Is shooting birds on electric wires illegal in Vietnam?

Is shooting birds on electric wires illegal in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 4 of Decree 14/2014/ND-CP amended by Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree 51/2020/ND-CP, the following prohibited acts are prescribed:

1. Stealing or removing the guy rope, earthing wire and equipment of power grid, climbing on electric poles, entering power stations or safety protection areas of electrical works when not on duty.

2. Using the high-voltage grid for other purposes without the agreement with the management unit of high-voltage grid.

3. Flying kites or flying objects near high-voltage grid works which may cause incidents to the power grids.

4. Installing receiving and transmitting antenna, hanging wire, scaffolding, billboard, light box and other things at places that may hit the high-voltage power grid upon collapse or falling.

5. Planting trees or letting trees violate the safety distance for overhead conducting wire or power stations.

6. Shooting birds on wires or power stations or tossing or throwing any object to the wires or power stations.

7. Digging land which may cause subsidence or collapse of high-voltage power grid and power stations.

8. Filling soil or placing materials, equipment or discharging waste in violation of safety distance.

9. Using electric pole or power station as house, tent, shop, animal tying or for other purposes.

10. Blasting or opening mine, placing or containing flammable substances, chemicals capable of causing corrosion or damage to the parts of the grid.

11. Burning fields, using performance vehicles causing shocks or potential damage or incidents to power grid works, power stations or power plants.

12. Controlling the flying vehicles with the distance of less than 100 m to the nearest part of power grid, except cases where the flying vehicles are on duty of management, maintenance or repair of electric wires permitted under regulation.

13. Letting trees fall onto the electric wires when cutting or trimming trees or cutting trees from abusing the protection or repair of high-voltage grid.

14. Other acts which violate the regulations on safety protection of high-voltage grid.

Thus, this group's act of shooting birds on electric wires is a prohibited act and is not allowed in Vietnam.

What are penalties for shooting birds that cause damage or electrical incidents in Vietnam? 

Pursuant to Clause 18, Article 2 of Decree 17/2022/ND-CP stipulates as follows:

“Article 15. Violation of regulations on electrical safety

...

5. A fine ranging from VND 60.000.000 to VND 70.000.000 shall be imposed on:

a) Digging or driving piles into safety corridor of underground cables;

b) Operating equipment, instrument, or vehicles or conducting other activities in a manner that violates minimum approach distance by voltage;

c) Dismantling any component of electrical grid or power plant when not assigned to do so;

d) Throwing any object and causing damage to electrical grid or power plant or causing incident to electrical grid or power plant;

dd) Employing electricity to trap, capture animals or to use as direct protective measures in a manner that contradicts regulations and law;

e) Failing to adequately promulgate procedures and regulations on electrical safety;

g) Failing to adequately adopt safety measures when working by work slip or work order and thereby causing incidents or accidents;

h) Utilizing or hiring individuals who have not received electrical training or electrical safety training, or have not been issued with electrical safety card, inspector card to manage operation, repair electrical grid, power plant, or conduct technical safety inspection of electrical equipment and instruments;

i) Setting up power lines across residential areas, crowded areas or letting the power lines to carry more load than the prescribed standards;

k) Failing to have standards and technical regulations on electrical safety issued by competent authorities;

l) Failing to develop and adopt procedures, regulations, and methods of organizing implementation of regulations on electrical safety at workplace and enterprises on the basis of standards and technical regulations on electrical safety issued by competent authorities;

m) Failing to produce documents, information sheets, and technical dossiers relating to electrical equipment and managing organizations;

n) Failing to produce statistical reports, monitor electricity-related incidents and violations of safety corridor of high-voltage electrical grid under their management, and submit reports on electricity operations and local electricity use to the authorities."

Pursuant to Article 4 of Decree 71/2019/ND-CP stipulating the maximum fine level and authority to impose fines on individuals and organizations as follows:

1. The maximum fine for a violation against regulations on chemicals and a violation against regulations on industrial explosive materials incurred by an individual is VND 50,000,000 and VND 100,000,000 respectively.

2. The fines prescribed in Chapter II hereof are imposed for administrative violations committed by individuals. The fine incurred by an organization is twice as much as the fine incurred by an individual for the same violation.

3. The maximum fines imposed by the persons mentioned in Chapter III hereof are incurred by individuals. The maximum fines they may impose upon organizations are twice as much as the fines incurred by individuals.

According to this Article, this group's behavior causes damage to electric wires so they can be fined from 60,000,000 VND to 70,000,000 VND.

Best regards!