Toll stations face hefty fines for traffic jams

Under the newly issued Decree 336/2025/ND-CP, toll station operators in Vietnam face significantly stricter penalties for allowing traffic congestion. Starting March 1, 2026, any toll station that allows vehicles to queue for more than 15 minutes or creates a tailback exceeding 750 meters will be subject to a fine of up to VND 70 million (approx. $2,800). This regulation represents a seven-fold increase in penalties compared to previous standards, aiming to eliminate the persistent "bottleneck" effect at BOT stations and accelerate the transition to fully automated, non-stop electronic toll collection (ETC).

Strict New Thresholds for Congestion

The new decree removes the ambiguity of previous regulations by setting clear, measurable triggers for administrative fines. A toll station is officially in violation if it fails to manage the flow of traffic within these specific parameters:

• Time-Based Trigger: If any vehicle is forced to wait for more than 15 minutes to pass through the toll gate.
• Distance-Based Trigger: If the queue of vehicles waiting at a single lane (measured from the toll cabin to the last vehicle) reaches a length of 750 meters or more.
• Automatic Maximum Fine: Unlike previous rules that allowed for warnings or lower initial fines, Decree 336 mandates that the maximum fine of VND 70 million be applied immediately upon the occurrence of these gridlock conditions.

The shift in policy highlights the government's frustration with slow service and manual collection methods that hinder national logistics.

Data Transparency and Security

The hefty fines for traffic jams are part of a broader crackdown on how BOT stations manage data and financial transparency. Operators can also face severe penalties for:

• Data Sharing Failures: Failing to connect or share real-time traffic and revenue data with the state’s management systems.
• System Tampering: Any unauthorized interference with the electronic payment data or the use of software/devices to distort toll revenue.
• Service Disruption: Engaging in or allowing activities that obstruct, sabotage, or cause disorder within the electronic payment system.

Driving the Move to Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)

This policy serves as a powerful incentive for investors and operators to modernize their infrastructure. By making congestion financially "painful," the government is forcing the hand of operators to:

• Expand ETC Lanes: Increasing the number of non-stop lanes to handle higher volumes of traffic without human intervention.
• Upgrade Technology: Investing in high-speed cameras and more reliable RFID tag readers to reduce transaction failures.
• Improve Staff Readiness: Ensuring that manual lanes (where they still exist) are sufficiently staffed during peak hours and holidays to prevent the 15-minute threshold from being crossed.

For drivers, these changes promise a smoother journey. However, the authorities also remind vehicle owners to ensure their ETC accounts are sufficiently funded, as vehicles without tags or with empty accounts that cause stoppages at the gates can also be subject to individual fines.