Acts of urinating on the roadway and sidewalk not only cause inconvenience for residents living nearby but also spoil urban aesthetics and create an unfavorable image in the eyes of international friends. Is there a fine imposed for urination on the streets in Vietnam??
Article table of contents
Is there a fine imposed for urination on the streets in Vietnam? (Illustrative image)
1. Penalties for the act of urination on the street
The act of urination on the street will be administratively handled according to the regulations specified in Decree 155/2016/ND-CP, specifically, Point b Clause 1 Article 20 of Decree 155/2016/ND-CP stipulates a fine ranging from 1,000,000 VND to 3,000,000 VND for personal hygiene acts (urination, defecating) not in the designated places in apartment buildings, commercial areas, services, or public places.
Therefore, anyone who commits the act of urination on the street will be fined as stipulated above, with the maximum fine amount up to 3,000,000 VND. Besides being fined, violators may also have their information about the violation publicly disclosed on the electronic information page or in newspapers of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the General Department of Environment, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the provincial People's Committee where the violation occurred. This can be considered a deserved penalty for those who commit the act of urination on the street. In addition to the fine, violators will also face judgment and criticism from the surrounding people. This is not a cheap price to pay.
2. Authority to impose fines
According to the regulations, the authority to impose fines belongs to the People's Committees at all levels, the People's Police, and specialized inspection agencies. In major cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City), an Urban Order Management Team will be established to organize inspections, promptly detect, record, and subsequently fine those who commit urination on the street.
3. Some issues and inadequacies:
- One act, two guiding documents
The act of urination on the street is also governed by Decree 167/2013/ND-CP. Specifically, Point c Clause 1 Article 7 of this Decree also stipulates penalties for the act of urination on the street ranging from 100,000 VND to 300,000 VND. This amount is significantly different from the regulations in Decree 155/2016/ND-CP. Thus, this not only creates overlapping legal regulations but also makes it difficult for the authorities to decide on the fine amount, as the same act cannot result in one person being fined 100,000 VND and another 3,000,000 VND.
***- Difficulties regarding facilities:***Not a single city in Vietnam has a complete public restroom system to serve its residents. Particularly, Vietnam is a country with one of the highest beer consumption rates in the world, where there are numerous restaurants, pubs, and beer shops everywhere, creating a huge demand for restrooms. To end the situation of urination on the street, merely setting penalties is not enough but also requires investment in building a comprehensive public restroom system. This is the key to ending the widespread situation of relieving oneself in undesignated places currently observed.
Legal Basis:
Nguyen Phu
