectiveness of traffic monitoring, making it difficult to impose fines. Cases of covering the license plate are often used to commit acts such as going the wrong way, running red lights or causing accidents and then fleeing. These are all acts that increase the risk of traffic accidents, posing many potential dangers to traffic participants," Mr. Binh informed.
To rectify this situation, JICA traffic experts suggest that authorities need to increase the level of penalties for the act of covering license plates. In addition, it is necessary to coordinate to implement synchronously, increase patrols, control and strictly handle violations. In particular, in addition to administrative sanctions, it is possible to study the option of confiscating vehicles similar to the violations of wheelies or repeated violations of swerving and weaving on the road. Authorities also need to study and upgrade the traffic surveillance camera system to be able to detect more sophisticated violations.
