Hanoi wants to increase fines for flouting road rules to 1.5-2 times

Hanoi city authorities want to increase fines for 107 traffic violations to 1.5-2 times the current levels by July this year.

Its People’s Committee has drafted a resolution for this, and placed it for public consultation.

The fines will be increased based on criteria such as the frequency of a violation, whether it contributes to accidents and congestion and its impact on public order and traffic infrastructure.

The violations include ignoring road markings and traffic signs, driving in prohibited areas, driving in the wrong lane, illegal parking, speeding, overloading, drunk and reckless driving, honking excessively, revving engines, modifying exhaust systems, and certain others related to driver training, vehicle inspection, road use, and transport business operation.

The government has greatly increased penalties for breaking traffic laws since Jan. 1. But Hanoi authorities have concluded that further increasing the penalties is warranted to improve compliance, foster a safe traffic culture and reduce congestion and accidents.

Under the draft resolution, penalties that are relatively low will be doubled, and severe ones will be increased by 1.5 times.

The specific amounts are listed in the resolution.

For example, the proposed fines for automobiles are VND1.2-1.6 million (US$48), up from VND600,000-800,000) for parking in areas with « No Parking » or « No Stopping and Parking » signs and on pedestrian crossings.

For automobiles driving on the wrong side of the road or in the wrong lane, and exceeding the speed limit by 10-20 kph, the fines will rise from VND4-6 million to VND 8-12 million.

For driving under the influence of alcohol, with blood alcohol level at ≤ 50 mg/100 ml or breath alcohol level at ≤ 0.25 mg/l, drivers will be fined VND9-12 million, up from VND6-8 million.

For motorcyclists not wearing a helmet and improperly fastening it the fines will go up to VND800,000-1.2 million from VND400,000-600,000.

The same fines are proposed for carrying oversized and overweight goods.

For parking on bridges and traveling three to a motorbike, the fines will be raised from VND600,000-800,000 to VND1.2-1.6 million.

For driving under the influence of alcohol, the fines will rise from VND2-3 million to VND3-4.5 million.

The 2024 Capital Law empowers the city people’s council to fix fines of up to twice the amount stipulated by the government for certain traffic violations.

Once public feedback is obtained, the resolution will be submitted to the people’s council, with implementation expected from July 2025 if approved.

By Vo Hai – VnExpress.net – January 26, 2025