MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
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Highway law of the People's Republic of China
Article type: Translated 1997-07-03 Font Size:[ S M L ] [Print] [Close]

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 The law is made to strengthen the construction and  management   and  stimulate  the  development  of  highways  so  as  to  make   their   development to adapt to the need of socialist modernization and people's   daily living.

Article  2  The  law  is  applicable  to  the  planning,   construction,   maintenance,  operation,  use  and management of  highways  inside  the   territory of the People's Republic of China.

The  word  "highways" in this law includes facilities such  as  bridges,   tunnels and ferries for the highways.

Article  3 The development of highways in the country shall  follow  the   principles of overall planning, rational distribution, good quality  and   clearance  of obstructions, protecting the environment and giving  equal   stress to construction, renovation and maintenance.

Article  4 The people's governments at all levels shall adopt  effective   measures  to  support  and  stimulate  the  construction  of   highways.   Construction  of  highways  shall  be  incorporated  into  the  national   economic and social development plans.

The   State  encourages  and  guides  domestic  and   foreign   economic   organizations  to invest in the construction and operation  of  highways   according to law.

Article   5  The  State  shall  help  and  support  areas  of   minority   nationalities, remote and border areas and impoverished areas to develop   highways.

Article 6 Highways shall be divided, according to their positions in the   networks, into State roads, provincial roads, county roads and  township   roads  and,  technically into express ways, first  class  roads,  second   class  roads,  third class roads and fourth class  roads.  The  specific   standards  for  the division shall be worked out by  the  State  Council   department in charge of transportation.

New  roads should conform to their technical standards in  grading.  The   existing roads that fail to meet the minimum technical grading standards   thereof  should  be  transformed  step by  step  according  to  the  set   standards.

Article 7 Highway roads shall be subject to the protection by the State.   No  unit or individual is allowed to break or damage highways, land  and   ancillary  facilities used by highways or illegally put them into  one's   own use.

Any  unit  or individual is obliged to protect highways  and  lands  and   ancillary  facilities used by highways and has the right to report  acts   that  break and damage highways, lands and ancillary facilities used  by   highways and road safety of highways or put such acts into court.

Article  8 Department of the State Council in charge  of  transportation   shall  be  responsible for the administration of highways in  the  whole   country.

Transportation  departments of local people's governments at  and  above   the county level shall be responsible for the administration of highways   in  their  respective  administrative  areas;  but  the  functions   and   responsibilities   of  transportation  departments  of  local   people's   governments  at  and above the county level for the  administration  and   supervision  of  State  roads and provincial roads  shall  be  fixed  by   respective  provincial,  autonomous  regional  and  municipal   people's   governments.

People's  governments of townships, townships of minority  nationalities   areas   and  towns  shall  be  responsible  for  the  construction   and   maintenance  of  township roads within their  respective  administrative   areas.

Transportation  departments of local people's governments at  and  above   the county level may decide to entrust road management organizations  to   exercise   the  duties  of  highway  administration  according  to   the   provisions of this law.

Article  9  It is forbidden for any unit or individual to set  up  check   posts, collect fees, impose fines or intercept vehicles on highways.

Article 10 The State encourages scientific research in terms of highways   and reward units and individuals that have made significant achievements   on  scientific  and  technical  research and  application  in  terms  of   highways.

Article  11  Provisions concerning special roads in this  law  apply  to   apecial roads.

Special  highway  roads  refer to those built,  maintained,  managed  by   enterprises or other units for their respective exclusive or main uses.

CHAPTER II HIGHWAY PLANNING 

Article  12 Highway planning shall be made in the light of the needs  of   the  national economic and social development and national  defense  and   also  in coordination with urban construction and development plans  and   the development of other traffic means.

Article  13 Plans for requisition of lands for constructing roads  shall   conform  to  the  master plan for land use and the land  used  for  such   purposes  shall  be incorporated into the general land use plan  of  the   year.

Article  14 Plans in respect to State roads shall be formulated  by  the   transportation   department  of  the State Council  together with  other   related departments of the State Council and the people's governments of   provinces,  autonomous  regions and municipalities along the  lines  and   submitted to the State Council for approval.

