Vietnamese police offer rice for noisy motorcycle exhausts in community peace initiative
Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Police in Tiên Lục commune, Bắc Ninh, are running a "Swap noisy exhaust for fragrant rice" program to reduce noise pollution.
- Young people who voluntarily remove modified exhausts from their motorcycles can receive bags of rice or other gifts.
- The initiative aims to improve traffic safety, reduce noise, and foster community peace, receiving positive feedback online.
In Tiên Lục commune, Bắc Ninh, authorities have launched an innovative program encouraging motorcyclists to swap their noisy, modified exhaust pipes for bags of fragrant rice. The initiative, dubbed "Swap noisy exhaust for fragrant rice," aims to tackle noise pollution and enhance traffic safety.
Since mid-May, the local police have been actively promoting the program, urging residents, particularly young people, to voluntarily remove non-standard exhaust systems from their motorcycles. This effort is designed to ensure traffic order, decrease noise levels, and maintain peace within residential areas.
Each modified exhaust handed in will earn young people 10kg of fragrant rice. The material value is not large but carries educational and humanitarian meaning, reminding them to live responsibly towards the community and society, and not to violate the law.
So far, eight young individuals have proactively replaced their modified exhausts with original ones and brought the removed parts to the commune police station to receive rewards. Each participant who meets the criteria is eligible for a 10kg bag of rice or a comparable gift. Captain Lê Quang Tùng, Deputy Head of Tiên Lục Commune Police, expressed the department's hope that such relatable and practical awareness campaigns will educate the public, especially the youth, about the dangers of modified exhausts.
This is a new, humane way that is suitable for the psychology of young people, helping to pull them away from potentially dangerous hobbies.
The program also extends to encouraging the surrender of illegal weapons, explosives, and support tools like homemade knives and pepper spray. Captain Tùng emphasized that while the material value of the gifts is modest, the educational and humanitarian significance is substantial. It serves as a reminder for young people to act responsibly towards the community and society and to abide by the law.
The approach by the Tiên Lục Commune Police has garnered significant positive attention and is spreading across social media. Many commenters praise the model for its educational value, humanitarian aspect, and its ability to foster a closer relationship between the police and young people. Social media users have lauded the initiative as a novel, humane method that resonates with the mindset of young people, guiding them away from potentially dangerous pastimes and contributing to public security and community education.
This activity contributes to ensuring security and order, and also has the meaning of educating the community.
Originally published by Tuổi Trẻ in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.