Thủ Đức city strengthen monitoring for alcohol-level violations. Photo: thanhnien.vn

HCM CITY — The Police Department of Thủ Đức City are strengthening check points to catch drunk drivers through the end of the year to curb dangerous driving during the holiday season.

The campaign is dispatching new DUI teams with more officers than normal to streets known for high concentrations of bars, clubs and restaurants. The officers’ mission will be to perform more regular traffic stops and check for alcohol-level violations in motorists.

Police in Thủ Đức City began deploying officers to check and fine those who drink and drive this week.

The campaign will last until December 31, with officers split into teams patrolling areas surrounding popular clusters of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in order to prevent drunk driving.

Nguyễn Văn Bình, deputy head of the HCM City traffic police said that the campaign aims to prevent people who party at the end of the year from drinking and driving, which can result in accidents.

According to the Thủ Đức City Police Department, over the past 10 months, 119 traffic accidents occurred in Thủ Đức City, causing 58 deaths and 71 injuries.

Any amount of alcohol found in a person’s system will result in their driving license being revoked, under Vietnamese law. The highest penalties are a VNĐ40 million (US$1,640) fine and 24 months of license revocation, although one can face criminal charges if the violation results in an accident.  VNS