China's public shaming technique to deter illegal parking

Imagine the thought of no parking tickets, tire clamps, or warnings? Traffic authorities in China have decided that public shaming is the best way to stop drivers from parking illegally.

Yes, Chinese authorities believe there is no better punishment than the feeling of being watched and despised by everyone when you break a basic traffic rule: proper parking, which is essential with more than 300 million cars in a country.

The question is: How do the Chinese authorities plan to make a mockery of a driver and their vehicle? The answer is simple: with a device that everyone in China will recognise.

It is a device placed on the driver's door and equipped with a timer and GPS so that authorities can monitor the car at any time and know how many days the device has been attached to the car.

(Photo: Reddit)

The device, which looks kind of like a large suction cup, is attached to the driver's side door with a cable that wraps around the rear-view mirror to identify the vehicle's owner. Still, the device does not prevent the driver from having a perfect view of the road and continuing to use the car, so towing services very rarely intervene.

This device not only serves to shame those who violate the traffic rules, but also informs other citizens about their misconduct, which is often even more unpleasant for those who park illegally than a hefty fine.

/Photo: Douyin /TikTok)

This kind of suction cup device also means that for every day that the fine is not paid, the amount continues to increase, but the vehicle can still be used.

The idea is perfect. On the one hand, the social stigma can be overwhelming; on the other hand, the fine is constantly increasing, but the car can still be used. The device may not be a success outside of China, but in the Asian giant, it appears to have been a panacea.

And keep in mind you that public shaming has greater significance in China, as the Chinese government has introduced a social points system that rates citizens and companies based on their social and financial behavior. In the end, 'Black Mirror' was neither too futuristic nor too dystopian.

(Photo: Black Mirror - Netflix)

Since China is huge, the "suction cup of shame" has not been introduced everywhere for the time being. Now it looks like the device is working and spreading across the country. Will this be the end of parking clamps as we know them?