Penalties tightened for illegal parking in HCM City

The deputy director of a real estate firm in HCM City refused to get out of his car when ordered by traffic police, saying that the vehicle cost VND5 billion (US$215,700), much more than the VND8 million (around $430) monthly salary of a police officer. — Photo zing.vn

The incident happened at around 3pm on July 23, when traffic police from Cat Lai Station in HCM City discovered a Mercedes parked illegally on the Ha Noi Highway.

When the officers asked for the driver’s documents, the driver got out of the car and left. But a man sitting in the back seat refused to step out of the car.

The man, who claimed to be the owner of the vehicle, did not cooperate with the traffic police officers.

When asked to get out of the car, he said there was lots of money inside so he couldn’t leave the vehicle.

Police issued a notice to seal off the vehicle and take it to police headquarters.

The man was determined to remain in the car, saying “No one can afford compensation if my car is damaged during transportation.”

After several hours of unsuccessful attempts to get the man out, traffic police sealed the car and brought a truck to take the vehicle and occupant to the police station.

He was slapped with a VND700,000 ($30) fine for the parking violation.

According to Viet Nam Register Department, the Mercedes in question was registered to T. L. Real Estate Company.

Reports by tienphong.vn online newspaper revealed the man inside the car was the company’s deputy director.

VNS