Got my first traffic ticket in China, the endless AI cameras are all knowing and all seeing, you can’t dodge them. Was fined 100 RMB (~$14) for crossing a white line from the straight turn lane into the right turn lane. The local government was kind enough to text me about it image

Replies (53)

This is where we're headed here in the People's States of Europe and we're not far off either.
Default avatar
Condor 1 week ago
They don't need the 14 but this create a state of constant fear. Like animals in a circus.
Most local Chinese governments are broke and heavily in debt with the slowing economy so they actually need the revenue
SimOne's avatar
SimOne 1 week ago
Christ, I’d be so broke in China.
200 RMB is a lot for many Chinese workers. A taxi driver may need ~6 hours to earn that, one ticket can wipe out a day. Minimum wage is ~21 RMB/hour, so 200 RMB is roughly a full day’s work for a street sweeper or store clerk.
I never claimed I was innocent which is why I’m waiving my right to contest the ticket and paying it. In China you are allowed to cross dashed white lines but not solid white lines. It also depends on each intersection as there are different cameras for different violations (speed, yielding to pedestrians, red lights, etc) and each camera is owned by a different department (public security bureau, traffic bureau, urban management bureau etc)
The violation was for “机动车通过有灯控路口时,不按所需行进方向 驶入导向车道”. There are various ways to translate it, but basically the AI detected I was in a go straight lane and then detected my right turn. My friend who was in the car at the time told me that the violation is given when you illegally cross the solid white lane dividers. Luckily I only got a fine, no points deducted. Illegal right turns are 3 points deducted, running a red light is 6 points, get 12 points in one year and you lose your license and have to go to driving school to get it back.
This is scary. Because what you did is legal in the USA. You were switching lanes and turning. This makes me not want to go to China
They changed their mind and decided to turn. Perfectly normal. Happens all the time
The incentives will destroy their society. Pins the people against the bureaucrats in a way that cant end well
HappyClouds's avatar
HappyClouds 1 week ago
As someone who has been to China pre-surveillance state, there is something to appreciate in stricter enforcement of traffic laws lol. Besides, it’s not likely you’d be driving there when visiting as a tourist.
HappyClouds's avatar
HappyClouds 1 week ago
Wish they had this in America 🤣 Fuck cars. Rebuild our cities to let us use our legs to walk and bike instead of forcing us to buy expensive vehicles. It’s a massive tax on the working class.
hodlher's avatar
hodlher 1 week ago
I hadn’t even thought of that. So true
Many guys here still have not figured out how to become ungovernable so they complain, like good plebs. They rely on you having a bank account or something similar with a third party for the extortion to work. Once you unbanked your life you let them figure out how to tax you, fine you, extort you. The system is not prepared for you not having a bank account. It's one of the best weapons you have over them. Privacy and a simple lifestyle also help. People say it's not possible to live without a bank account and then someone came and didn't know it's impossible. You are infinite possibilities condensed in one powerful body. Use it.
Alex Li's avatar Alex Li
Got my first traffic ticket in China, the endless AI cameras are all knowing and all seeing, you can’t dodge them. Was fined 100 RMB (~$14) for crossing a white line from the straight turn lane into the right turn lane. The local government was kind enough to text me about it image
View quoted note →
John Satsman's avatar
John Satsman 1 week ago
“Oh no not a $14 fine. Honey cancel the trip, they might fine us less than it cost to park for an hour in Miami”
Would you rather have the process be the punishment, or just get the fine and get it over with?
magnum's avatar
magnum 1 week ago
That's cheap compared to the fines in Australia.
ahh. this is going to suck, but i eventually want to drive in China anyway
YeKanEast's avatar
YeKanEast 1 week ago
On one hand, that's cheaper than America or other places in the world, on the other hand, I'd be fucking pissed.
To me, it sounded like you were trying to prove that you hadn't done anything wrong (by the way, it was more of a warning than a ticket... 😉).
John Satsman's avatar
John Satsman 4 days ago
“Honey, I was on nostr and I found out different countries have different traffic laws. We should just stay in our state out of principle cause one guy even told me that traffic laws vary STATE TO STATE this is INSANITY” image
Ryan's avatar
Ryan 7 hours ago
I mean, from an automated rules based system perspective this is incredibly smooth and efficient. If the rules are something you want followed, having a high chance of being caught and a low punishment is better than the opposite. You remove any police bias, but also discretion. I have mixed feelings on this. I want to live in a world with just and fair rules are universally applied to the charismatic and the bums equally, and not a world where unjust laws are inescapable. So basically, China level survenence and rules enforcement with Bitcoin level freedom and right of exit.