'Corruption on wheels' still rampant

Privileges of the elite

Under the current system, different types of cars can be allocated to officials at certain levels. Ministry-level officials are usually equipped with Audi A6s, which are often regarded as symbols of high rank and privilege.

Some officials feel respected by their neighbors and relatives if they have access to government cars, said a discipline official who refused to be identified.

The common mentality indicates that bureaucratism and extravagance is still widespread in the society, he said.

The strict rules on the use of government vehicles set by the central authorities have turned out to be empty words due to weak implementation by local officials.

Some officials think they are able to use their influence and social connections to evade punishment, even if they are caught misusing government vehicles, said Li Zijing, deputy head of the discipline inspection authorities of Nanchang city.

Abolition

Misuse of government cars has triggered growing public outrage. When members of the public discover the misuse of government vehicles, which are identifiable by their license plates, many use their mobile phone cameras and post photographs of the corrupt behavior online.

In some cities, such as Foshan and Zhongshan in South China's Guangdong province, government cars have been labeled clearly so that people in the street can easily identify them.

The labeling is low cost and easy for public supervision, Li said.

But experts and the public believe "corruption on wheels" cannot be eradicated unless the decades-old system of government vehicles is reformed.

According to a survey conducted recently by the China Youth Daily, more than 71 percent of respondents support abolition of vehicles for officials. "Government cars used for private purpose" and "reimbursement of private car expenses" are listed as the most common forms of corruption in the use of government vehicles.

The survey sampled 5,100 people. Respondents blame lax enforcement of existing measures for vehicle-based corruption.

China may have several million government cars, with the exact figure unknown. Although authorities have investigated the misuse of about 20,000 vehicles since April 2011, it is hard for discipline officials to monitor the use of each car, said Ye Qing, a political advisor in central China's Hubei Province.

The ultimate goal of the reform is to abolish the system of government cars, except for a very few vehicles for special use, he said.