The regulation was announced by Colonel Dao Vinh Thanh, head of the Hanoi Traffic Police Department.

Under Circular 11 that guides the implementation of Decree 71 that took effect on November 10, 2012, the fine is VND1 million (US$48) for motorbike owners and VND8 million for car owners.

Specifically, such a fine will be given to those who possess a vehicle that could have been sold, transferred or presented to them while procedures for change of ownership have yet to be completed.

In talking with Tuoi Tre, Colonel Thanh said the Circular will take effect on April 15 and Hanoi traffic police will begin enforcing it the same day.

However, under the circular, traffic police are not allowed stop a vehicle to determine if an ownership transfer has been conducted for that vehicle. They can only impose the fine when a violation is detected after a driver has already been stopped for violating traffic rules.

Previously, the Ministry of Transport has proposed that the regulation on such penalties be revoked since it is unfeasible.

Several lawyers have also said such penalties are groundless.

For example, lawyer Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen, from the Ho Chi Minh Bar Association, said that neither the Traffic Law nor the Civil Code has an article that requires the owner of a vehicle to go through an ownership change when they sell or present the vehicle to another person.

“Carrying out procedures for an ownership change is not an obligation but a right of the owner of a property.”

Vietmaz