Jaywalkers are required to watch instructional videos or they
can pay a fine. Tents, like this one on 中山三路Zhongshansanlu, have been set up
at major intersections in Guangzhou. (Photo by kou)
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Guangzhou's whistle-happy pedestrian traffic patrol's power-trip just got a little bit trippier. According to two articles in the China Daily ("Walking Human Traffic Lights in Guangzhou" and "City Gets Tough on Foreign Jay-Walkers"), foreigners in Guangzhou are being "closely watched" (especially on 小北路xiaobeilu) and if caught jaywalking, they must either pay a 20-50 RMB fine or watch a video on traffic safety. Moreover, according to a post on Imagethief, police will report foreign violators to their employers. Last week, to promote local understanding of traffic laws, 100 volunteers wearing T-shirts with a red 停ting (stop) signs, helped pedestrians cross streets "at 20 major crossroads." Yet anyone who's crossed a busy intersection in Guangzhou knows that even when the crosswalk sign flashes green, pedestrians don't have the right of way. Drivers dangerously speed through crosswalks, and pedestrians must look both ways, even when crossing a one way street.
What's next, fines for people who walk the wrong way down a one way street?
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4 comments:
I noticed that the tent for jaywalkers on the corner of Tianhe Dong and Tianhe Bei has been removed. I guess since the olympics are now over there is no need for GZ crosswalk police to be as diligent. Or is it completely unrelated to the olympics?
I haven't heard about a connection to the Beijing Olympics, although there certainly could be a connection to the 2010 Asian Games.
I take my first comment back. Those tents are just taken away at night and installed again during the day. I experienced a bitchy traffic cop on Sunday who basically yelled at me in Chinese when I crossed over during a red light and when I told her I didn't understand she just continued yelling at me. I have filed a complaint about it and will let you know what happens.
At least I didn't get fined nor get pulled over to sit in the tent. But my question is what kind of power do they really have? What will happen if I refuse to sit in the tent?
the complaint system is pretty efficient, there is a website that my assistant found...she made the complaint in my name...saying that the Chinese would take it much more seriously if a "gui lao" made the complaint. will let you know what happens when/if they call.
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