Cars

Crackdown catches more than 1,000 illegal vehicles

By Zhang Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-16 11:18

Officials seized 1,042 illegal vehicles, detained one person and held a further 99 for disrupting public security on Wednesday, the first day of a crackdown on such vehicles that will last until the end of the year, the Security Corps of the Beijing Public Security Bureau said on Thursday .

Related readings:  City cracks down on 'black taxi' operators  Black taxi rates may follow licensed cabs

The seized vehicles included 34 unlicensed taxis, 981 motorbike taxis and 27 man-powered three-wheeled vehicles, said Wang Xin, a press officer with the Security Corp.

A total of 1,234 officers took part in the first day of the campaign and fined 942 drivers, added Wang.

One bus driver, surnamed Shi, said he hoped the police would completely ban motorbike taxis.

"Motorbike taxis always occupy the road near the bus station, which seriously affects the bus entering and leaving the bus station and delays passengers getting on and off the bus."

A man surnamed Wu said that when he exercises in the morning, he notices many motorbike taxis disobeying traffic rules.

"They drive too fast, run red lights and drive the wrong way, which recklessly endangers pedestrians," he said.