From January 1, bicycle riders will be fined if they are caught drunk driving, VnExpress cited a new decree of the Vietnamese government.

Bicycle drivers shall be subject to a fine of up to VND400,000-600,000 (US$17.3-26) if found riding after drinking alcoholic beverages, says the decree which will take effect on January 1, 2020. The fine is applied for those who have alcohol content exceeding 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood or exceeding 0.4 milligrams per liter of breathing air. This is the highest fine for bicyclists.

Police check a driver’s alcohol content. Photo: Ba Do

A fine of from VND 200,000-300,000 (US$8.6-12.9) shall be imposed upon when bicyclists have an alcohol content of between 50 milligrams and 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood or from 0.25 milligrams to 0.4 milligrams per liter of breathing air.

The new regulation replaces a decree effective in 2016. The law strictly bans a person from driving a vehicle after drinking alcoholic beverages. The decree is meant to complement and enforce the law that prohibits bicycle riders from driving after drinking.

According to new regulations, car drivers will be fined up to VND30-40 million (US$1,297-1,729) and have their driving license revoked for 22-24 months if they break regulations on drunk driving. Motorcyclists may face a VND6-8 million (US$259-346) fine and have their driving license revoked for 22-24 months for the same offense. These are the highest penalties for car drivers and motorcyclists.

According to a representative of the municipal Department of Traffic Police, the above-mentioned regulation is in accordance with Vietnam’s Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcoholic Beverages.

The decree also stipulates heavier punishments for those driving while being high on drugs, traveling in wrong lanes and on wrong sides, overspeeding, driving on wrong roads, and backing up on highways.

Images and videos captured by individual or institutional devices can be used for dealing with traffic rule violations, according to the new legislation.