Nghe An requires maximum restriction and eventual elimination of "illegal vehicles"

"Illegal cars" cause chaos in Vinh city

(Baonghean.vn) - According to incomplete statistics, Nghe An province currently has more than 300 illegal cars, most of which are 7-seat cars. Regardless of the district they depart from, all of these cars' destinations are Vinh City. These trips do not have a fixed departure and destination, nor do they require a specific time; the drivers of the illegal cars just work according to the needs of the customers.

Who controls illegal vehicles?

(Baonghean.vn) - More than 300 illegal vehicles are operating openly, weaving through every corner, causing chaos on many roads. These illegal vehicles do not have licenses, do not pay taxes or fees, causing many consequences for society but have not been detected and handled promptly by authorities.

On October 26, 2018, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien signed and issued Official Dispatch No. 8234/UBND-CN on implementing measures to minimize and eventually eliminate passenger cars with 5 to less than 12 seats from illegally transporting passengers in the area.

A 12-seat car brazenly picks up passengers at a bus stop (taken at the end of September 2018). Photo: Thanh Cuong

Previously, the Provincial People's Committee received a report from the Department of Transport that in the province there are currently about 300 passenger cars from 5 seats to less than 12 seats participating in illegal passenger transport business.

These vehicles are not registered for transportation business, are mainly old vehicles, have been used for a long time, do not fulfill financial obligations, and compete unfairly in passenger transportation activities, operating mainly from districts and towns to Vinh city.

According to the official dispatch, the Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Transport to monitor and grasp the situation of illegal passenger transport vehicles, and continue to direct the Department's Inspectorate to inspect and strictly handle violations of passenger transport vehicles with 5 to less than 12 seats participating in illegal transport business.

These vehicles operate openly (photo taken in front of Nghe An General Hospital in late September 2018). Photo: Tien Hung

Review legal regulations, recommend competent authorities to supplement regulations on business conditions for passenger transport by passenger cars for this type of vehicle (not operating as a type of passenger transport by taxi) to effectively implement state management.

Coordinate with local authorities at district and commune levels to sign commitments with vehicle owners not to conduct transportation business against regulations.

The Provincial People's Committee requested the Provincial Police to plan and launch a peak period of inspection and strictly handle passenger transport vehicles with 5 to under 12 seats operating illegally in the entire province. Strengthen inspection and handle violations of this type of vehicle according to regulations.

The provincial police directed the police of districts, cities, towns, especially Vinh City police (where many vehicles are concentrated) to coordinate with commune-level authorities to propagate, disseminate, and educate the law on transportation business conditions to owners of passenger vehicles with 5 to under 12 seats showing signs of participating in illegal passenger transportation business.

For the People's Committee of Vinh City, the province requires directing the City Police to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Transport Inspectorate to regularly inspect and handle violations of business and business conditions for passenger transport by car in the area, especially for cars carrying 5 to under 12 people (especially the locations and places where these cars often stop and park to pick up and drop off passengers on the roads).

"Illegal cars" parked on Le Hong Phong Street waiting for customers (photo taken at the end of September 2018). Photo: Thanh Cuong

The People's Committees of districts and towns shall direct the District Traffic Safety Committee to preside over and coordinate with the Commune People's Committees to survey, compile statistics, and make a list of owners of private vehicles from 5 to 12 seats that show signs of using this type of vehicle to participate in passenger transport business activities. Organize the signing of commitments, direct the police force to strengthen inspections and handle violations of this type of vehicle according to regulations.

Previously, in early October 2018, Nghe An Newspaper published a special article "Illegal vehicles operating freely", reflecting the situation of 5-12 seat vehicles openly picking up passengers on all routes in the province, especially in Vinh City.

These "illegal vehicles" operate without a transport business license; do not pay taxes or fees; do not have a specific itinerary; and drivers do not receive regular health checks.

In Official Dispatch No. 3529 dated October 25, 2018, the Department of Transport affirmed that the contents reflected by Nghe An Newspaper about "... the situation of illegal vehicles operating openly, causing chaos on the roads, posing a high risk of accidents, creating many dangerous consequences for society and people..." are well-founded.

Faced with the rampant situation of illegal vehicles, the Department of Transport and the Provincial Police have directed the functional forces to organize many inspections and handle violations of this type of vehicle. In September and the first half of October 2018, the functional forces of the Department of Transport and the Provincial Police handled over 60 violations (the Department of Transport Inspectorate alone handled 45 cases).

Since September 2018, Vinh City Police alone have handled 78 cases of illegal "vehicles". These vehicles were handled with forms such as temporary detention of vehicles, documents, administrative fines or temporary revocation of driving licenses according to Decree 46/2016/ND-CP of the Government.