Heard one recently? Or two or three? Those exceptionally loud throaty growls from the car exhaust of joyriders out to impress with their dangerous, evening antics on our cities’ roads. Of course it’s not impressing anyone actually, especially law enforcement.
Here in China, they call the activity “street bombing”. In the UK, those taking part in it are known as “boy racers”. Trouble is, the practice is borderline illegal, which has led to a recent campaign by traffic authorities in our very own Jiangsu Province.
On 28 October, traffic police with the Yangzhong Public Security Bureau in Zhenjiang City seized an illegally-modified street bombing car in the downtown area, as reports the Yangtze Evening News.
They can do this thanks to the Provisions on the Registration of Motor Vehicles (Order No. 164 of the Ministry of Public Security), released on 31 March of this year (机动车登记规定 (公安部令第164号)).
Therein, Article 79 states, “Except for the circumstances specified in Article 16, Article 22 and Article 23, anyone who changes the appearance of a motor vehicle and the relevant registered technical parameters without authorisation shall be ordered by the traffic control department of the public security organ to restore it to its original state, and shall also be given a warning or fined of not more than ¥500”.
We say “borderline illegal” on account of the provisions allowed for in the aforementioned Articles 16, 22 and 23, Articles which keep many a car paint and body shop in business.
While Articles 22 and 23 allow for minor modification to a vehicle (interior decoration and so on), Article 16 in particular allows for a car to have its colour or engine changed.
Or its bodywork. Or the entire car for that matter.
Nevertheless, vehicle owners are required to have said changes registered with the authorities. And if that’s not been done, that’s when they fall foul of the law.
Back in Zhenjiang, it was officer Huang Aimin, leader of the squad which seized the car, who first heard the roar from its exhaust. Hopping into his police car, Huang gave pursuit to where the car stopped at a local logistics park.
Upon inspection, it was found that the exhaust of the car had indeed been modified, therefore categorising it as “street bombing car”. The police educated the driver as to the law, asked him to restore the car to its original state, and punished him accordingly.
