The scenario of "a car driving in the rain with its license plate covered being fined 22 million dong, is it correct?" has sparked debate among readers. The discussion centers on a vehicle stopped by traffic police on 26/1 for having its rear license plate obscured by mud. The driver explained that he was driving in the rain and did not notice the plate was covered, stating that the front plate was clearly visible, indicating no intentional obscuring. The traffic police informed him that he could face a fine of 22 million dong for this violation.

According to lawyer Dang Thanh Chung from the Hanoi Bar Association, Clause 17, Article 9 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety prohibits various acts, including manufacturing, using, buying, or selling illegal license plates; operating motor vehicles or specialized motorcycles with license plates not issued by competent State agencies, attaching license plates in incorrect positions; bending, obscuring license plates; or altering the characters, numbers, colors, shapes, or sizes of license plates.

Front and rear license plates after being cleaned of mud. *Image cut from video*

Decree 168/2024 on Sanctions for Road Traffic Violations stipulates that automobiles are subject to fines ranging from 20-26 million dong if operated without sufficient license plates, with plates not in the correct position, or not conforming to regulations; with plates having unclear characters or numbers; using other materials to paint or affix over the characters or numbers; or with plates that are bent, obscured, or have altered characters, numbers, colors (of characters, numbers, or plate background), shapes, or sizes (including trailers and semi-trailers). Additionally, drivers committing this offense will have 6 points deducted from their driving licenses.

Based on these regulations, the law only specifies the act of obscuring license plates as a violation, without clearly distinguishing whether the act was intentional or unintentional.

Intentional obscuring of license plates, such as using spray paint or strong adhesive tape, will certainly result in a fine. Neglecting to clean the license plate area for a long time, leading to it being obscured, may also be considered an intentional fault and be penalized. For example, if a car drove in rain and mud three to four days ago, and today the weather is dry but the license plate is still dirty, this would be deemed an intentional fault, and the driver would be fined.

On another note, Article 65 of the Law on Handling Administrative Violations 2012, amended and supplemented in 2025, outlines certain situations where administrative violation decisions are not issued. These include "committing an administrative violation due to an unexpected event" or "committing an administrative violation due to a force majeure event."

Therefore, if a license plate is obscured by mud due to recent heavy rain, and the driver has not had time to clean it, this could be considered an unexpected event or a force majeure event. In such a case, the driver can demonstrate that the road they just traveled on experienced heavy rain and mud, thereby showing objectivity and that the act was impacted by a force majeure event.

Drivers can explain the situation to the authorities to protect their rights, potentially using dashcam footage, photos, or videos as evidence. The authorities will then review the case based on legal provisions and the specific nature of the act.

Always keep your vehicle clean

The situation involving the Ford Territory driver serves as a reminder for all vehicle users to ensure that parts related to visibility, such as mirrors, windows, and license plates, are always clean. After driving in the rain or on muddy roads, drivers should wash their vehicles as soon as possible to prevent mud from damaging the paintwork and non-painted surfaces, and to remove debris, dirt, and stones lodged in drivetrain components. If an immediate wash is not possible, drivers should make sure to clean the license plates, mirrors, and windows themselves.

Nguyen Vu