Residents of Hangzhou: say goodbye to needless spitting and littering on your city streets. In a historic move, Hangzhou has become the first city in China to enact a law forbidding “uncivil behavior”, and will lower the credit ratings of those who violate the law. The law comes into effect March 1.
The report defines “uncivilized behavior”, as anything that leaves a mess on the street, including spitting, littering, and disposing of cigarette butts or nut casings on the ground.
As for how the law will be implemented, the public is expected to act as “civility enforcers”, dissuading their fellow residents from engaging in bad behavior. The law will also protect those who speak out, forbidding any sort of reprisal against helpful residents.
As for the police, they can choose to punish violators with a verbal warning or a 200 yuan fine. If violators fail to pay their fine, their credit rating will be adversely affected.
According to a street survey of Hangzhou residents conducted by a Modern Golden Times reporter, 90 percent say they support the law. The reporter added that many residents have wanted to dissuade others from engaging in uncivil behavior, but have feared reprisal. They hope the new law will help them to speak up.
So come March, we’ll have to see how the newly “deputized” residents of Hangzhou take to policing their town of wayward spitting and illicit cigarette butt discarding residents.
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