Instead of just giving warnings and admonition, police will start applying punishments for foreign traffic violators starting August 16.
According to Cong An, from August 1, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Division will start enforcing traffic laws on foreigners in the city, while also looking into traffic law violations caused by foreigners with corresponding fines and penalties. The inspections will last three months and apply to both expats and tourists in the city.
The division is choosing police officers who are good at foreign languages to conduct the crackdown, Zing reports. From now until August 15, police officers will only give warnings to foreign traffic violators and focus on educating foreigners about traffic laws. After this period, fines and penalties will be strictly applied.
Also from August 1, the city police department will start receiving images and videos provided by citizens that prove traffic violations to its road police unit in District 1. The new initiative is a pilot program that, if successful, will be considered for expansion to other locales.
[Photo: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on a bike in Saigon in 2006. The law requiring motorists to wear helmet while driving, however, only took effect in December 2007/Elle]
