Ho Chi Minh City traffic police fine delivery riders for oversized loads and covered plates

Ho Chi Minh City traffic police have fined several delivery riders for carrying bulky packages that obstruct traffic and for covering their motorcycle license plates. Some riders could face fines of up to 6 million Vietnamese dong.

The Hang Xanh Traffic Police Team, under the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department’s Traffic Police Division, said the violations create a risk of crashes. The city’s growing demand for deliveries has brought a large number of motorcycle-based riders onto the roads. Their need to accept orders, locate addresses and meet delivery times can leave them rushing or carrying packages that are too large.

Police said oversized loads can cause collisions, block riders’ views and make motorcycles harder to control, especially on crowded roads and during rush hour. Riders who carry goods or personally transport bulky items beyond the permitted limits face fines of 600,000 to 800,000 dong.

Another common violation involves boxes, sacks or other goods covering a motorcycle’s plate. Police said this can hinder the recording and handling of violations and make it harder to identify a vehicle after a hit-and-run. Deliberately covering a plate to evade authorities carries a fine of 4 million to 6 million dong and a deduction of six license points.

Traffic police said they are combining enforcement with explanations about the dangers involved. Riders were advised to check their motorcycle’s carrying capacity, secure packages properly and keep the plate visible. If a package exceeds what the motorcycle can safely carry, they can refuse the delivery. Police also cited fines of 800,000 to 1 million dong and four license points for using a phone while riding, and fines of 4 million to 6 million dong for riding on sidewalks, driving against traffic or disobeying traffic signals, with different license-point deductions.