Effective January 1, 2025, a new regulation in Circular 73/2024 expands the authority of traffic police to inspect trucks and other vehicles during stops. This is seen as a significant step towards stricter management and improved compliance with traffic laws, especially for freight transport vehicles.
This new regulation focuses on inspecting vehicle tracking devices on trucks, an increasingly important tool for ensuring safety and transparency in transportation operations. So, specifically, what will traffic police inspect on trucks from 2025?
Purpose and Legal Basis for Truck Inspections
The traffic police’s authority to inspect trucks is not an arbitrary expansion of power, but is based on clear legal grounds and objectives:
- Monitoring Legal Compliance: Ensuring that trucks, buses, and other transport vehicles strictly comply with regulations regarding speed, continuous driving time, and registered routes.
- Improving the Effectiveness of Penalties: Data from vehicle tracking devices and image recording cameras will provide reliable evidence of violations such as speeding, illegal parking, not wearing seat belts, using a phone while driving, or driving while fatigued.
- Enhancing Road Safety: Regular inspections and monitoring help prevent potentially dangerous violations, protecting the lives and property of road users.
- Transparency in the Penalty Process: Objective data from vehicle tracking devices helps minimize unnecessary disputes between drivers and traffic police, ensuring fairness and transparency in handling violations.
- Promoting Technology Application: This regulation encourages transport companies to invest in modern technology, while also raising the awareness of self-compliance among drivers.
Truck Inspection Process by Traffic Police
When stopping a truck for inspection, traffic police have the right to take the following steps regarding the vehicle tracking device and dashcam:
- Checking Operational Status: Determining whether the device is functioning normally, whether the data is complete and accurate, and whether the camera is recording clearly.
- Extracting Data: Reviewing the journey history, operating speed, driving time, and other related information. They can even review previously recorded videos and images.
- Handling Violations: If violations are detected through the inspection data, traffic police will issue a ticket and impose penalties in accordance with the law.
Recommendations for Truck Owners and Drivers
To proactively comply with the new regulations and avoid any issues, truck owners and drivers should note the following:
- Ensure Stable Device Operation: Regularly check and maintain the vehicle tracking device and dashcam to ensure continuous and accurate operation. Absolutely do not interfere with the device or falsify data.
Vehicle tracking device installed in a truck cab - Strictly Comply with Traffic Laws: Adhere to speed limits, driving time, and prescribed routes. In particular, avoid dangerous violations such as using a phone, not wearing a seat belt, or overloading.
Traffic police officer inspecting a truck's tires - Periodic Inspection: Carry out regular equipment checks and maintenance to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data.
The regulation granting traffic police the right to inspect trucks is a necessary step to improve the efficiency of state management in the field of transportation. This change not only aims at road safety but also contributes to building a more transparent, fair, and civilized transport environment.