Plans   in   respect to provincial roads shall be  formulated   by   the    transportation  departments  of  people's  governments  of   provinces,   autonomous  regions  and  municipalities  together  with  the   people's   governments  of  the lower level along the lines and  submitted  to  the   people's governments of the respective provinces, autonomous regions and   municipalities for approval and to the transportation department of  the   State Council for the record.

Plans   in  respect  to  county  roads  shall  be  formulated   by   the   transportation  departments  of the people's governments at  the  county   level together with related departments at the same level and  submitted   to the people's governments of the same level for examination and to the   people's governments at the next higher level for approval.

Plans  in respect to township roads shall be formulated by the  people's   governments  of  township,  townships inhabited by  people  of  minority   nationalities  and  towns  with the  assistance  of  the  transportation   departments  of  the  people's  governments  at  the  county  level  and   submitted to the people's governments at the county level for approval.

Plans  in  respect  to county roads and township roads  to  be  approved   according  to  the provisions of paragraph three and paragraph  four  of   this article shall be submitted to the transportation departments of the   people's governments at the next higher level for the record.

Plans in respect to provincial roads should be in harmony with plans of   State  roads; plans of county roads shall be coordinated with  plans  of   provincial roads; and plans of township roads shall be coordinated  with   plans of county roads.

Article 15 Plans of special roads shall be fomulated by units in  charge   of  special roads and, after being examined by departments in charge  at   the next higher level, be submitted to the transportation departments of   the people's governments at and above the county level for approval.

Plans  of  special  roads shall be coordinated  with  highway  planning.   Transportation departments of the people's governments at and above  the   county  level shall put forward proposals for revision should they  find   the  plans of special roads not coordinated with plans of  State  roads,   provincial  roads, county roads and township roads and  the  departments   and  units  in  charge  of  the  special  roads  shall  make   revisions   accordingly.

Article 16 Partly adjustments of State road plans shall be determined by   the  original  organ of formulation. For major revisions of  State  road   plans,  the  original organ of formulation shall  put  forward  revision   plans and submit them to the State Council for approval.

If  plans of provincial roads, county roads and township  roads  already   approved  need  revisions, the original organ of formulation  shall  put   forward  revision  proposals and submit them to the  original  organ  of   approval for approval.

Article  17  Names  and  indexes of State roads  shall  be  set  by  the   transportation  department  of the State Council. Names and  indexes  of   provincial, county and township roads shall be set by the transportation   departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions   and   municipalities  according  to  the  relevant  provisions  of   the   transportation department of the State Council.

Article  18  New  villages and towns and  development  zones  should  be   planned and built with prescribed distances from highways and absolutely   not  to have any highway running across to avoid using highways as  part   of streets to impede the safety and smooth operations of the highways.

Article  19  The State encourages special roads to be  used  for  public   traffic.  If  a special road is turned to public use, it shall  be  made   part of provincial, county or township roads at the request of units  in   charge of the special roads or related departments and with the  consent   of  the  units  in  charge of special roads  and  the  approval  of  the   transportation  departments  of the people's governments  of  provinces,   autonomous regions and municipalities.

CHAPTER III CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS

Article 20 The transportation departments of people's governments at and   above  the  county level should according to  their  respective  duties,   safeguard  the order and strengthen supervision and control  of  highway   roads construction.

Article   21  In  raising  funds  for  highway  construction,   people's   government  at  all levels may, in addition to  put  in  appropriations,   collect  special  charges for road construction or  solicit  loans  from   domestic  and  foreign financial organizations  or  foreign  governments   according  to law and relevant provisions of the State Council on  their   own decisions.

The  State encourages investments for highway construction  by  domestic   and foreign organizations. Companies which engage in development  and/or   management of highways may, according to law and administrative decrees,   raise funds by means of issuance of stocks or debentures.

