Helping the aged to stay away from transgressions

An 80-year-old passenger recently threw some coins at one of the engines of the plane she was boarding at Shanghai airport because she believed it would bring good luck and ensure a safe flight. A co-passenger saw her doing so and alerted the airport officials, following which the flight was delayed. Considering her advanced age and given that her action didn't cause any serious damage, police remitted her five-day detention.

Since she didn't intend to damage the plane or cause harm to the passengers, and her action had no serious consequences thanks to the airport staff members' efforts, she was subjected to the Security Administrative Punishment Law, which says a punishment can be remitted if the offender is above 70 years of age.

The increasing involvement of senior citizens in law violation cases in recent years can be attributed to two factors: China's rapidly aging population, and unbalanced regional development. The rapid rise in the number of senior citizens might have led to a proportional increase in their involvement in criminal cases. And some senior citizens' poor economic condition may have forced them to conduct misdeeds. There are also reports that the "left behind" children are sometimes abused by the "left behind" senior citizens.