Illegal taxis need to be dealt with severely.
(Baonghean.vn) - Along with the general problem of unlicensed vehicles, unlicensed taxis are currently developing and operating openly in the province. This situation not only creates unfair competition with registered transportation companies and businesses, but also poses potential risks to public order and traffic safety.
Operating brazenly
Posing as passengers, we were at the bus stop next to the Agribank branch in Quan Hanh town, Nghi Loc district. It was easy to see that alongside official taxis, unlicensed taxis were also openly waiting for passengers there. As soon as we got off the bus, many drivers immediately approached us with their offers. When we inquired about the fare, a driver of a white car with license plate 37A-64xxx assured us it was the same as an official taxi. When we agreed to get in, the driver quickly removed the taxi sign from the roof of the car and started the engine.
According to the driver, he only accepts short trips because business is slow; he doesn't take passengers during peak hours. The driver also stated: "I bought this car to use for my family on long trips, and the rest of the time I come here to pick up passengers. Although it's an unlicensed taxi, the service is no different from a licensed taxi, and sometimes even cheaper because there are no taxes or fees..."
According to our investigation, the operation of unlicensed taxis in general (mostly 7-seater vehicles transporting passengers from districts to Vinh City and vice versa) is generally not done in the event of being caught red-handed by law enforcement. To avoid being caught red-handed, drivers usually do not collect fares on the vehicle. Only upon arrival at the destination, when passengers disembark, do the drivers get out to collect the money. Compared to the previous fare (we took a taxi from a reputable company for the same distance from the bus stop near the Agribank branch in Quan Hanh town to Nghi Loc Hospital), the price was approximately 40,000 VND.
Not only in Quan Hanh town (Nghi Loc district), but also in many other areas such as Vinh City, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Do Luong, Cua Lo town, etc., it's not difficult to find unlicensed taxis. What's noteworthy is that wherever there are official taxis, there are also unlicensed taxis, mostly concentrated around bus stops, hospitals, and shopping centers. These unlicensed taxis all share a common characteristic: they have a taxi sign but a white license plate, without any official transport company logo or emblem. Besides picking up passengers directly, in these areas, there are also groups of unlicensed taxis formed via Facebook and Zalo to connect with each other for customer pickups. According to an unlicensed taxi driver in Quynh Luu district, this method is free of charge, not subject to any company's regulations, and allows them to earn more money by driving more than they want, and take days off if they don't feel like it.
Besides the aforementioned unlicensed taxi services, there are now also cases of selling apps to facilitate ride-hailing services, such as Maxim. Although Maxim has not yet been licensed to operate in Nghe An province, it still advertises extensively and brazenly opens an office at 41 Pham Dinh Toai Street, Vinh City, to recruit drivers.
According to staff here, to operate a taxi service, you only need a vehicle and a B2 driver's license. Downloading the app and registering is completely free. For each ride, the company will collect a 20% commission, or 15% if the vehicle displays Maxim's advertising images. Additionally, if you display Maxim's advertising images on your vehicle, you will receive a monthly subsidy of 200,000 VND for 30 trips, 400,000 VND for 50 trips, 600,000 VND for 70 trips, and 800,000 VND for 90 trips.
The employee also noted that if the car has been changed to a yellow license plate, it's more convenient, while if it has a white license plate, it can still operate, but it's necessary to avoid locations such as airports, train stations (where taxi companies have contracts to pick up and drop off passengers - PV) and especially places with traffic police...
According to a driver we met at the bus stop near Diệc Pagoda on Quang Trung Street, Vinh City, whose vehicle had a Maxim advertisement plastered on it, "because Maxim has not been licensed to operate in Nghe An province by the competent authorities, we have to be cautious when stopping, parking, and driving."
Inspect and take strict action.
In reality, the operation of unlicensed vehicles, including unlicensed taxis, not only causes chaos and affects security, order, and traffic safety on roads and at passenger pick-up and drop-off points, but also creates unfair competition with registered passenger transport companies and businesses.
Regarding this issue, in Document No. 05/VP.HHVT dated March 17, 2023, concerning the request to address and rectify the operation of unlicensed and illegal passenger transport vehicles in Nghe An province, the Nghe An Automobile Transport Association clearly stated: “These types of businesses do not meet the legal requirements for passenger transport operations. They are not under the management of the Nghe An Department of Transport and are operating in tax evasion. Businesses operating legally and paying taxes to the State have suffered losses due to the unfair competition from these types of vehicles, causing chaos, passenger poaching, and disruption to traffic order and safety...”
While current regulations for the taxi industry are very strict, such as: the lifespan of taxi vehicles is 12 years from the date of manufacture; vehicles must be equipped with GPS tracking devices to monitor operating capacity and ensure drivers do not exceed the prescribed hours; drivers must undergo regular health checkups and not have any sexually transmitted diseases… unlicensed taxis are completely outside these regulations. Furthermore, because there are no regulations, many unlicensed taxi drivers intimidate and threaten taxi company managers to compete for customers...
MR. BUI DUC THANG - VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NGHE AN AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
Regarding this issue, the Provincial People's Committee has issued numerous directives to functional forces in the area to inspect and handle the matter. In Official Document No. 3465/UBND-CN dated May 8, 2023, on strengthening the rectification of traffic safety and order in transportation activities in the province, it is clearly stated: To ensure that passenger transportation by car in the province operates in accordance with the law, to prevent and strictly handle the operation of illegal vehicles, to contribute to increased budget revenue, to reduce insecurity and disorder, and to ensure fair and transparent competition in transportation business activities, the Provincial People's Committee assigns the Department of Transport to strengthen the management of passenger transportation by car in the province.
The Provincial People's Committee also assigned the Provincial Police to direct the Traffic Police Department and the police of districts, cities, and towns to strengthen patrols and use professional methods as prescribed by law to handle private cars with 5-7 seats that engage in illegal passenger transport business. The Department of Information and Communications will take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to organize inspections and checks of the activities of organizations and individuals involved in passenger transport business on the Internet, and handle violations according to regulations…
Lieutenant Colonel Le Dang Khoa, Head of the Traffic Police Team of Vinh City, said: The fine for violating regulations on transport business by car without a transport business license is 11 million VND. Since the beginning of the year, the unit has detected and fined 26 cases, totaling 286 million VND. This is a fairly high fine; however, vehicle owners still intentionally violate the regulations. Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, Chief Inspector of the Department of Transport, also stated: Since the beginning of the year, the force has handled over 20 cases of violations in transport business by car without a transport business license, including 3 cases of unlicensed taxis.
According to authorities, for unlicensed taxis, there must be evidence that they collected money from passengers in order to issue penalties. However, not only are drivers becoming increasingly sophisticated, but passengers are also uncooperative with law enforcement, claiming that family members were traveling with them when questioned. Therefore, verification and prosecution remain difficult… Nevertheless, the authorities will strengthen operational measures to continue addressing this issue.
Regarding the issue of the Maxim ride-hailing company operating in the area without a license, Mr. Nguyen Sy Thang, Head of the Transport Management Department of the Department of Transport, said that the department has worked with the Department of Information and Communications to find a solution. If a ride-hailing company wants to operate in Nghe An, it must obtain a license from the competent authority, fulfill financial obligations, register its vehicles to change license plates, and obtain vehicle permits before the vehicles are allowed to operate.
Thus, the operation of unlicensed vehicles in general, and unlicensed taxis in particular, not only creates unfair competition with registered passenger transport companies and businesses, but also poses a potential risk to security, order, and traffic safety. Therefore, authorities need to continue inspecting and strictly handling these cases to stabilize transport business operations in the area.