Police in Vinh Long province said which vehicles with blue and red government license plates in Vietnam may use priority lights and sirens. A driver whose vehicle has no priority rights but is fitted with the equipment without authorization can face a fine of VND 4 million to VND 6 million, two penalty points on the driving licence and confiscation of the equipment.
A permit is required for priority signals
Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tung, head of the Vinh Long traffic police division, sent a response to Thanh Niên journalists on October 23 after reports about vehicles with blue plates that may have used priority signals without the required grounds.
The vehicles permitted to carry priority lights and sirens include fire engines operated by fire prevention, firefighting and rescue police, as well as fire engines from other forces called in for firefighting duties. The list also includes military vehicles on urgent missions, such as directing firefighting and rescue work, commanding operations, handling urgent communications, leading a marching convoy, military control, inspecting military vehicles and protecting a convoy.
The equipment may also be used by vehicles carrying out arrests, searches, other investigative activities, the escort of suspects, defendants and prisoners, and counter-terrorism operations.
Police vehicles on urgent duties include traffic police vehicles used for patrols, inspections and enforcement, traffic direction, investigating and handling road crashes, as well as vehicles assigned to protection, rescue, investigative, escort, urgent communications, riot control, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue duties.
The list includes vehicles of the procuracy carrying out urgent arrests, searches and other investigative activities, traffic police escort vehicles, ambulances on emergency duty, escort vehicles assigned to official duties, and vehicles involved in rescue work, responses to natural disasters and epidemics. When a state of emergency is declared, priority status also applies to vehicles serving the steering committee and government forces mobilized for the response.
Vehicles entitled to priority must meet the prescribed conditions. An authorized agency must also issue a permit to use equipment that emits priority signals.
Authorities tighten control over illegal priority signals
According to the Vinh Long traffic police division, a driver whose vehicle is not entitled to priority but has priority signal equipment installed or in use can be fined VND 4 million to VND 6 million. The violation also results in two penalty points on the driving licence.
In addition to the fine, equipment installed or used in breach of the rules will be confiscated.
On September 23, Colonel Nguyen Van Hanh, deputy director of Vinh Long Provincial Police, sent a document to provincial departments and local communes and wards on coordinating the issuance of permits for priority signal equipment.
Heads of provincial departments and local authorities were asked to ensure compliance with the rules on managing and using the equipment, review permit applications and not seek permits for vehicles outside the prescribed category or those that do not meet the requirements.
Vinh Long Provincial Police also instructed its units and local authorities to explain the rules on priority vehicles, signal equipment and related permits to organizations and residents. During patrols and traffic checks, traffic police will take the measures required by law against anyone who installs or uses priority lights, sirens or signal flags without authorization.
Sources: Thanh Niên
