Powers of waterway traffic police when patrolling and controlling

The Lao Dong Newspaper Legal Consulting Office replied:

Article 6, Circular 76/2025/TT-BCA regulating the patrol, control and handling of administrative violations by waterway police stipulates the authority of patrol and control officers on waterways as follows:

1. Vehicles are allowed to be stopped for inspection and control according to regulations.

2. Control the implementation of regulations on construction, management, exploitation, protection of infrastructure and organization of activities on waterways; operating conditions of vehicles; operating conditions of crew members and vehicle operators; traffic rules and signals; management and exploitation of ports, inland waterway wharves, anchorage areas; waterway transport and other activities related to security and order on waterways according to regulations.

3. Apply measures to prevent and handle administrative violations on waterways and other violations of the law according to the provisions of law.

4. Requested agencies, units, organizations and individuals to coordinate and support the resolution of traffic accidents, congestion, traffic obstruction or other cases that cause disorder, traffic safety and social order on waterways.

5. Arms, explosives, support tools; means, professional technical equipment and other technical means and equipment are allowed to be used according to the provisions of law.

6. In urgent cases to protect national security, ensure social order and safety or to prevent consequences of social damage that are occurring or at risk of occurring, officers performing patrol and control duties have the right to mobilize means of transport, means of communication, and other means of agency, organization, individual and person controlling or using that vehicle. The mobilization is carried out in the form of direct or written requests.

7. Temporarily suspending the operation of people and vehicles on certain waterways; recommending the temporary suspension of people and vehicles in seaport waters and maritime routes outside the port waters where inland waterways are allowed to operate; regulating traffic, dividing traffic flows, arranging temporary stops or anchoring vehicles when there are traffic congestion or other necessary requirements to ensure security, order and social safety.

8. Agencies, organizations and individuals are required to provide information and images related to violations of the law on waterway traffic order and safety.

9. Exercise other powers as prescribed by law.

Thus, waterway traffic police when patrolling and controlling have the above authority.