In Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam, a network of citizen surveillance is expanding beyond police oversight, utilizing smartphones and automated cameras. Reports of illegal parking, unlicensed driving, and reckless behavior are being identified through citizen submissions, with 541 speeding violations recorded by automated enforcement in just the past week. The perception that "it's okay if the police aren't around" among drivers is changing.
According to the Bac Ninh Provincial Traffic Police Department, as of July 20, officers have been actively verifying traffic violation photos and videos submitted by citizens this year. When citizens send violation footage via Facebook, Zalo, or other social media platforms, the relevant department categorizes the submissions and forwards them to the appropriate teams for fact-checking.
These citizen reports are leading to actual administrative actions. Since the beginning of the year, the Bac Ninh Provincial Traffic Police Department has received approximately 800 photos and videos from citizens. After verification, about 250 cases have resulted in violation reports, with fines estimated at around 12 billion dong (approximately $673,000).
On July 16, a resident of Bac Ninh, identified as A, appeared before the traffic police department after a citizen-submitted video confirmed that he had parked improperly on Nguyen Van Men Road. A acknowledged the violation and signed the report.
Reckless and unlicensed driving have also come under scrutiny from vigilant citizens. Earlier this month, two men were identified by the traffic police and public security after photos of them riding a motorcycle without a license plate and without helmets were posted on social media. A driver who was seen lifting the front wheel of his motorcycle on National Route 1 was also identified by the traffic police team, resulting in a fine of 4 million dong (about $22,450) and the confiscation of the vehicle.
Notably, citizens are motivated to report violations not out of personal grievances but due to safety concerns. B, who reported a dangerous overtaking maneuver by a passenger transport vehicle on a road passing through the Quang Chau Industrial Park, explained, "I sent the report not because of dissatisfaction with the driver or personal conflict, but because the risk of an accident was very high." He added, "Having seen similar situations multiple times, I hoped that sending the photos would help ensure drivers follow the rules." This reflects a shared understanding that the goal is not punishment but creating safer roads.
However, police do not use all reports as grounds for punishment. A representative from the traffic police department noted that over 180 of the citizen-submitted materials did not indicate any violations, and about 100 cases were difficult to verify. Limitations arise when videos are reshared by others, or when the time and location are unclear, or if the violation occurred outside Bac Ninh Province. This indicates a careful verification process.
The legal framework for utilizing citizen-submitted materials is also in place. Dao Xuan Huong, deputy head of the Bac Ninh Provincial Traffic Police Department, stated that the receipt and use of videos and photos are conducted in accordance with a government decree issued on February 13. He emphasized, "When citizens voluntarily provide traffic violation photos, the enforcement effect is significantly enhanced, as it creates an awareness that violations can be detected and addressed even in the absence of traffic police on the roads."
Local authorities are also implementing an automated enforcement system. From July 6 to 12, the Bac Ninh Provincial Traffic Police Department detected 541 speeding violations through surveillance cameras and technical equipment. These vehicles have been placed on a list for fines, and police are advising owners to verify the violations and follow the necessary procedures.
Penalties for speeding increase progressively based on the severity of the violation. According to the government decree, if a vehicle exceeds the speed limit by 5 to 10 km/h, fines range from 800,000 to 1 million dong (approximately $45 to $56). For exceeding the limit by 10 to 20 km/h, fines range from 4 million to 6 million dong (about $224 to $336), along with a deduction of 2 points from the driver's license.
For exceeding the limit by 20 to 35 km/h, fines range from 6 million to 8 million dong and a deduction of 4 points, while exceeding 35 km/h can result in fines of 12 million to 14 million dong and a deduction of 6 points. Causing an accident due to speeding can lead to fines of 20 million to 22 million dong and a deduction of 10 points.
Motorcycle riders are not exempt from these penalties. Exceeding the speed limit by 5 to 10 km/h incurs fines of 400,000 to 600,000 dong, while exceeding by 10 to 20 km/h results in fines of 800,000 to 1 million dong, and exceeding by more than 20 km/h leads to fines of 6 million to 8 million dong.
Meanwhile, police are urging vehicle owners to promptly check for any fines. Vehicle owners can verify fines by entering their license plate and required information on the traffic police department's website or through the VNeTraffic application.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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