VietNamNet Bridge – A recent increase in the fine for improper vehicle ownership transfer has generated a substantial public outcry, even though relevant authorities affirm that the fines are necessary.

Decree71/CP sets out fines of VND800,000-1.2 million (US$38-57) for those who possess motorbikes for which they failed to complete change of ownership procedures. These are eight times higher than the previous fines of VND100,000-200,000 ($4.7-9.2).

Automobile owners who make the same mistake will be fined between VND6-10 million ($285-476). Formerly they only had to pay between VND1-2 million ($47-95).

More than 40 per cent of vehicles currently on the road lack proper transfer of ownership documents, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

New vehicle owners had 30 days to carry out transfer of ownership procedures, or else they would have to pay the fine, said Major General Do Dinh Nghi, deputy general director of General Police Administration of Social Order and Safety.

Some vehicles are passed around to so many people, it becomes impossible to track down the original owner. In those cases, the person who sold the vehicle to the current owner will be responsible for these procedures and any accompanying fees, Nghi said.

In his opinion, higher fines will reduce traffic accidents and jams because traffic participants do not obey traffic safety regulations, including vehicle ownership transfer.

These fines also serve to protect the rights of the original owner of the vehicles, who is still responsible for paying road maintenance fees for those vehicles even though he does not use them any longer, he said.

Such fines currently apply to vehicle owners in many other countries.

Meanwhile, many have expressed concern that the new regulations are irrational.

Phan Tuan Anh, a citizen in Ha Noi's Thanh Xuan District, said the higher fines would deter family members from sharing vehicles.

"If my family has only one motorbike and it's under my ownership, what can my wife do when she needs to go somewhere?" he asked.

In the past, low fines still allowed families to defy the regulation, but now, it is costly to do that, Anh said.

VietNamNet/VNS