Out of sight of traffic police, but not of cameras: 321,000 violations recorded in Ho Chi Minh City

The municipal traffic police division has reported that over 321,000 traffic offenses had been recorded through video footage between December 15 last year and October 8 this year.

On many streets across the southern metropolis, it is not uncommon to see motorcyclists riding on sidewalks to avoid congestion, driving against traffic to shorten their journeys or rushing through intersections after traffic lights have turned red.

Some road users appear to obey traffic regulations only when they see traffic police officers on duty.

However, the absence of officers at a particular location does not mean violations will go unnoticed.

Surveillance cameras, along with specialized technical equipment, are enabling police to record traffic offenses even when violators are not stopped at the scene.

During the period, traffic police detected more than 321,000 violations of road traffic order and safety regulations through surveillance cameras and specialized technical equipment.

Of these cases, more than 217,000 involved motorcyclists, while nearly 104,000 came from car drivers.

The figures highlight how traffic enforcement is no longer entirely dependent on direct patrols and roadside inspections.

Offenses such as riding without a helmet, driving on sidewalks, disobeying traffic lights and road signs, and stopping or parking illegally can all be recorded through camera footage.

In reality, many drivers only realize this when they receive an administrative violation notice.

The assumption that they can break traffic rules whenever no traffic police officers are present is therefore not only misguided but can also leave them facing substantial fines.

67 motorcyclists caught riding against traffic in less than 10 minutes

Despite the risk of accidents and increasingly stringent penalties, traffic violations continue to occur openly on Ho Chi Minh City streets.

A traffic police team recorded 67 cases of motorcyclists riding against traffic in less than 10 minutes at a section of Phan Van Tri Street on the morning of September 30.

The team also announced that it had logged 163 cases of motorcyclists riding on the sidewalk along Nguyen Oanh Street.

Each offender faces a fine of VND5 million (US$195) and the deduction of two points from their driver's licence.

Meanwhile, a traffic police team in Ben Thanh Ward detected 9,755 violations through surveillance cameras during the 10-month period.

Of the total, 3,313 cases complied with the penalties imposed.

For outstanding cases, notifications have been sent to the relevant individuals, organizations, and vehicle registration authorities so that the vehicles concerned can be flagged in connection with administrative violations.

These figures demonstrated that camera-based enforcement was not only expanding police's ability to detect offenses, but also reinforcing owners' responsibility for managing and using their vehicles.

Evidence used to verify and handle traffic violations did not come exclusively from official surveillance cameras or specialized equipment operated by traffic police.

Images and videos recorded by residents while travelling on the streets were also submitted to police officers for examination, verification, and handling in accordance with the law.

As such, even if traffic police do not witness an offense at the time it occurs, the violation may still be investigated and dealt with based on footage supplied by other road users.

When an offense is detected through specialized technical equipment but the vehicle cannot be stopped immediately, police will issue a notification to the relevant vehicle owner, individuals or organizations, according to the division.

Residents are also advised to manage their vehicles properly, keep registration information up to date, and complete ownership transfer procedures when buying, selling or receiving vehicles as gifts to avoid potential legal complications.

In addition, vehicle owners can use the VNeTraffic application to look up vehicle-related information and proactively check whether any traffic violation notices have been issued.