HÀ NỘI – The Hà Nội police will be given smart devices to check whether motorbike drivers have correctly transfered their vehicle ownership.

In a recent statement, municipal People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung said the city asked for permission from the Ministry of Public Security and received a nod.

Technology application will start from January 1, 2017. 

Accordingly, instead of checking visible paperwork of vehicle ownership, police only need to assess a database of motorbike registration to check vehicle ownership transfer details.

Chung said the city will update the database and then purchase devices for patrol teams.

To update motorbike ownership information and manage transport in a smart way, towards a smart city, the city authorities will set up a multitasking digital management centre to focus on tackling transport incidents, controlling traffic flow, analysing data and undertaking emergency responses. The centre is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of next year, he said.

In addition, Chung asked the city’s Department of Information and Communications to provide tablets and smartphones to local officials to enable them to do their job.

According to Decree 46 of the Ministry of Public Security, from next year, individual motorbike owners will incur a fine of VNĐ100,000-200,000 (US$4.5-9) if they fail to transfer vehicle ownership. 

Organisations that are owners of motorbikes will have to pay a fine of VNĐ200,000-400,000 ($9-18).

Decree 15 issued in April 2015 by the Ministry of Public Security states that individuals or organisations with motorbikes, three-wheeled or electric bikes, which have been sold or given to them but whose change of ownership hadn’t been completed, must complete the procedure by the end of December 31, 2016.

To clarify the controversial regulation, Major General Trần Thế Quân, deputy head of the Department of Legal Affairs under the ministry, told local media that police officers are not allowed to stop motorbikes to check vehicle ownership. They are authorised to check ownership only when the vehicles are ordered to stop for violating traffic rules. — VNS