Many drivers in Hanoi would rather have their driving licences confiscated by police than pay fines after violating road rules, Giao thong (Transport) newspaper has reported.

Hanoi Traffic Police’s Team No 6 is in possession of more than 1,000 driving licences from drivers that didn’t pay fines, some of which have been held by the police for seven years.

The situation is the same across the city, with some traffic police teams holding more than 3,000 licences.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trung Thanh, head of Hanoi Traffic Police’s Team No 6 said that law-violating drivers gave up their driving because the fine was much more than the fee for a new licence.

“They apply for a new driving licence or buy a fake one,” Thanh said.

Drivers are able to get new licences due to a lag in the time it takes police to notify licence-granting authorities that a driver’s licence has been confiscated.

A new licence costs only VNĐ135,000, while drink-driving fines can cost VNĐ16-18 million (US$720-810), speeding, reckless driving or steering with feet incurs fines of VNĐ7-8 million, and failure to obey a police order to stop or causing a traffic accident will cost VNĐ18-20 million.

It seems stiff penalties from the authorities are pretty useless while their own house isn’t in order. 

VNS