Incomes  from  transfer of rights for collection of toll  from  highways   according to the provisions of this law should be used for  construction   of   highways.  Raising  funds  for  highway  roads  construction   from   enterprises  or individuals should be undertaken under the principle  of   voluntariness  and in accordance with true needs and  possibilities  and   relevant  regulations  of the State Council. No  forcible  apportion  is   permitted.

Other  means  permitted  by law or relevant  regulations  of  the  State   Council can also be used in raising funds for highways construction.

Article 22 Highway construction should be undertaken in accordance with   procedures for infrastructural construction as provided for by the State   and related regulations.

Article  23 Systems of legal person responsibility, public bidding  and   project  supervision  should  be  introduced  in  projects  of   highway   construction according to the relevant regulations of the State.

Article   24  Units  undertaking  highway  roads  construction   should,   according  to  the  characteristics and technical  requirements  of  the   projects,  choose  qualified survey and  designing  units,  construction   units  and projects supervisors and sign contracts with them to  clearly   define  respective  rights and obligations of both sides  in  accordance   with  provisions  of  related  laws,  regulations  and  rules  and   the   requirements of the road engineering and technical standards.

Units   undertaking   feasibility   studies,   survey   and   designing,   construction,   project  supervision  for  highway  roads   construction   projects must be accommodated with qualification certificates issued  by   the State.

Article  25 Undertakings of highway construction should be  reported  to   the  transportation departments of local people's governments above  the   county  level  for  approval  in  accordance  with  the  provisions   of   transportation department under the State Council.

Article  26  Highway  construction  should  be  undertaken  strictly  in   conformance with prescribed technical standards of highway construction.   Units  of  designing, construction and project  supervision  of  highway   construction projects should establish capable Q/C systems and  strictly   carry out the job responsibility system in accordance with related  laws   of  the  country and undertake to design, construct  and  supervise  the   projects according to the requirements of related laws, regulations  and   rules  and highway engineering technical standards and the terms  agreed   upon in the contracts in order to ensure the quality of construction.

Article  27  The  use of land for constructing highway  roads  shall  be   handled according to relevant laws and administrative decrees.

Highway construction should follow the principle of protecting  farmland   and economical use of land.

Article  28 No unit or individual is allowed to intrude or collect  fees   illegally  for the use of State owned waste hills, wasteland or for  the   digging  of  sand,  stone or earth from the  State  owned  waste  hills,   wasteland,  river  beds and poulders for highway  construction  only  if   necessary procedures as provided for by related laws and  administrative   decrees have been undertaken for the respective actions.

Article  29  Local  people's governments at all  levels  should  provide   necessary  support  and  assistance  to  the  lawful  use  of  land  and   resettlement of people for construction of highway roads.

Article  30  Design and work of highway construction should be  done  in   conformance   with  requirements  of  the  protection  of   environment,   historical  relics and sites and the prevention of water loss  and  soil   erosion.

Highway  construction projects planned to adapt to the  requirements  of   national defense should be undertaken strictly according to the plans so   as to ensure meeting the needs of national defense in transportation.

Article 31 Should road construction project affect the normal  operation   of railways, water conservancy, power, postal and telecomunications  and   other  facilities,  the unit for the construction  should  convey  prior   agreements  form related units. If the construction of road  has  caused   damages to the afore-said facilities, the unit responsible for  carrying   out the construction should undertake to give a remedy to the facilities   affected to help restore their technical standards to no lower than  the   originals or give them corresponding economic compensations.

Article 32 In reconstructing highway roads, construction units concerned   should  post signs at both ends of the section under reconstruction.  If   the  reconstruction requires vehicles to bypass, signs should be  posted   at the entry of the road to indicate the way to by pass and on condition   that there is no way for by-passing the section, a temporary road should   be built by the construction unit concerned to facilitate the passage of   vehicles and pedestrians.

Article  33  Upon completion, highway roads construction  and  repairing   projects  are  subject  to  procedures  of  examination  and  acceptance   according to relevant regulations of the State. Those projects that have   not been examined or have been found unqulified for acceptance shall not   be put to use.

Clear  signs  and lines should be created for  completed  highway  roads   according  to  the  regulations of the transportation  under  the  State   Council.

