VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Public Security’s draft regulation proposes that traffic police collect fines from traffic violations has caused public uproar over its high probability of fostering endemic corruption.

The ministry is in the process of collecting opinions about the draft circulation, which would act as a guide for the punishment of traffic and railway infractions.  

The draft regulation stipulates that traffic police would be allowed make a report on the violations and collect fines of as much as VND250,000 (USD11.82) for individuals and VND500,000 (USD23.65) for organisations.

The regulation was meant to expedite the payment process for violators who have traveled long distances, who would be able to pay their fines on the spot. It has gained wide support in the remote and mountainous areas of Vietnam.

“Before, when I was stopped for a traffic violation, I've had to travel a long way to pay the fine to a provincial treasury,” said Lo Van Hoan from Chien Pha Commune, Son La Province.

Pham Ba Ha, a truck driver from Chieng Ngan Commune, said “I don’t think that forcing violators of traffic rules to pay for fines at the treasury helps improve the situation. If anything, the complicated procedures may encourage people to try to bribe police in order not to have to travel a long distance to pay the fine.”

Concerning this issue, Colonel Nguyen Den, Head of Danang municipal Department of Traffic Police, said such a regulation would be not applied to all cases. Violators would have to pay the fine to a treasury if their violations are over a certain amount or if the driver does not have sufficient funds on him.

Worries

Despite the benefits of expedition, the regulation has brought about public concern over the possibility that bribery may increase among traffic police.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Dien said that people are worried most about the behaviour of the police.        

“I agree that the current payment procedures are time-consuming and cumbersome. However, these fines are meant as a deterrent. They are not imposed to add to the state coffers. Violators should draw a lesson from the process. If they need to take extra time or are bored during the procedure they might be less prone to do it again,” Dien commented.

He went on to say that in developed countries fines from traffic violations must be paid in court.

“It doesn't make sense to have traffic police collecting fines and issuing receipts. Such a process would lack transparency and go against the rights of citizens,” he noted.

He said the biggest deterrent for traffic violators is not paying the fine, but the hassles attached to the procedure itself, such as retrieving their confiscated vehicles, which are often kept in substandard storage, and having to pass by traffic police on the way.

According to Dien, loosening regulations often gives rise to misconduct by authorities, which leads us to believe that due attention should be paid to increasing public awareness traffic rules and improving traffic safety, not only to simplifying payment procedures.

Source: DTriNews/Danviet