Shortcomings and amendments are discussed at a conference held by the HCM City University of Law in in the city yesterday. — VNS Photo Gia Lộc

HCM CITY — The Government has issued nearly 100 decrees to punish civil offences, and many overlap, making it difficult for authorities to enforce them, a conference heard in HCM City last week.
According to Assoc Prof Dr Nguyễn Cảnh Hợp, vice chairman of the HCM City University of Law’s training and science council, the regulations on handling administrative violations are also too complicated.
Besides, many of the penalties prescribed are not commensurate with the dangers a violation poses.
For instance, spreading nails on the street merely attracts a fine unless it causes death or severe injury.
If builders do not put up a warning notice or cover holes at construction sites, it is treated as a minor violation though it could lead to the death of many people.
Agencies currently involved with amending the 2012 Law on Handling Administrative Violations should comprehensively reform it, Hợp said.
Other delegates said penalties were not consistent though the violation might be the same.
Many parties were repeatedly penalised and even temporarily shut down for offences, but they were always back without fear of severe sanctions, they said.
Fines for many violations were low, they said, pointing to the VNĐ100,000-200,000 hawkers pay on banned streets, and the VNĐ100,000-300,000 prostitutes have to pay.
They said the fines should be based on the possible consequences to deter violations.
The conference was organised by the university together with Germany’s non-profit Friedrich Ebert Stiftung to collect opinions from foreign and Vietnamese experts for amending the law. — VNS