>> Part 1: Lucky plates drawing lots of cash for brokers
According to an accusation letter, the current computerised numbered plate random provision system was not created by the Police Department of Road and Railway Traffic, thus resulting in low levels of security and it is said to have been hacked for the profit of a few individuals. What is the real story here?
System's security under scrutiny
It has been said the computerised number plate provision system software, created by the Police Department of Road and Railway traffic, is carefully protected with a complicated password security system. Passwords are changed very frequently in order to prevent people from trying to access the system and all the operations that relate to the provision of number plates are strictly controlled.
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| Accuser says the number plate provision system was created by an external sector and not by the Police Department of Road and Railway Traffic. |
In reality, however, as suggested by the accusation letter sent to DTiNews, the software was created by an external company called "Softend". This company specialises in creating software and is located on Vinh Phuc Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
It seems that some individuals may have taken advantage of the low security level of the system and coordinated with officials at vehicle licensing centres to produce good or “lucky” number plates and charge fees for the plates illegally. Charging for plates has been going on for years.
To have more information on this matter, we went and discussed with Colonel Vu Do Anh Dung, head of the Police Department of Road and Railway Traffic.
Colonel Dung said that the department had received many complaints about the dubious issuing of numbered plates. They have gone to investigate but nothing suspicious has been uncovered. When asked about the numbered plate provision software, Colonel Dung claimed it was definitely created by the department’s Information and Techonology section.
When we accessed the website of Softend, we found in their "Products and Service" section products listed such as Management and Random Issue of Numbered Plates Provision System for cars and motorbikes, Testing and Issuing Motorbike License System, and People Management System.
According to Colonel Dung, people have different opinions about issuing numbered plates. Previously the provision of numbered plates was done in order, later it was based on votes and now we are using a compturised system to produce random numbered plates. This system does not seem to be satisfying many people.
“It has been suggested that numbered plates should be sold but this will create other problems. What is a nice number plate? For example, one number plate can be considered nice in this city, but not in another city. Things will get very complicated. Our department will try to find the best solution for this problem,” said Mr. Dung.
The concern behind numbered plates
According to some people familiar with the world of numbered plates, 9 out of 10 people who purchase a motorbike or a car would want to have specific numbers, especially those in business and those concerned about spiritual things.
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| Two expensive cars; Bentley and Mercedes with extremely good number plates were photographed in Dak Lak Province. |
If someone has paid billions of VND for a car, they would not hesistate to pay as much as they need to for a number plate they like. Therefore, many have tried to seek out brokers who can organise it for them.
The question regarding software is if there was any influence being made to the provision system and if it was true that to have a numbered plate you want, all you have to do is to pay the right price.
According to the accusation letter of a car seller, he had been able to connect with a line that specialises in providing good number plates to many well-known auto shops with the aim at selling more cars. Many great numbered plates have been sold together with the cars if the cars are worth of billions of VND.
With the denunciator’s list of number plates, we have discussed with the Hanoi traffic police to clarify the complaints. The findings showed many great number plates were issued for expensive cars.
In particular, 30S-6666 for a Lexus car, 30P-8888 for another Lexus car, 30T-9999 for a Bentley, 30S-9999 for a BMW, and 30T-8888 for a Ford.
(To be continued)
