An overloaded truck overturns on the Middle Ring Road in Shanghai's Baoshan district on May 23, 2016. PHOTO BY YINLIQIN/FOR CHINA DAILY

LOCAL TRAFFIC POLICE officers in Yilan county, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, have reportedly been stopping overloaded large trucks wanting to use the Songhua River Ferry, imposing "fines" on the divers before letting them proceed. The local traffic police department said it was to manage the overloaded trucks, but the police officers involved have been accused of pocketing the fines. Beijing Times commented on Wednesday:

Although the local traffic police department has tried to put a stop to the rumor, the media reports include evidence and testimony that a mature chain has taken shape "mediating" the passage of overloaded trucks.

Heavily laden trucks are indeed a serious problem. Many truck owners overload their vehicles, knowing that if they don't, they will find it hard to make a profit. But safety has to come first, which is why there are fines for overloading.

But that is a separate issue from the police pocketing money collected in the guise of fines. In Yilan county, as long as the truck drivers pay up, no matter how heavily overloaded their vehicles are, they are allowed to continue on their way. Not only does such behavior not remove the risks of these dangerous vehicles being on the road, it may increase them.

Such a practice also damages the local law enforcement and political environment.