jpg
Controversy over special parking ticket issued by Xi’an traffic police
China
CGTN

2018-02-18 22:41 GMT+8

Nobody likes to receive a parking ticket, especially during important holidays. However, a parking ticket with a difference issued on Wednesday by traffic police in the northwest Chinese city of Xi’an won many backers but also criticism on social media.

After going through the formalities of recording the car license plate number, the brand and time of illegal parking, the traffic police left a surprise note which went viral. It said, “Happy Lunar New Year and no penalty today.” 

The traffic police left a note saying “Happy Lunar New Year and no penalty today.” /Legal Evening News Photo

The police also added a signature in the blank area of the ticket saying “Tangyan detachment wishes you Happy Lunar New Year and please park legally,” with a stamp of Gaoxin branch, Xi’an traffic police.

On social media, some praised the action of the traffic police, while others felt it was not serious.

“I think Xi’an traffic police reminded driver of legal parking in an educational way, and the action was really considerate, especially during the Lunar New Year,” commented by a Weibo user.

However, others considered the tickets a violation of the law and argued that both drivers and police should take the matter seriously. A Weibo user even posted a related legal provision, saying that the parking ticket issued by Xi’an traffic police was a legally authorized warning.

Xi’an traffic police actually issued more than one special parking ticket, according to the Legal Evening News.

One official told the paper that as the Lunar New Year approached, the police would issue this kind of special parking ticket for cars that did not impede traffic. For cars that seriously affected traffic, they would issue penalties without hesitation in the usual way.

Xi’an traffic police have already decided  to stop issuing "no penalty" tickets, however. Legal Evening News, an administrative law enforcement paper, said it was not serious to write “no penalty today.”  

RELATED STORIES