Society

Beijing car plate petition hits 100,000 in 4 days

By Yan Weijue (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-01-05 16:47

A new restriction on Beijing's monthly car license has achieved no significant result, at least for now, as the municipal government says more than 100,000 applications have been filed online just four days into the new year.

Special coverage:  Gridlocked in Beijing Related readings:  Non-local cars banned during Beijing's rush hour  Car license plate restrictions cause application frenzy  Car plates application sees heavy traffic on Day 1

It could mean that if all of the applications are approved, a five-month quota will be used up.

The results will come out on the 26th of every month after a lottery procedure that day. Buyers can call the 12580 hot line for the outcome, which is not in service yet. An information platform is under construction, according to transportation authorities, which will text the results to applicants.

Those who are not picked will be automatically included in the following month's draw.

Beijing implemented a series of tough traffic-control measures on Jan 1, in a major effort to tackle gridlock on the capital's roads. Car registrations for the whole year will be limited to 240,000, about one-third of last year's figure.

The restriction saw an application frenzy on the first day, as over 40,000 flooded online in just 11 hours on Jan 1.