White plate vehicles operating in transportation business: Need to be strictly handled

White plate cars still openly provide services

According to the provisions of Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on the process of granting and revoking registration of road motor vehicle license plates, effective from August 1, 2020, commercial transport vehicles will have a yellow background, black letters and numbers. From that time on, newly registered commercial transport vehicles will be issued yellow license plates, while vehicles operating commercial transport before Circular 58 takes effect will have to switch to yellow license plates, black numbers before December 31, 2021.

JobInstall yellow license plates for transport vehiclesis determined to help authorities easily detect and punish violations. When vehicles are required to change to yellow license plates, it will also help to overcome the situation of illegal vehicles, illegal bus stations, tax evasion, fees and causing disorder and traffic safety.

But in reality, many private cars with white license plates still openly operate as family taxis, 7-seat shared-ride cars, or airport shuttle services... without changing to yellow license plates.

At Vinh Airport recently, we saw many 5-7 seater cars with white plates, scattered in front of the entrance and in the parking lots. Due to the regulation that technology business cars are not allowed to pick up and drop off passengers, many drivers have circumvented the law by waiting for passengers to arrive at the lobby before driving in to pick them up. If the authorities check, they give the excuse that they are picking up family members.

Not only at the airport, but also on main roads where buses often pass through, such as Nguyen Du, Tran Phu, Quang Trung, Nguyen Phong Sac, Nguyen Sy Sach, etc., or at the gates of major hospitals, there are many 7-seat cars, also known as illegal taxis with white plates, inviting customers to get on the car at the same price or just a little more expensive than the bus fare.

To “evade” the authorities, these illegal taxis often park a short distance from the bus stop, or on the sidewalk near the bus stop. When a passenger arrives, they get out to chat and invite the passenger to get on the bus. Most of these vehicles have white license plates, even though in reality they are providing services.

In addition to “hiding” at bus stops, these white-plate car owners also set up Facebook and Zalo pages… openly offering passenger transport services.

On a page named “Vinh Airport, Vinh University Carpool” on Facebook, we came across many statuses inviting customers to travel from Vinh to the districts with contact phone numbers. According to the commitment of the car owners, they will pick up and drop off at home and the fare is only 10,000 VND higher than the bus fare.

Many “shared car” groups even provide schedules for cars running from Vinh to closed districts from 4am to 5pm along with a “call center” phone number for customers to contact.

In particular, to prevent the case of being caught red-handed by undercover police, drivers usually do not collect money when passengers get on the bus, but only when they arrive at their destination and the passengers get off the bus, will the driver get off to collect money. In many cases, when checked by the police, they make up excuses about taking relatives to the hospital or from the airport to their hometown...

It can be seen that the participation of private cars and family cars in the transportation business, in some aspects, still brings convenience to the people. However, this situation also leads to inadequacies in traffic safety and order. In particular, it causes unfair competition with vehicles in the transportation business with yellow license plates, which have paid full taxes and fees.

Need to tighten management

In fact, illegal taxis with white license plates, openly operating business services, have appeared for many years. In 2023, it was found that in the whole province, there were many individuals using 5- to 7-seat cars with white license plates, operating illegal passenger transport business, potentially causing traffic disorder, evading tax obligations, and unfair competition in passenger transport business by car... The Provincial People's Committee issued many documents to strengthen the rectification of transport business activities in the area.

Specifically, in Document 3456/UBND-CN dated May 8, 2023, on rectifying the work of ensuring traffic order and safety in transportation activities in the province, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Transport to strengthen the management of passenger transport business activities by car in the area; take the lead in coordinating with the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to review and guide organizations and individuals who need to participate in transportation business activities to meet the requirements and conditions for business according to the provisions of law; direct the Department Inspectorate to coordinate with the Traffic Police force, the Public Security of districts, cities and towns to inspect and handle the operation of private cars operating passenger transport business in violation of regulations.

Review legal regulations, report and recommend the Ministry of Transport to study and supplement regulations on business conditions for passenger transport by 5-7 seater cars (not operating as taxis) to effectively implement State management of passenger transport activities of this type of vehicle.

The Provincial People's Committee also requested the Provincial Police to direct the Traffic Police Department, the Police of districts, cities and towns to increase patrols, use professional measures according to the provisions of law to handle private cars with 5-7 seats that violate regulations on passenger transport business...

At the same time, assign the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to direct the district-level traffic safety committee to preside over and coordinate with the People's Committees of communes to review, count and make a list of the number of vehicles and owners of private vehicles with 5-7 seats in the area showing signs of using vehicles to participate in passenger transport business activities.

Along with that, strengthen, propagate, disseminate, and educate the law on conditions for passenger transport business to vehicle owners and sign a commitment with vehicle owners not to participate in passenger transport business activities contrary to the provisions of the law. If there is a need to conduct passenger transport business activities, it is necessary to register with the competent authority to be licensed to operate in accordance with regulations...

Following the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, immediately afterwards, the Department of Transport also issued a document requesting districts, cities and towns to direct departments, offices, specialized units and commune-level People's Committees to organize propaganda on business and conditions for passenger transport business by car according to regulations to owners of private cars with 5-7 seats in the area.

Especially private car owners who show signs of using their vehicles to participate in passenger transport business activities and sign a commitment with car owners not to participate in passenger transport business activities contrary to the law.

At the same time, propagate to local people that when they need to travel by car, they should choose vehicles that have been licensed to operate transportation business to ensure safety and benefits; do not use transportation services against regulations.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Vinh - Deputy Head of Transport Management Department, Nghe An Department of Transport said: It can be seen that, although the provisions of the law have clearly stated and classified the groups of subjects allowed to operate service businesses. At the same time, there have been specific instructions so that all people with vehicles can participate in transport business activities (issued and changed to yellow license plates). However, in reality, many individuals still do not comply.

To rectify this situation, it requires the authorities to conduct regular inspections; localities also need to increase propaganda so that vehicle owners voluntarily comply. Only then can a healthy transport service business environment be created.