The Hanoi Transport Department has proposed to the city administration that the licensing of taxi firms be suspended from March 1.

The move seeks to tighten control over the industry that has been cited recently for numerous violations of the law, local newswire Dan Tri reported Tuesday.

Nguyen Hoang Linh, vice director of the department, said the number of taxis in the capital was increasing so dramatically that it was almost out of their control, and more and more violations were taking place.

Linh said one of the more worrying violations was that taxi drivers resisted traffic police when found violating regulations.

"In Hanoi, taxis committing violations and violators resisting traffic police were on the increase, not only in numbers but also in their intensity," Linh told the newswire, adding that they had recently recorded dangerous acts like a driver threatening police with a knife, or threatening to run down police officers.

Those companies whose drivers have not acted against the police from now till March 1 would be allowed to renew their licenses, while that of others will not be renewed," the official said.

There are over 10,000 taxis under 107 companies operating in the capital city.