A taxi registration plate has been covered by paint. — Photo tienphong.vn

HÀ NỘI — To avoid being detected and identified by traffic cameras, taxi drivers and motorbike taxi (xe ôm) drivers around the frequently-crowded Bạch Mai Hospital in Hà Nội have been trying to find ways to partly obscure their vehicles’ number plates.

Drivers have been using paint, papers, mud, cartons and even face masks to hide their plates.

Trần Văn Công, vice head of Traffic Team 4 under the Hà Nội Police, said it was not difficult to identify violating taxis thanks to their firms’ logos and parts of the plates that were still visible.

Thanks to images provided by Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, police have managed to track down some of the taxis.

Driving a car without a number plate or one that is obscured can lead to a fine of VNĐ800,000 to VNĐ1 milion (US$34-43), according to Government Decree 100/2019/NĐ-CP on traffic violations.

Deputy Director of Hà Nội’s Transport Department Vũ Hà told the newspaper that in front of Bạch Mai Hospital, drivers often stopped illegally to pick up passengers, but would drive off when police or traffic inspectors arrived.

Hà said most taxi passengers from Bạch Mai Hospital were patients who found it difficult to walk, so it was suggested that taxis be allowed to enter the hospital to collect them. — VNS