‘Fines are king’: county in China imposes ‘uncivilised behaviour’ penalty for squatting while eating and not making beds
- New policy aims to address unsanitary living conditions in region
- Moves spark debate over government overreach into private lives
A county government in China has brought in a new system of fines for citizens, imposing penalties on people who do not complete basic household chores, sparking fierce countrywide debate.
Puge county in Sichuan province in southwestern China said it would impose a 10-yuan (US$1.4) penalty on people who did not make their beds or left dishes unwashed. It also added a 20-yuan fine for people who squatted while eating.
The new policy, titled “Fine Standards for the New Countryside for Human Settlement Environment”, aims to enhance living conditions and details 14 categories of behaviour which are subject to fines.
Others include a five-yuan penalty if officials discover intact spiders webs. If a courtyard contains clutter or faeces, this could result in fines ranging from three to 10 yuan depending on the severity of the situation.
The notice stresses that fines will double upon repeated offences.
The vice-director of the village insisted to The Paper on November 14 that the new fines are still being drafted, but the goal is to address the pervasive issue of “dirty, messy, and disorderly living conditions”.