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Fuzhou cracks down on drag racing
By Hu Meidong and Liu Xintian (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-07-27 17:42

The Fuzhou Public Security Bureau is cracking down on drag racing, announcing a special action during a news conference July 23.

It is rare in China to investigate drag racing, but public concern has been increasing after recent drag racing incidents made headlines, including the death of a pedestrian.

Hangzhou resident Hu Bin's arrest for plowing down and killing a pedestrian while drag racing in early May drew public attention. In late May, a speeding Ferrari collided with an Audi R8 at Hu Bin Road in Fuzhou, also triggering a social sensation. Drag racing terms like "70 yard" have become buzzwords.

Drag racing at particular times and in certain road sections of high traffic flow can lead to personal injury or property loss, and cases will be investigated in the name of crimes against public security, the Security Bureau said. According to police, drag racing using high-powered motorcycles and remodeled cars on some Fuzhou roads has caused traffic safety problems and endangered public security.

Second Ring Road, Wu Yi Road, Wu Si Road, Jiang Bin Road and many other main roads will be particularly regulated. Monitoring equipment such as fixed speed test points and flow velometers will be used to provide scientific proof when charging offenders.

Remodeled cars will also be under scrutiny. Police will perform strict examinations of the registration and certificate of motor vehicles, and require car owners to change their remodeled cars into the original condition and face a 500 yuan fine.

Ding Zhaozeng, a law school lecturer at Fujian Normal University, said the special action by the Public Security Bureau will have some positive effects.

Young people drag racing is severely impairing citizens' lives and property safety, and the crackdown will get the support of most citizens, he stressed.