The General Department of Taxation under the Ministry of Economy and Finance said it will begin inspecting the tax status of all vehicles. Checkpoints will be set up along major thoroughfares in the capital and provinces from February 1 onwards.

“The tax officials will lead a joint municipal and provincial task force in cooperation with sub-national authorities to discover untaxed vehicles,” the department said.

It urged all vehicle owners who had not yet paid the tax to hurry and pay it, along with any associated fines.

“The department hopes and believes that all vehicle owners will pay attention to their tax obligations and will pay their vehicle taxes on time in accordance with the provisions of the law,” the letter said.

“Those paying such a tax will avoid being stopped by sub-national authorities on the road, which will waste time and lead to traffic congestion,” it noted.

Phnom Penh municipal traffic police chief Sem Ratana could not be reached for comment on February 1.

However, municipal police spokesman San Sok Seiha said tax officials are leading this task. If they receive a request for cooperation, they will immediately offer their support.

Battambang provincial traffic police bureau chief Chan Sothy and his Kampot counterpart Puth Sing said on February 1 that their officers will cooperate with tax officials in the inspection of vehicles, but they have not yet confirmed which locations will be monitored.