The Ministry of Public Security outlined the proposal in a draft decree. This decree amends and supplements certain articles of Decree 168/2024, which governs administrative penalties in road traffic, and introduces a mechanism for deducting and restoring driver's license points.
The draft is open for public comments until 19/4 and is expected to take effect from 1/7.
Compared to current regulations, this draft tightens the handling of "disguised" vehicles by increasing fines and adding driver's license point deductions. The scope of penalties also extends to vehicle owners who allow others to illegally transport passengers or goods for money. Actions such as taking bookings and signing passenger transport contracts are more clearly defined to prevent legal loopholes.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, after one year of implementing Decree 168, traffic accidents decreased, but challenges in traffic order and safety persist. A significant issue is unregistered vehicles operating as passenger or cargo transport services for a fee. This practice distorts competition, lacks transparency, and results in lost budget revenue while evading state management in the transport sector.
To address this, the draft proposes fines of 12-14 million VND for drivers of unregistered automobiles who transport passengers for a fee, accept bookings, or sign transport contracts. Additionally, these drivers will have 6 points deducted from their driver's license.
Vehicle owners will also face penalties if they provide a vehicle or allow an employee to commit such acts. The proposed fines are 8-10 million VND for individuals, and double that amount for organizations.
For cargo transport, drivers of unregistered automobiles carrying goods for a fee could face fines of 8-12 million VND.
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Thousands of people boarded buses at Mien Tay Bus Station, waiting for departure to their hometowns to celebrate the Year of the Horse Tet in February. Photo: Quynh Tran |
Thousands of people boarded buses at Mien Tay Bus Station, waiting for departure to their hometowns to celebrate the Year of the Horse Tet in February. Photo: Quynh Tran
Contract vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers at unauthorized locations face fines of 10-20 million VND.
In addition to addressing "disguised" individual transport businesses, the draft focuses on closing loopholes often exploited by contract vehicles operating like fixed-route services, such as "splitting" contracts, selling tickets, and collecting fees.
Therefore, contract vehicles that accept individual passenger bookings, sell tickets, or collect fees outside of their contract terms will be penalized. Vehicles that set their own fixed routes and schedules to carry multiple passengers, impersonating fixed-route services, will also face fines of 10-12 million VND for individuals, and double for organizations.
The draft also targets the issue of transforming company headquarters into "illegal bus stops." It proposes fines of 10-20 million VND for picking up or dropping off passengers at main offices, representative offices, or fixed locations rented or cooperated with by transport units in violation of regulations.
These fines also apply to picking up or dropping off passengers at locations not specified in the contract, particularly for vehicles transporting preschool children, students, civil servants, public employees, and workers.
Penalty for commercial transport drivers without child safety seats to be removed
Decree 168 currently imposes fines of 800,000 to one million VND for transporting children under 10 years old or under 1,35 meters tall in the front row with the driver (except for vehicles with only one row of seats), or for not using appropriate safety devices.
However, effective 1/1, this regulation was adjusted in the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. This amendment removes the mandatory requirement for commercial passenger vehicles to be equipped with child safety seats, aligning with practical conditions and avoiding difficulties for taxis, ride-hailing services, and coaches.
To ensure consistency with the law, the draft decree proposes removing the penalty for commercial transport drivers who do not have child safety seats.
Hai Thu
