Is there a penalty for running a red light before exiting an intersection?
In Clause 4, Article 11, Law on Traffic Order and Safety 2024 stipulates that traffic light signals have 3 colors: green, yellow, red.
When the traffic light is green, traffic participants are allowed to go (slow down or give way to pedestrians and wheelchairs of disabled people traveling on the roadway).
Yellow light signal must stop before the stop line. In case you are on the stop line or have passed the stop line and the light signal is yellow, you may continue.
In case of flashing yellow light, the driver is allowed to proceed but must observe, reduce speed or stop to give way to pedestrians, wheelchairs of disabled people crossing the road or other vehicles.
Red light means no go.
Thus, in the situation of "entering the intersection when the traffic light is still green, but before exiting the intersection, the light turns red", it can be understood that the driver has passed the stop line when the light is still green, not violating the regulations on traffic light signal compliance, so will not be punished for running a red light (including a fine).
However, in the same situation, the traffic light is still green, but there is a traffic jam at the intersection. If the traffic controller is present and requests that the vehicles going in the direction with the green light stop, then the road users must obey the traffic controller's command.
In case a traffic participant does not obey the signal, deliberately enters the intersection (even though the light is still green), causing traffic obstruction, he/she may be fined.
Accordingly, those who do not comply with the orders or instructions of traffic controllers or inspectors can be fined VND4 million - VND6 million for motorbikes and VND18 million - VND20 million for cars. In addition, violators will have their driving license deducted 4 points.
There are currently no regulations on penalties for vehicles that do not stop at the stop line when an intersection is congested (in the case of green lights, without a request from the traffic controller). In this situation, it mainly depends on the awareness of traffic participants, and at the same time, the timely presence of functional forces is required to regulate and direct traffic.
The cold penalty process is very strict.
Most major traffic intersections in localities across the country are equipped with traffic surveillance camera systems, including image extraction to penalize violations (cold fines - PV).
In Hanoi alone, the Traffic Command and Traffic Light Control Team (Hanoi Traffic Police Department) is currently operating more than 600 camera clusters, along with nearly 600 traffic light clusters.
Regarding the fines, sharing with Lao Dong newspaper reporter, Major Pham Trung Hieu - Officer of the Traffic Command and Traffic Light Control Team of Hanoi said that the cameras will automatically detect and record traffic violations, such as running red lights, stopping and parking in the wrong place, driving in the wrong lane... Then, the images of the violations will be automatically sent to the command center.
"When receiving images of vehicles violating the road, the command center staff will first notify the patrol posts for direct handling (hot handling). If there are no forces on the road at times (noon, evening), the center will record the images, then verify and analyze each specific violation situation.
When determining that there is sufficient basis for a fine, the Hanoi Traffic Police Department will issue a decision and send a written notice to the driver's residence according to the vehicle registration address," Major Pham Trung Hieu informed.
After 7 days, if the driver of the violating vehicle does not come to work, the traffic police will compile and send it to relevant agencies, including the vehicle inspection agency.
When arriving at the police station, the driver can directly review the images of the violation. In case the violation is not recognized, the people have the right to complain according to regulations, even file a lawsuit in administrative court to resolve the matter, ensuring their legitimate rights and interests.
In addition, the surveillance camera system also has the function of automatically adjusting traffic light cycles to suit the actual traffic situation at intersections.
