Concerns have been raised by the Ministry of Transport over the potential suspension of numerous vehicle inspection centers, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tan Thanh
On the morning of August 9, leaders of the Vietnam Registry gave an overview of the motor vehicle inspection situation over the past time and forecasted the trend for the remaining months of 2024.
According to the Vietnam Registry, there are currently 275 out of 295 vehicle inspection centers operating with 448 out of 547 inspection lines nationwide. Inspection activities at these centers have resumed normal operations, meeting the inspection needs of the people and businesses.
However, the Vietnam Registry predicted that in the coming time, when the prosecution agencies conclude the trials and issue verdicts, a significant number of vehicle inspectors are expected to have their certificates revoked, and many inspection centers will be temporarily suspended for a period of 3 months in accordance with Decree No. 139/2018/ND-CP and Decree No. 30/2023/ND-CP.
According to statistics, there are 42 provinces with 112 inspection centers where inspectors have been prosecuted. According to Point c, Clause 16, Article 1 of Decree No. 30/2023/ND-CP, vehicle inspectors who are “convicted by a court verdict that has taken legal effect for violating regulations related to motor vehicle inspection” shall have their certificates revoked.
This situation will result in the cessation of operations of 91 inspection centers in 32 provinces, as stipulated in Clause 10, Article 1 of Decree No. 30/2023, which states that inspection centers with “two or more vehicle inspectors having their certificates revoked within a continuous period of 12 months” shall be temporarily suspended from operating vehicle inspection services for a period of 3 months.
It is forecasted that the number of vehicles undergoing inspections will significantly decrease in August 2024 (the 7th lunar month) but will surge again in the last months of 2024, especially when coinciding with the enforcement of court verdicts, leading to congestion in vehicle inspections.
Specifically, according to preliminary reports, up to 55% of inspectors in Hanoi and about 40% in Ho Chi Minh City have been prosecuted. When these inspectors are convicted by court verdicts that take legal effect simultaneously (in September or October 2024), there will be only 2 operating inspection centers in each of these two cities.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Transport is submitting to the Government for amendment and supplementation of a number of provisions of Decree No. 139/2018 on the business of motor vehicle inspection services, including: Temporary suspension of certificate revocation for inspectors who are sentenced to suspended imprisonment or non-custodial reform and are not prohibited from practicing the profession.
Additionally, the Vietnam Registry has coordinated with the Departments of Transport in some localities (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security), and the Vehicle and Equipment Department (General Department of Logistics and Technology, Ministry of National Defense) to prepare a plan to reinforce resources in the worst-case scenario to ensure the maintenance of the inspection system, thereby meeting the legitimate inspection needs of the people and businesses.
“The Concern Over Vehicle Inspection Center Closures: A Plea to Retain the Professional Certification of Vehicle Inspectors with Suspended Sentences”
The Ministry of Transport has proposed that the Government temporarily refrain from revoking the certification of vehicle inspectors who have received suspended sentences or non-custodial reformatory sentences, provided that the sentence does not prohibit them from practicing their profession. This proposal comes amid concerns that many vehicle inspection centers may suspend their operations in the near future.
