Fines may rise for drunken drivers

HCM CITY— HCM City's People's Committee on Thursday has petitioned the National Assembly to strengthen penalties for traffic violations involving danger to life or property.

At a meeting between the committee and National Assembly's Law Committee, deputy chairman of the People's Committee Nguyen Huu Tin, said that most of these violations were caused by a high level of blood-alcohol content.

On average, nearly 5,000 drivers are fined each year for exceeding blood-alcohol levels.

The petition asked the National Assembly to shift the level of punishment from fines to crimainal penalties.

The police have proposed raising fines for violations such as going the wrong way and driving over the speed limit.

Tran Du Lich, a National Assembly deputy, proposed that violators should be forced to do public labour in addition to paying a fine.

Phan Trung Ly, head of the National Assembly's Law Committee, said these petitions would be submitted to the National Assembly's Standing Committee that is now amending regulations on traffic violations. — VNS