Authorities investigate random trucking fees

The top transportation authorities in Henan province have launched an investigation into arbitrary fees in Yongcheng that led to a suicide attempt by a female truck owner, Beijing News reported on Monday.

Liu Wenli, the truck owner, attempted suicide by drinking farm chemicals after she failed to persuade officers from Yongcheng transportation and road administration departments not to give her a fine on Nov 14.

Liu's two trucks were transporting building stones when one was stopped by law enforcement officers because it was overloaded and did not have a monthly pass.

According to several truck drivers and Liu Wenli's brother Liu Hua (not his real name), the monthly pass is a ticket bought from local transportation or road administration departments that can exempt drivers from being fined if they are found to break traffic regulations.

The report did not say how much the officers intended to fine Liu Wenli.

Monthly passes in Yongcheng are sold for 3,000 yuan ($490), according to a truck driver named only as Zhao.

However, Gao Yongfu, an official from the city's road administration, told media he has no idea what the monthly pass is.

Liu Hua said his sister tried to commit suicide because she was angry to see the law enforcement officers ignoring other overloaded trucks but not hers.

Liu Hua also said the officers refused to drive his sister to a hospital and she was only taken to a hospital after they called for an ambulance.

Liu Wenli was discharged from hospital on Nov 27 but has to return every day for transfusions, Liu Hua said, adding that the Yongcheng government paid all her medical fees and the family has reached an agreement with the government.

In addition to a joint investigation team been founded in Yongcheng, officials have also been dispatched from Henan Transportation Department and the Shangqiu government, which oversees Yongcheng, to assist in the investigation.