“Passengers chased the bus, so I opened the door to let them in.”
According to Dân trí reporters on the morning of February 15 at Giải Phóng Road, a patrol team from Road Traffic Police Unit No. 14 (Hanoi Traffic Police Department) was set up to handle violations by passenger buses.
The violations being addressed included picking up or dropping off passengers, stopping illegally, especially around Giáp Bát bus station. When vehicles were stopped, drivers were also tested for alcohol and drug use, though no violations were found.
Driver T.V.T. (52 years old), operating a route between Giáp Bát and Ninh Bình, was fined 1.5 million VND and had 2 points deducted from his driver’s license for opening the bus door while moving on Giải Phóng Road.
“When I stopped at the red light, 3-4 passengers ran after the bus asking to get on. Since they seemed in a hurry, I decided to open the door. Please excuse me this one time,” explained Driver T., justifying his violation.
Another driver, Đ.D.H. (44 years old), was fined 700,000 VND for stopping illegally on Giải Phóng Road near Giáp Bát bus station. “I admit my mistake, and I will be more careful next time,” said the driver as he signed the ticket issued by the traffic police.
Lieutenant Colonel Trần Minh Kiên, Deputy Commander of Road Traffic Police Unit No. 14, stated that during the morning session, the unit established teams to focus on violations by bus drivers along the Giáp Bát – Giải Phóng route. The targeted violations included improper stopping and unauthorized passenger pick-up/drop-off.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Kiên, later in the afternoon and evening, the unit would continue addressing issues like drunk driving and overloading across their jurisdiction.
“In the coming period, we will consistently enforce strict penalties for the six groups of traffic violations assigned by higher authorities to Hanoi Traffic Police and national traffic forces. Our approach is firm—no exceptions, no leniency,” emphasized Lieutenant Colonel Kiên.
Police Use Dashcams to Penalize Driver Violations
Also noted by reporters, Road Traffic Police Unit No. 6 (Hanoi Traffic Police Department) conducted operations targeting violators on Phạm Hùng Road.
In addition to addressing illegal stops, officers reviewed dashcam footage to detect other infractions such as using mobile phones while driving, not wearing seat belts, or reckless driving.
When penalized, drivers often cited excuses such as relatives asking them to deliver items or claiming they only stopped briefly to wait for someone. However, all violations were clearly recorded by surveillance cameras, leaving no room for denial.
For instance, driver T.Q.T., operating a Bắc Giang – Hà Nội route, claimed his vehicle broke down when stopped illegally on Phạm Hùng Road. After reviewing camera footage proving he had paused to pick up passengers, the police firmly issued a citation.
During their shift, traffic officers handled 10 cases of violations, including those involving bus drivers.
Previously, a representative from the National Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) announced a nationwide plan to monitor and address key traffic violations causing accidents on roadways and railways.
This campaign, effective starting February 15, will continue throughout the year until further notice.
The six main categories of violations being addressed include:
- Alcohol and drug-related offenses.
- Overloading, oversized cargo, and improperly secured goods.
- Speeding, ignoring traffic signals, wrong-way driving, and failing to yield at intersections.
- Dangerous stunts, street racing, and obstructive group driving.
- Commercial drivers using phones or electronic devices while driving, along with improper installation or operation of dashcams.
- Traffic violations by minors.
