Jaywalkers face public shaming
Posted by John on April 26th, 2006
This article shows how the chinese government is desperately trying to change people’s habits:
Traffic police launched a citywide campaign in the middle of this month to address lingering traffic problems, particularly jaywalking. The city’s General Team of Traffic Police has told officers they must ticket jaywalkers instead of just giving out warnings, which has been a common practice as police find it too difficult and time-consuming to fine disobedient pedestrians. More than 2,100 pedestrians and nearly 5,500 cyclists were ticketed since the campaign started. But police say their experience from the past two weeks shows it usually takes three to four traffic officers about 15 minutes on average to deal with an uncooperative jaywalker. Only a small number of jaywalkers simply agree to pay their fines, which range from 5 to 50 yuan (62 US cents to US$6.20), police said. Many people refuse to pay fines saying they have no money with them, they are in a hurry to get to work and can’t afford the delay, or questioning why police are picking on them when jaywalking is so prevalent.
I am sure their thinking is: not even car drivers follow the rules, why should jaywalkers care about following the rules?!
One woman is currently spending 10 days in police custody for abusing police after they tried to fine her for jaywalking last Thursday. The woman’s tirade was captured on video by TV reporters who were doing a story on the traffic campaign at the time, and broadcast on the evening news. She was so embarrassed by the situation that she resigned from her job with an education consulting company yesterday. More jaywalkers could find themselves facing public humiliation if the Municipal Office for Promoting Cultural and Ethical Progress has its way. The office wants to set up billboards in busy downtown locations to post photos of jaywalkers in an attempt to shame people out of the practice.
Fines do not work at all, so they resort to public shame, just like bad students going around the school with a sign saying: “I’m stupid”. Why am I still surprised? I know I should not, but this is just too much!