Almost every day, traveling toward my workplace along street in Phnom Penh, I have always spotted traffic police getting money from passenger taxi, or trucks hauling their personal goods while running past the traffic light at the intersection of corner where traffic police officers stands, especially in Phnom Penh city.

Traffic policeman stationed at the traffic light is aimed at helping reduce traffic jam but in contrast, while passenger taxi or transportation trucks approach police, they step out on the street and then get money from drivers, even though their driving does not violate the rule. The amount of money they give to police officers is small but it is the starting point of bribe or corruption.

Truck’s driver is likely to have obligation to pay for police while they drive past the intersection of the corner where the traffic police stationed. In fact, the money paid to police is not the traffic fines. The money really is put into the police’s pocket, not in nation budget.

Whenever trucks’ drivers give money to traffic police officers, they never ask for receipt because they think that it is not fine.

Some opinions said that, it is because that the police salary is very low, it cannot feed their family. By the way, the small amount of money getting from taxi or truck drivers cannot enrich them. Other opinions said that the small amount of money paid to police officers is because that truck or taxi drivers want to facilitate their transportation. And the money paid for police is just for them to buy a cup of coffee.

Fighting against bribe or corruption is important to start from the government officials. A fine issued without a receipt is corruption.

When drivers give money to traffic police officers, is it their obligation? Is it the traffic police’s duty to get paid?

3 Responses to Traffic police’s duty to get money from drivers

  1. Vanak says:

    Policeman ប្រាក់ខែ ‘salary’ is $50 a month. But they received extra money​ ចែកគ្នា dividing among them from $100 -$200 more each month.

    The corruption is coming from the top. The boss demands the subordinates to get some extra money each month. Or else the your position will be taken away. In order to stop the corruption, the boss has to be clean. Starting from PM Hun Sen himself.

  2. vutha says:

    I agree with you, Vanak. As I know superiors always order their subordinates to make money for them, if they cannot make for their boss. they will be removed from where they can make money. Therefore, traffic police officers try to ask for money from drivers without shame.

    At the present, it is hard to fight against corruption in Cambodia, as u know the top leaders commit corruption and they make law but they sit above the law. Who dare to remove them from high position? the court institutions is under the corrupt leaders. So, no one dare try the corrupt officers. Have no choice but to wait and see until they die.

  3. chharda says:

    yes not good to do this it kind of corrubtion, anyways ur new theme look good seem nearly profesional ,

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