It's no use calling anyone before the law

On Nov 6, during a drunk driving inspection conducted by traffic police in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, a woman driving a Maserati refused to cooperate with the alcohol test when stopped by the police on suspicion of drunk driving. After 66 invalid tests , the woman repeatedly told the traffic police to "call Yu Wei" to come to the scene.

The traffic police told the woman, "It's no use calling anyone", "You are framing the person you are calling", and "If you still consider your friend a friend, you'd better cooperate with the test".

This video soon drew attention on the internet. However, the focus of attention was not the female driver nor her eye-catching luxury car, but rather the traffic police. What the officers told the driver was indeed to the point.

The traffic police spoke with great righteousness. When the driver tried to evade law enforcement through a relationship, the traffic police set things straight. The reminder that it was of no use to call anyone not only clarified the fairness of the law, but also the attitude of law enforcement against abuse of power.

The law should be fair regardless of how expensive your car is or who you know. In insisting on equal treatment under the law, the traffic police demonstrated the best possible response to someone looking to use privilege as a shield.

2021 marks the 10th year since China criminalized drunk driving in 2011. Alcohol-related traffic accidents with casualties have dropped by more than 20,000 in the 10 years, compared with the 2000 to 2010 period, according to the traffic management bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

Law enforcers like the righteous traffic police officer not only ensure better safety on the road, but also offer a lesson, reminding people that there is no such thing as privilege before the law.

The author is a writer with China Daily. The views are the author's own and don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.