On March 11, the Traffic Police Department dispatched 30 police officers to help Hanoi deal with congestion at local vehicle registration centers.

A traffic police officer examines a car at the registration center on Le Quang Dao Road, Hanoi on March 11. Photo: Pham Cong/The Hanoi Times

Nearly 170 traffic police officers nationwide have taken special training in vehicle inspection and registration.

They were trained to thoroughly understand the procedures and regulations, maneuver the machines, and immediately start working at local vehicle registries in the country.

Major General Le Xuan Duc, Deputy Director of the Traffic Police Department, has stated that the move aims to ensure the traffic system runs smoothly and smoothly.

Both the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport said they prioritize the rights and benefits of drivers, get their vehicles to the technical inspection line soon, and allow their vehicles to resume their daily routine.

Nguyen Chien Thang, the newly-appointed director of the Vietnam Register, said the agency highly appreciates the support of the Ministry of Public Security and the Traffic Police Department in solving problems related to vehicle registration.

He said his agency and the Ministry of Transport would work with the Ministry of National Defence to improve the working efficiency of local registration centers.

Over the past two months, more than 400 registrars and registry executives have been detained and prosecuted by the Ministry of Public Security in a special crackdown.

These suspects are accused of accepting bribes and ignoring technical defects in unqualified and substandard vehicles, indirectly causing environmental pollution and traffic accidents.

The remaining registrars and center directors have been intensely scrutinized and concerned for their alleged misdeeds. Some have even refused to go to work for fear of being arrested by the police.

As a result, there is a need for more technicians and specialists at local vehicle registration centers. In the past two months, arrests have paralyzed the operations of 61 registration centers across the country.

Police have taken the machinery of these temporarily closed centers for investigation. If they are allowed to resume operations, it may take 2-3 months to purchase new machinery.

In addition, the registrars complained that their job is arduous, usually requiring 1 to 4 years of training and days of hard work in a dusty, smoky, and noisy environment. They also have to work night shifts, while their wages and bonuses are not enough to maintain their standard of living.

Hanoi registry offices congested all day

In Hanoi, only seven of the 31 registration centers are operational. Currently, only 30% of the technicians can do their jobs, while the seven centers can only inspect about 16,500 cars per month.

Drivers line up and wait for their turns for vehicle check-ups at the registration center on Le Quang Dao Road, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

According to the Vietnam Register, nearly 75,700 cars in Hanoi will see their technical registration expire in March. The figures for April-June are between 83,700 and 92,100 vehicles.
As a result, tens of thousands of car owners wait their turn at the seven facilities to have their cars inspected, causing traffic jams in downtown Hanoi and inconveniencing drivers and other travelers. Many drivers even have to travel to neighboring provinces to have their cars inspected.
"I have to leave my car in the parking lot because there is no time to queue up and wait for the technical inspection at the registration center," said Nguyen Hoang Hiep, a resident of Thanh Xuan District.
"What worries me the most is whether I will get fined for letting my car's registration expire, and whether the police will spare me for this force majeure?"
According to the Hanoi Transportation Association, the Ministry of Transport should work with the Ministry of Public Security and others to devise a plan to fix the problem.
The association said that congestion at registration centers wastes time and money for businesses and drivers as their vehicles cannot be used.
Therefore, the ministries should consider sending registrars from other provinces to work in Hanoi, the association said.
The Ministry of Transport should soon issue a regulation allowing qualified service centers and auto repair shops to perform registration work and call on the retirees to resume work.
In addition, the ministry and the registration centers should resolve technical problems with their websites so drivers can easily book their vehicle inspections, thus avoiding congestion at the facilities.