Is there a penalty for parking a car blocking a drainage manhole? What is the specific penalty according to current regulations?
This morning I parked my car on the sidewalk in front of a store but didn't notice that the car had accidentally blocked the drain. The security guard in the area reminded me that if I encountered the authorities, I could be fined. So is parking a car covering a drain or manhole a violation of traffic regulations and if so, what is the specific fine? Question from Ms. DTT, residing in Thanh Vinh ward.
Reply:
According to Decree 168/2024/ND-CP dated December 26, 2024 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of road traffic, including deduction of points and restoration of points on driving licenses, acts of stopping and parking on drainage manholes, technical tunnels, manhole covers, fire hydrant locations, etc. are considered violations of the law and will be handled according to regulations.
Specifically, Clause 3, Article 6 of this Decree stipulates that drivers who park their vehicles in the wrong place, causing damage to public works, will be subject to administrative penalties ranging from VND 800,000 to VND 1,000,000.
Parking cars blocking manholes sometimes happens unintentionally but has many potential serious consequences. When cars park on manholes or manhole covers, it will hinder drainage, especially in heavy rain conditions, which can easily lead to localized flooding, affecting people's lives. In addition, parking cars in these locations also causes difficulties for authorities in the process of inspecting, maintaining and repairing underground technical works and potentially damaging urban infrastructure. In some cases, if the manhole cover is weak or degraded, the car may collapse, endangering the driver.
Therefore, drivers need to pay close attention when stopping or parking their vehicles, especially on sidewalks and roadsides, and absolutely avoid locations with manholes, manhole covers, fire hydrants, etc. to ensure traffic safety, comply with legal regulations and contribute to protecting urban infrastructure.
