Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    SHENZHEN’S traffic police and urban management authorities jointly initiated a three-month-long campaign yesterday to remove vehicles that occupy sidewalks, greenways and other public areas restricting parking.

    The urban management authority will mobilize employees, including cleaners and urban environmental inspectors, to collect and report vehicles that are parked on sidewalks as well as zombie cars that have long been left unattended in public areas.

    The information will be handed to the police to impose punishments. Police will also use surveillance cameras and dispatch officers to the roads to check such violations.

    Police will give a one-week grace period before imposing fines starting next Monday.

    According to related rules, drivers who illegally occupy sidewalks will be fined between 1,000 yuan (US$145) and 2,000 yuan for illegally parking. Police will verify every zombie car that has been deserted and occupies a public area. Vehicles without license plates or that are using fake plates, and scrapped cars or those with three unhandled violations, will be towed away.

    Police will offer a 100 yuan cash reward for each zombie car reported. Whistleblowers who report scrapped vehicles, or vehicles running on roads with fake or duplicated licenses will receive a 2,000 yuan reward. The public can call 0755-8333-3333, text message to 0755110, log onto www.stc.gov.cn, or send messages to the police WeChat ID and microblog to make reports.

    In a move to be one of the cleanest cities in China, Shenzhen’s urban administration also initiated an action yesterday against businesses that illegally occupy sidewalks and public areas. The urban administration will apply for court enforcement if the violators refuse to accept the administrative punishment from the administration.

    Residents can call 12319 to report businesses that illegally occupy sidewalks.