Increased fines to 7 million VND for littering in public places

Increased penalties

Regarding violations of regulations on public hygiene, according to Dr. and Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hai - Head of Trong Hai and Associates Law Office, the latest regulations are stated in Decree No. 155/2016/ND-CP dated November 18, 2016.

Compared with Decree 167/2013/ND-CP, Decree 155/2016/ND-CP has adjusted to increase the penalty level for acts of environmental pollution in public places.

It regulates many groups of behaviors that cause environmental pollution in many fields such as mineral exploitation; environmental protection in tourism activities, festivals; especially behaviors that violate regulations on environmental protection in public places, urban areas, residential areas...

A spontaneous garbage collection point on N5 road. Photo: Ngoc Khanh

Specifically, Clause 1, Article 20, Decree No. 155/2016/ND-CP stipulates administrative sanctions for violations in the field of environmental protection, including the act of littering in violation of regulations causing environmental pollution as follows:

1. The act of collecting and disposing of household waste in violation of environmental protection regulations shall be punished as follows:

a) A fine of between VND 500,000 and VND 1,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of throwing, dumping, or discarding cigarette butts, butts, and ashes in the wrong place in apartment buildings, commercial or service areas, or public places;

b) A fine of between VND 1,000,000 and VND 3,000,000 shall be imposed for personal hygiene (urination, defecation) not in designated places in apartment buildings, commercial and service areas or public places;

c) A fine of between VND 3,000,000 and VND 5,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of dumping, disposing, or discarding household waste in the wrong place in apartment buildings, commercial or service areas, or public places, except for the violation specified in Point d of this Clause;

d) A fine of between VND 5,000,000 and VND 7,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of dumping or discharging household waste on sidewalks, streets or into urban wastewater drainage systems or surface drainage systems in urban areas.

Strengthen propaganda and raise people's awareness

It can be seen that acts such as cigarette ashtrays, cigarette butts in public places, such as in apartment buildings, commercial and service areas will be fined up to 1 million VND. The act of littering household waste, defecating in an illegal manner in apartment buildings, service and commercial areas, and public places will also be fined from 1 to 3 million VND. The act of littering household waste in public places will be fined from 5 to 7 million VND. This is a fairly high fine.

The Government's regulation to increase penalties for littering in public places to protect the environment is extremely necessary, increasing deterrence for individuals and organizations that violate the law.

Many garbage collection points at intersections and crossroads on main roads of Vinh city are congested due to garbage trucks from all directions. Garbage is left lying on the road, causing unsightliness. Photo: document

However, the problem is how to detect and punish the above mentioned acts, and which agency or organization has the responsibility and authority to punish such violations? Because the acts of intentionally littering in public places are all done by violators secretly, quickly and intentionally so that others do not catch them.

Therefore, it is thought that along with strengthening detection and punishment, propaganda work, raising awareness and awareness for the community about the importance of environmental protection and maintaining public hygiene is equally important. And that propaganda needs the participation of the entire political system, reaching every family, every social organization, especially propaganda to the younger generations, students in schools.

In families, parents need to set an example for their children and grandchildren. In agencies and units, it is necessary to thoroughly understand and mobilize each cadre and employee to strictly implement regulations on public hygiene. In villages, hamlets, and hamlets, grassroots cadres and movement cadres in residential areas play an important role in raising awareness among each citizen about maintaining public hygiene and not discharging waste that pollutes the environment in public places.

According to the provisions of Decree No. 155/2016/ND-CP, the competent agencies and organizations to sanction violations of regulations on public hygiene in Article 20 of this Decree include: Coast Guard; People's Public Security at all levels; Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels from communes, wards, towns to Chairman of People's Committees at provincial level depending on the level of violation.

In addition, the competent authority to impose penalties also includes the Chief Inspector of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and equivalent positions assigned by the Government to perform specialized inspection functions on natural resources and environment, with authority to impose administrative penalties in the province or centrally-run city. Or the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Director General of the General Department of Environment, the Director of the Department of Pollution Control and equivalent positions assigned by the Government to perform specialized inspection functions on natural resources and environment have authority to impose administrative penalties in the field of environmental protection according to their authority nationwide.