In the first three days of the lunar New Year, Hanoi police caught and handled 1,361 cases of traffic violation and issued fines totaling over VND445 million (US$22,250), the Vietnamese version on TTXVN reported.

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Of which, traffic police caught 950 cases involving fines of VND355 million with 136 coaches, 304 cars, 37 small trucks and 397 motorbikes.

The most common violation is not wearing the helmet.

Three people died in three accidents during the first three days of Tet in the capital. Most notably, a motorist was killed by a passing train.

Mobile police also caught three people in two cases illegally storing narcotics.

Also in the New Year’s first three days, two others were caught storing unauthorized weapons and a homemade gun.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security reported that nationwide, there were 129 traffic accidents killing 106 people, injuring 110 others during the said three days.

This is down by 13 fatalities and 32 injured cases compared with Tet last year.

In other traffic news, police in Thanh Hoa Province say they have resumed the controversial use of fish nets to catch illegal motorbike racers and speeding motorists during this 2012 lunar New Year of the dragon.

Jams near capital pagodas

Meanwhile, areas near pagodas and temples during Tet days in the capital are extremely crowded.

It is Vietnaese custom to flock to pagodas and temples on important days of the lunar month.

Near the Tay Ho Palace, vehicles lined up for almost two kilometers, all the way down to Yen Phu. There were also traffic jams along Xuan Dieu and other roads in the vicinity, Dan Tri reported.

Other streets, such as Thanh Nien, which is a route between Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple were jammed with illegally parked cars.

Due to huge demands, parking rates have gone up dramatically.

According to Dan Tri, parking lots around Tay Ho Palace charge fees of VND20,000 (USD0.95) for a motorbike, and between VND60,000 and VND80,000 for a car.

Fees are a little cheaper at parking lots along Quan Su Street, with VND10,000 per motorbike, and VND60,000 (USD2.85) per car.

On a normal day a motorbike would be charged VND3,000-VND5,000; a car, from VND10,000-VND20,000 (USD0.47-USD0.95).

Source: tuoitrenews