SHENZHEN motorists have paid 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) less in fines for minor traffic violations thanks to a text message warning service launched by traffic police in April.
Police texted messages for 397,300 minor traffic violations, including illegal parking, last year, which could have incurred 10 million yuan in fines, authorities said at the weekend.
The service, said to be the first in China, is aimed at reducing traffic violations.
Drivers are warned against minor violations such as illegally changing lanes, failing to use seat belts or using a mobile phone while driving. Drivers who illegally park will be given 10 minutes to move their cars before being given a pink ticket.
Drivers are allowed three text warnings a year for minor violations.
The warning does not apply to illegal parking on expressways and trunk roads such as Shennan Road, Binhe Road and roads in business centers such as Huaqiangbei and Dongmen.
Drivers can register by sending messages in two forms, either the driver s details or vehicle s details, to 1065-7345-5222 (China Mobile users), 1065-9020-3522 (China Telecom) and 1065-5020-5222 (China Unicom).
To register vehicle information, drivers must send A+plate color+plate number+ the final four digits of engine number+mobile phone number. The driver s information must include B+driver s license number+final four digits of driver s license number+ driver s name+mobile phone number.
Drivers can also register at the official Web site of the traffic police or police service counters.
Drivers can also register at hospitals designated by police for health checks, emission inspection stations and postal service outlets.
City traffic congestion is becoming increasingly serious with an average of 600 new vehicles going on the road each day since the beginning of last year.
The number of vehicles in the city has topped 1.72 million so far, with 1.79 million licensed drivers. (Mu Zi)
