A traffic police officer on the fourth floor takes photos of a traffic policeman's car parked in the motor vehicle lane, Hubei.
On April 17th at noon, a traffic police officer in uniform was discovered secretly photographing traffic violations at the off-ramp of Qingchuan Bridge on Youyi South Road in Hankou, Wuhan. He explained by saying, "Enforcing the law in hiding is still enforcing the law; shooting from inside is because it's too hot outside."
Drivers transporting goods here said that this traffic police officer had been secretly photographing traffic violations from upstairs for several days now. He had hidden upstairs and taken photos for at least two hours in the morning.
Some drivers believe that traffic police enforcement should be "transparent enforcement." If the traffic police stood where the driver could easily see them to record videos or correct violations on the spot, it would have a greater educational effect on the drivers. On the other hand, if the traffic police secretly take photos as evidence for fines, such an approach might not help reduce traffic violations.
Wang Wanxiong, a lawyer from Hubei Today Law Firm, said that Article 4 of the Administrative Punishment Law stipulates: "Administrative punishment follows the principles of openness and fairness." Traffic police enforcement using the method of hiding in corners or behind bushes to secretly take photos goes against the principle of administrative law enforcement being legally open. Evidence obtained through such non-normal channels cannot be used as the basis for punishment.
Text and photo / Chutian Metropolis Daily