Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081108/article_379896.htm
Chongqing cabbies to get camera warning
Created: 2008-11-8 0:38:05
Author:Chen Qian
THE Chongqing traffic authority plans to add 14 gas stations and ban hidden traffic cameras in a bid to settle the city's cabbie strike.
The traffic authority said it would announce all locations of traffic monitoring cameras in the city next week, the Chongqing Evening News reported yesterday. Chongqing now has about 700 registered cameras.
It said mobile cameras used by traffic police, police assistants or volunteers, must be set up only where there was a billboard notice stating "mobile cameras are working ahead."
Taxi drivers complained about traffic fines, especially ones generated from hidden cameras, as part of their strike grievances. Cabbies in the city resumed service on Wednesday.
Chongqing Traffic Administration head Chen Honggang said the city did use hidden cameras. But once the rule was implemented, anyone caught shooting traffic violations at an undisclosed camera location would be punished or even fired, Chen said.
Insufficient supplies of natural gas, the fuel for most taxis in the city, and competition from unlicensed cabs were two other complaints that lead to the strike.
The extra gas stations would take the city's total to 60 although most were far from downtown areas.
The administration said it aimed to add 14 more gas stations in the city and would also launch a crackdown on unlicensed cabs.
The traffic authority said it would announce all locations of traffic monitoring cameras in the city next week, the Chongqing Evening News reported yesterday. Chongqing now has about 700 registered cameras.
It said mobile cameras used by traffic police, police assistants or volunteers, must be set up only where there was a billboard notice stating "mobile cameras are working ahead."
Taxi drivers complained about traffic fines, especially ones generated from hidden cameras, as part of their strike grievances. Cabbies in the city resumed service on Wednesday.
Chongqing Traffic Administration head Chen Honggang said the city did use hidden cameras. But once the rule was implemented, anyone caught shooting traffic violations at an undisclosed camera location would be punished or even fired, Chen said.
Insufficient supplies of natural gas, the fuel for most taxis in the city, and competition from unlicensed cabs were two other complaints that lead to the strike.
The extra gas stations would take the city's total to 60 although most were far from downtown areas.
The administration said it aimed to add 14 more gas stations in the city and would also launch a crackdown on unlicensed cabs.
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