Police in Phnom Penh will next month start issuing fines of up to $25 for violations of parking regulations by using handheld devices that scan licence plates and recognise the registered identity and address of a vehicle’s owner, an official said yesterday.

Run Rothveasna, director of the Interior Ministry’s Traffic and Public Order Department, said that wrongdoers would face fines between 50,000 to 100,000 riel (about $12.50 to $25) depending on the vehicle, withdrawal of their driver’s licence or even court proceedings. “We are training traffic police officials about the use of technology via the sophisticated system,” Rothveasna said of the handheld devices. “They will also tow vehicles.”

Taxi driver Yan Bunthoeun, 46, said that he welcomed the move.

“Some traffic police officers seem to be afraid of the influence of business and vehicle owners, especially of the vehicles with RCAF and police plates. Instead [of fines], when they see the owners of the luxury cars violating traffic laws, they ask them for money,” Bunthoeun said.

Mun Ya, 38, a food vendor on Sothearos Boulevard, said she worried the crackdown on parking violations would extend to irregular street sellers, while cars from the wealthy continue to go without fines.

Rothveasna said that fines would double after 30 days if not paid, and triple after 60 days. After 90 days, a lawsuit would directly be sent to court.