A program that allows undercover inspectors to keep 80 percent of any fines proves (un)remarkably effective.
Chinese cities, like cities anywhere, are under constant pressure to find revenue sources for municipal services, with human nature rendering traffic offenses a predictably reliable source. One Chinese city came under fire this week for doing so with an exceptional degree of vigor.
The Xiaoxiang Morning Post reported that Shaoyang City had hired some 1,000 plainclothes inspectors to issue traffic citations, with the inspectors pocketing 80% of any fines charged. Not surprisingly, the investigation found inspectors citing even trivial offenses, such as straying into a pedestrian zone while stopped at an intersection.
"The program is one of many that have cropped up across China, ranging from heavy fines on business owners for arbitrary infringements, to garnishing the wages of teachers, that local governments are using to prop up their finances," notes reporter Annie Wu.
Thanks to Rachel Proctor May
FULL STORY: 'Traffic Fines' Used to Plug Hole in Chinese City Budget

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response
Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont