LookAtVietnam – Pedestrians who violate traffic laws are going to receive fines of up to VND120,000 (US$6.3) from May 20.

Pedestrians who violate traffic laws are going to receive fines of up to VND120,000 (US$6.3) from May 20.

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Pedestrians may be fined for violations such as jumping over barriers, ignoring police and blocking traffic.

Nguyen Van Thuan, the head of the Transport Ministry’s Traffic Safety Department said that it is part of the new decree which regulates stricter punishment for traffic violators in order to try and minimise traffic accidents and raise people’s awareness of traffic laws.

Thuan said that violations by pedestrians used to be ignored but now it is different.

Fines of between VND40,000-60,000 will be imposed on people who stray from pavements and pathways designated for pedestrians, or those who do not obey the commands of policemen, traffic wardens or traffic signs.

Higher fines of between VND60,000-80,000 ($3.1-4.2) will be for pedestrians who carry cumbersome objects that hinder traffic flow, and those that jump road barriers or hang on to moving vehicles.

Pedestrians caught commuting along highways will receive the highest punishment of VND120,000 ($6.3).

However, the police responsible for enforcing these laws will meet with a lot of difficulties.

Nguyen Van Toan, head of Bac Ninh Province’s Traffic Police Department said that they do not have enough manpower to enforce these laws.

He added that if it is not possible to fine all violators, it will be unfair.

Not to mention that poor labourers are unable to pay such high fines and there’s no way of forcing them to do so, said Toan.

Dao Duc Minh, head of Thanh Hoa Province’s Traffic Police Department outlined measures that policemen should take when a violator doesn’t have the money to pay a fine and hasn’t got their identity card with them.

Thuan said that there are many ways to make traffic violators pay fines. If they do not have their ID card, they should be made to call their relatives or friends to bring money or the card to them.

Under the new regulations, the fines for motorbike and car drivers who violate traffic laws will also be increased to 2-3 times higher than current levels.

For example, car drivers who run red lights will receive a fine of VND600,000-800,000 ($31.5-42) instead of VND200,000-400,000 ($10.5-21) as before.

In addition, the Ministry of Transport will pilot even higher punishment levels in cities with a population of more than 5 million people.

The pilot fines for the big cities will be 40-200 per cent higher than in other areas.

For example, the new common fine levels for car drivers caught running red lights will be VND600,000-800,000 ($31.5-42) as mentioned above but in the big cities, these will be VND1-1.4 million ($52.5-73.6).

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News