On Tuesday, Beijing Traffic Management Bureau said it would make sure drivers know when they have been caught on camera violating traffic rules by sending letters and posting notices on public notice boards.

 

Drivers whose violations have scored 12 points and owners whose vehicles approach being scrapped will be sent letters, according to Li Jianhua, the bureau's director.

 

The move comes in response to the case of a migrant worker called Du who passed the same no-entry sign 105 times but said he never knew he had broken the law, amassing fines of over 10,500 yuan (US$1,200).

 

The vegetable seller was not aware that as he drove to market every morning his truck was being recorded by hidden cameras, of which there are more than 5,000 in the capital, and only discovered the amount due when he visited a traffic management office.

 

His appeal against the fines is still pending in Xicheng District People's Court.

 

Drivers currently find out about driving misdemeanors in a number of ways, including through official websites, the media or via mobile phone.

 

"Sometimes I am too busy to check my traffic records on the Internet. But you cannot say no to mail," said Zhao Qiang, 33, a general manager of a private company who was caught by the traffic police last week for disregarding a road sign.

 

Living on the east side of Beijing, Zhao said he did not see the sign and turned the wrong way on a one-way street in the Zhongguancun area of western Beijing.

 

"Being informed is very important, so we know when and where we made mistakes and can avoid repeatedly breaking the same regulation," Zhao said.

 

(China Daily July 14, 2005)