On Tuesday, Beijing Traffic Management Bureau said
it would make sure drivers know when they have been caught on
camera violating traffic rules by sending letters and posting
notices on public notice boards.
Drivers whose violations have scored 12 points and
owners whose vehicles approach being scrapped will be sent letters,
according to Li Jianhua, the bureau's director.
The move comes in response to the case of a migrant
worker called Du who passed the same no-entry sign 105 times but
said he never knew he had broken the law, amassing fines of over
10,500 yuan (US$1,200).
The vegetable seller was not aware that as he drove
to market every morning his truck was being recorded by hidden
cameras, of which there are more than 5,000 in the capital, and
only discovered the amount due when he visited a traffic management
office.
His appeal against the fines is still pending in
Xicheng District People's Court.
Drivers currently find out about driving
misdemeanors in a number of ways, including through official
websites, the media or via mobile phone.
"Sometimes I am too busy to check my traffic
records on the Internet. But you cannot say no to mail," said Zhao
Qiang, 33, a general manager of a private company who was caught by
the traffic police last week for disregarding a road sign.
Living on the east side of Beijing, Zhao said he
did not see the sign and turned the wrong way on a one-way street
in the Zhongguancun area of western Beijing.
"Being informed is?very important, so we know
when and where we made mistakes and can avoid repeatedly breaking
the same regulation," Zhao said.
(China Daily July 14, 2005)