Bus driver in China boosts income by letting extra passengers travel in luggage hold
A long-haul bus driver in central China hoping to make more money cut a hatch under a bunk so more passengers could ride in the luggage hold, the Wuhan Evening News reports.
The driver caused suspicion on Saturday after he ignored a highway patrol officer’s signal to stop during a routine check on the Xianning section, in Henan province, of the Beijing to Macau expressway.
When the driver finally pulled over, he said the bus’ door was broken, and later that it was unsafe to open. This only made officers more suspicious, who insisted that the door be opened.
The officers found nothing unusual and the bus’ appeared in order. But when the officers started to check luggage area, the driver insisted that the officers leave, saying the door was broken and he was running late.
Officers opened the baggage door and found several people inside. Another check found a hatch cut under a bunk, that led into the luggage area.
The driver said he changed the bus to transport more people. The bus was carrying 50 people, above its limit of 46.
The driver was fined 200 yuan (HK$250) and had six points deducted. A driver’s licence is revoked when all 12 points are taken.
