Drive to rein in fake military vehicles
- Source: Global Times
- [01:54 September 09 2010]
- Comments
Military vehicles are regarded as a symbol of privilege and social status in the mainland.Photo:Xinhua
By Ji Beibei
Hundreds and thousands of military vehicle licenses in the Chinese mainland will be updated as part of a drive that began August 1 aimed at stemming the abuse of the privileges they bring, the latest issue of the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Weekly reported.
The new 2010 version of the driving license is brown in color, and adopts sophisticated technology such as anti-forgery ink and embedded chips. Its debut marks an end to the era of red paper driving licenses, which has been in use for a decade.
"The move can screen out unqualified drivers, such as those with records for drunken driving, major accidents and those who have caused a bad social influence," an anonymous official was quoted by the magazine as saying.
Military vehicles are regarded as a symbol of privilege and social status in the mainland, it commented.
According to a notice issued by the State Council in 1997, drivers of military vehicles have the right to special treatment, including exemption from paying toll or parking fees. Since 2000, they were also immune from being fined for traffic violations, under a joint decision by the PLA's Headquarters of the General Staff and the General Political Department.
These privileges have led to rampant abuses, such as forgery or theft of military license plates in order to avoid paying toll fees, or to provide cover for illegal activities such as smuggling or drug trafficking. Traffic police are also powerless to stop vehicles that even have the appearance of belonging to the military.
In June 2009, a joint campaign by law enforcement departments in Beijing, Guangdong and Zhejiang broke six criminal groups that reportedly produced and sold over 5,000 fake military vehicle plates to customers in more than 20 provinces and cities.
In December of 2004, the year President Hu Jintao became chairman of the Central Military Commission, the PLA began downsizing the number of its military vehicles and updating license plates.
Despite the move, it is estimated that economic losses caused by fake military vehicles have reached 1 billion yuan ($147 million) annually since 2004, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency in 2008.
The amendment to the Criminal Law passed in 2009 authorizes stronger punishments for forging, stealing and illegally trading in military license plates.
The latest move to upgrade military driving licenses is another effort aimed at strengthening the management of military vehicles. However, as long as special privileges are attached to such vehicles, the disorder will continue, the report said.
Peng Guangqian, a major general in the PLA, argued that the military needed some special treatment to carry out their tasks. "Having different treatment for the military is the same in other coun-tries," he said.
However, Mao Shoulong, a professor of administration management with Renmin University of China, noted that the military can have these privileges but shouldn't abuse them.
"Many people who drive military cars are not officers but their relatives. The army should enhance transparency of information and leave room for social supervision," Mao said, adding that the misuse of military vehicles could jeopardize the image of the PLA and the central government.
