Readers in Ho Chi Minh City are questioning whether they are brave enough to film local traffic police even though they have the right to do so.

During a press meeting on September 22, Lieutenant Colonel Huynh Trung Phong, chief of the road and railway traffic unit under the municipal Department of Police, confirmed that citizens are allowed to supervise and record on-duty traffic cops, as long as it doesn’t interrupt their work.

A special surveillance camera system will also be installed to monitor traffic conditions across the city as well as to supervise local traffic police officers when dealing with violators.

Although residents are encouraged to take part in the supervision, several readers are wondering if it is safe to do so, especially when there have been reports about some ‘assistants’ preventing and threatening those who try to film the officers.

According to Nguyen Van Duc, a Ho Chi Minh City-based lawyer, wherever citizens are confronted by strangers after capturing traffic cops on camera, competent authorities should investigate and determine who they are and if they have any connection with specific traffic officers.

“It is a strange coincident that these ‘assistants’ are often found near the same patrol spots of local traffic police units,” Duc said.

Meanwhile, many people have expressed their support for the idea, stating that it is a good way to ensure transparency in how law enforcers perform their jobs.

Joachim Muhlhiem, a French national who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for nine years, said that commuters would not be wrongfully charged as long as they file their conversation with traffic police.

Le Minh, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reader agreed with the opinion, adding that the best way for citizens to prevent confrontation with traffic police units, however, is to strictly comply with traffic regulations.

Another reader named Phong Vu said that commuters should not disrespect officers and be accountable for their video clips if they do not reflect the truth.

Implying a slightly different idea, Pham Hoang Nam suggested that each officer be equipped with a voice recorder so that their conversations with civilians are monitored.

The audio will reveal if a traffic cop uses appropriate manners when dealing with offenders, Nam said, adding that it would cost less than installing a camera system.

Another opinion pointed was for leaders of police units to carry out unannounced inspections at their officers’ patrol posts.

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