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Police warn drunk drivers
By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-23 08:48
The number of drunken drivers in the capital is expected to surge in the lead up to National Day, and police are warning offenders will be severely punished.
The Beijing municipal public security bureau yesterday began conducting random breath tests during daylight hours, which will be in addition to its regular night shift.
It means traffic police will now conduct 24-hour patrols of the streets surrounding restaurants, karaoke parlors and nightclubs.
Speaking to METRO yesterday, Zhang Jingchun, spokesman for the Beijing transport traffic management bureau, said the rate of drunken driving always increased before major holidays.
Zhang warned officials, who attend many holiday banquets at this time of year, that police would immediately release the name of any government employee caught drunk behind the wheel.
"First, the detention punishment will be universal for everyone, let it be Beijingers or foreigners," Zhang said.
"Second, Beijing police does not want to scare anyone ahead of National Day. This is simply a reminder."
According to Chinese law, motorists who have a blood alcohol content of between 20 mg and 80 mg per 100 ml, will have their licenses suspended for up to three months and pay a fine of up to 500 yuan ($73).
Meanwhile, drivers whose alcohol content is 80 mg per 100 ml or above will be detained for up to 15 days and their licenses suspended for up to six months. There is also a maximum fine of 2,000 yuan. Zhang said police had also updated the technology with which they report motorists caught drunken driving.
Expatriates with driving licenses in Beijing said yesterday they were not concerned about the campaign.
"I have seen a lot of drunken driving in Beijing and it does cause road accidents," said Robert Saunders, a businessman who received his driving license last year.
"I was tested twice in the last four months.
"I don't think this is much of a police crackdown but a better rule being implemented, just like any other city in the world," said the 29-year-old American.
The Beijing police campaign is part of a national crackdown on drunken driving launched on Aug 15.
Drunk driving has caused more than 100 deaths in Beijing this year, representing nearly one fifth of fatal road accidents in the capital.
