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Hefty fines slam brakes on drivers in Shenzhen

By Chen Hong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-14 09:45

SHENZHEN: Careful new driver Ding Xiang was stunned by the city's new draft regulations, which slap heavy fines on traffic offenders.

Route 982 mini-buses that operate between two residential areas in Longgang district, Shenzhen. [China Daily]

"The fine for running a red light (1,000 yuan, or $147) accounts for nearly one fifth of my monthly salary," said Ding, a 27-year-old employee of a telecommunications company. "My first impression is I should give up driving, or I will go bankrupt."

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Legislators said they are bringing in the severe fines to protect people's lives and restore order on the streets in the southern city bordering Hong Kong.

According to official figures, the number of vehicles in Shenzhen has skyrocketed to nearly 1.4 million from 180,000 in 1996. Some 719 people died and almost 3,000 were injured in traffic accidents last year.

The legislative body will review and discuss the new regulation after collecting opinions from the public until the end of October.

Under the new regulation, the baseline fine has been set at 500 yuan, the highest level in China. Ten common violations, including running red lights, illegal lane changes and taking the wrong lane, would see fines of 1,000 yuan.

In addition, fines can rise to a maximum of 10,000 yuan if a driver continues to commit the same offense.

The worn-out tire of a mini-bus. [China Daily]

Meanwhile, the punishment for driving after drinking alcohol is 5,000 yuan, while the fine for drunken driving is 10,000 yuan.

The new regulation has received a mixed response from the public.

While many people express dissatisfaction with the severe fines, more support harsher punishment for serious offenders, including those using fake plates or other people's plates and drunken drivers.

Some lawyers said the regulations attach too much importance to heavy punishment, which they criticized as a lazy way to govern the city.

Although the fines are being raised, legislators offered some ways to ease the pain.

The first traffic violation in a year could be exempt from a fine with the driver receiving a warning, and those who pay the fine on time would be required to pay only half.

The regulation also stipulates that some traffic violators should offer 30 hours of volunteer services, a system learned from Hong Kong.

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