On the afternoon of January 27, a representative from the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) confirmed that Room 6 (Traffic Police Department) and Thái Bình Provincial Police had begun questioning the driver who posted a video boasting about letting his 12-year-old son drive on public roads. The incident quickly drew public attention due to its dangerous nature and serious legal violations.
Incident Sparks Online Outcry
On the evening of January 25, a video over two minutes long was live-streamed on social media by the boy’s father. In the clip, he repeatedly made statements such as: “Today, dad drank alcohol, and my youngest son is driving me home,” “As my son, you must take me home when I’m drunk,” and “Just to let you know, my son is only 12 years old and in 6th grade.”
Shortly after being posted, the video went viral, sparking strong backlash from netizens. Many expressed concern over the father’s irresponsible actions, which not only endangered road safety but could also negatively impact the child’s psychology.
Father’s Statement
Through investigation, authorities identified the man in the video as L.N.L. (born 1981, from Thái Bình), the owner of the vehicle with license plate 30K-792.xx. At the police station, Mr. L. explained that the incident occurred near Cầu Cọi Bridge (Vũ Hội Commune, Vũ Thư District, Thái Bình Province).
Mr. L. stated: “At around 6 PM on January 25, I was driving my car with my son near Cầu Cọi Bridge when it broke down. While waiting for the tow truck, I let my son sit in the driver’s seat and filmed him ‘driving’ the car just for fun.”
Although admitting to posting misleading content, Mr. L. insisted it was merely a joke and hoped people would understand and not imitate his actions.
Legal Violations
According to a representative from the Traffic Police Department, Mr. L.’s act of filming and sharing the video violated Point d, Clause 1, Article 101 of Decree 15/2020/NĐ-CP. Specifically, providing or sharing false information that causes public panic can result in fines ranging from 10 million to 20 million Vietnamese đồng.
Additionally, authorities will continue investigating potential violations involving the tow truck. If found guilty of carrying passengers on the truck bed or towing vehicles with unauthorized passengers, fines could range from 800,000 to 6 million Vietnamese đồng, depending on the severity of the offense.
Conclusion and Recommendations
This incident not only highlights a lack of awareness regarding legal compliance but also underscores the importance of parental responsibility toward children. Sharing dangerous behaviors on social media creates misunderstandings and sets a poor example for society.
Authorities need to strengthen supervision and impose strict penalties for similar cases to deter misconduct, ensure traffic safety, and promote public adherence to laws. Meanwhile, individuals should carefully consider their posts before sharing them online to avoid unintended consequences.
References
- Dân Trí Online Newspaper – https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/ong-bo-tuong-trinh-viec-cho-con-trai-12-tuoi-lai-o-to-20250127212714706.htm
- Decree 15/2020/NĐ-CP on administrative penalties for traffic violations.
