According to Government Decree 168/2024 on administrative violations in road traffic safety, drivers who deliberately obscure their vehicle's license plates face fines ranging from VND 20-26 million ($785-$1,020). Additionally, violators will have six points deducted from their driver’s license.

Compared to the previous regulation under Decree 100/2019, where fines ranged from VND 800,000 to 1 million ($31-$39), the current penalties have increased by 25 times. However, despite the stricter measures, Hanoi police continue to catch drivers attempting to cheat the system.

Caught in the act

On March 11, a patrol team from the Hanoi Traffic Police Department (Team No. 4) stopped a vehicle with license plate 30E-853.X6, noticing that the number "6" had been partially obscured.

The driver, Bui Van B. (born 1983, resident of Ha Nam), had parked the car in front of Bach Mai Hospital, directly under a traffic surveillance camera.

When confronted, Bui Van B. claimed that cement had accidentally covered part of the plate and immediately offered to clean it. However, traffic police still issued a fine and ordered him to remove the obstruction on the spot.

In another case on the same day, officers spotted a taxi with plate number 30E-683.57, where the driver had used yellow tape to alter the letter "E" into an "F."

Similarly, on March 2, another taxi driver was caught modifying plate number 30F-438.24 by changing the letter "F" to "E" using adhesive tape. Notably, the same driver had been penalized for the exact violation just a month earlier.

Common tricks and police response

According to Senior Lieutenant Tran Van Hung of Hanoi’s Traffic Police Department (Team No. 4), many drivers deliberately alter their license plates using leaves, paper, mud, cement, or tape to avoid fines from traffic cameras.

"When caught, drivers often claim ignorance, saying the plate got dirty by accident or they were unaware of the issue. However, if we gather enough evidence, we will strictly fine them and impose additional penalties for other violations, such as illegal parking or unauthorized passenger pick-ups," he stated.

Authorities continue to urge drivers to comply with traffic regulations, warning that enforcement efforts will remain strict to curb this dishonest practice.