Proposal to increase maximum fines for violations in many areas
According to the 9th Session agenda, on the morning of May 15, the National Assembly listened to the presentation and report on the review of the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations.
One of the contents of interest is the draft proposing to increase fines for violations in many areas including fire prevention and fighting; rescue; security, order, social safety; road traffic; dykes; natural disaster prevention and control; network security; network information security.
The current Law on Handling of Administrative Violations and Decree 168/2024 stipulate the highest fine for violations in the field of road traffic at 75 million VND. In the draft revised law, the Government proposes to double the maximum fine mentioned above, to 150 million VND. This increase is aimed at commensurate with the nature, severity, and serious consequences of violations, increasing deterrence, thereby meeting urgent requirements in State management for some "hot" sectors.
In the field of fire prevention, rescue and relief, the fine will increase from 50 million VND to 200 million VND; in the field of network security and network information security, the fine will increase from 100 million VND to 200 million VND. The Government clearly states this to increase deterrence and prevention commensurate with the nature, level and serious consequences of violations.
Necessary but must be studied carefully
Speaking with Lao Dong on May 14, delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) said that the authorities need to conduct further surveys and collect opinions from subjects directly affected to ensure consistency with reality and receive consensus from the people.
The delegate agreed that having strict sanctions, creating deterrence and preventing violations is completely necessary.
However, the proposal to increase the maximum fine from 75 million VND to 150 million VND needs to be carefully studied and calculated. Many people have to borrow money, and their economic circumstances are not too good. If they are fined up to 150 million VND, they may have to sell their vehicles and quit their jobs. This can invisibly affect family life and social security.
The delegate also emphasized that if we only focus on increasing fines, it will not be enough. The sustainable solution to solve the problem from the "root" is to improve the awareness of traffic participants. The delegate of Dong Thap delegation suggested that other sanctions in addition to fines could be studied, such as public service labor.
Delegate Pham Trong Nghia (Lang Son Delegation) suggested that the Government should explain more clearly and specifically the reasons and grounds for increasing the maximum penalty as proposed to create consensus among the people. The increase in fines if it is to be fair and effective needs to be linked to infrastructure conditions and traffic organization.
Lawyer Diep Nang Binh - Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association assessed that the proposal to increase the maximum fine in some areas is necessary in order to raise people's awareness of complying with regulations when participating in traffic. However, how to increase it to both raise people's traffic awareness and ensure the ability to comply with administrative penalty decisions is something that authorities must consider carefully.
From the perspective of the verification agency, the Chairman of the Legal and Judicial Committee Hoang Thanh Tung said that the Committee agreed to supplement the field and the maximum fine with violations of settlement of complaints, denunciations, petitions and reflections. Regarding the increase of maximum fine for a number of areas prescribed in the current Law, the verification agency proposed to continue studying and proposing appropriately when fully amending the law.
Decree 168 creates a positive effect on people's awareness
According to information from the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security), after implementing Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, the traffic safety and order situation has changed significantly, traffic accidents have decreased sharply, and compliance with traffic laws has become more orderly.
The positive effect of Decree 168 gradually changes the awareness of a part of the road participants, especially the increase in sanctions for common violations such as: crossing red lights, speeding, using alcohol, beer when driving makes people more careful in traffic. The main goal of increasing the penalty level under Decree 168 is to raise the awareness of law observance on traffic, thereby contributing to reducing accidents, congestion and overcoming the situation of disregarding the law and greasy law of a part of the current traffic person.
Information from the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee said that in April 2025 (from March 15 to April 14), there were 1,568 traffic accidents nationwide, killing 860 people and injuring 1,062 people. Compared to the same period in 2024, there were 439 fewer cases (21.87%), 20 fewer deaths (2.27%), and 449 fewer injuries (29.72%). Of which, traffic accidents mainly occurred on roads with 1,552 cases, killing 848 people and injuring 1,059 people. Compared to the same period last year, there was a decrease of 439 cases (22.05%), a decrease of 21 deaths (2.42%), and a decrease of 450 injuries (29.82%).