Article  34  Local people's governments above the  county  level  should   allocate land on the roadside within 1 meter width from the outer  edges   of  the side ditches (water catch ditches and road  protection  channel,   the  same  below) on both sides of a road for the use  of  the  related   highway.


 

CHAPTER IV MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAY ROADS

Article  35  Related  administrative  departments  of  highways   should   undertake to maintain highway roads according to the technical standards   and   operational  procedures  as  prescribed  by   the   transportation   department under the State Council to ensure the roads are in good state   technically.

Article  36 Expenses for highway maintenance should be acquired  through   collection  of  fuel  oil surcharge paid by  units  and  individuals  in   purchase of fuel oil according to the relevant provisions by the  State.   In cases where fuel oil surcharge is collected, no more road maintenance   fees  shall be collected. Specific procedures and steps shall be set  by   the State Council for the purpose.

Before  the  enforcement  of  collection of  fuel  oil  surcharges,  the   existing road maintenance fee collection regulations shall be in  force.   Road maintenance fees should be used for maintaining and  reconstructing   highway  roads.  Receipts should be given by departments  in  charge  of   transportation to units and individuals that have paid road  maintenance   fees. Receipts of road maintenance fee should be attached to a place  of   clear  sight on the vehicles. Vehicles bearing no such receipts of  road   maintenance fees are not allowed to run on the roads.

Article 37 People's governments at the county and township levels should   give support and assistance in fetch of sand, stone, earth or water  for   road maintenance.

Article 38 People's governments at the county and township levels should   organise  free  services of rural residents on both sides of  roads  for   highway   construction   and  maintenance  according  to   the   related   regulations of the State.

Article 39 To ensure the personal safety of road maintenance  personnel,   specific  and  safety  uniform  should be  wore  by  such  personnel  in   maintaining  roads. Vehicles used in road maintenance should bear  easy-  to-see signs indicating that work of road maintenance is proceeding.

In  the  running operation of road maintenance, vehicles  shall  not  be   subject  to the restrictions of road signs and road marks in  route  and   direction  under  the condition of no effect to the  normal  running  of   other vehicles. Other vehicles running along the road should give way to   road maintenance vehicles and personnel.

If  road  maintenance  operation affects the  passage  of  vehicles  and   pedestrians, the provisions of Article 32 of this law shall apply.

Article  40  When break of State highways and provincial  roads  due  to   serious  natural disasters, related highway  administrative  departments   should  give  timely repair. Should there be any  difficulties  for  the   related  highway  administration  to undertake  repair  in  time,  local   people's  governments  above the county level should lose  not  time  to   organize   local   government  institutions,   people's   organizations,   enterprises  and  urban and rural residents for rush repairs.  They  may   also  ask for assistance from local army so as to restore the  operation   of the roads as soon as possible.

Article  41 Highway administrative departments are responsible for  soil   and  water  preservation  on hillslopes and wasteland at  two  sides  of   highways.

Article 42 Highway administration departments shall organize greening of   highway roads according to the road engineering technical standards.

Trees   at  two  sides  of  highways  should  not  be   felled   without   authorization.   Required   regenerative  felling  should   go   through   prescribed  examination  and approval procedures to get the  consent  of   transportation  departments  of  local people's  governments  above  the   country level and re-planting should be undertaken.

CHAPTER V ROAD ADMINISTRATION

Article  43 Appropriate measures should be undertaken by local  people's   governments at all levels to strengthen protection to the roads.

Departments  in charge of transportation of local  people's  governments   above  the county level should conscientiously work to  protect  highway   according  to  law and strive to improve road  management  by  employing   scientific  methods and advanced technologies, gradually raise level  of   facilities  used  by the road in services and  ensure  good  conditions,   safety, and good traffic of the roads.

Article  44 Without authorization, no unit or individual is  allowed  to   occupy or dig the roads for own uses.

If    the   construction   of   railways,   airports,   power    plants,   telecommunications  facilities,  water conservancy  projects  and  other   constructions  projects  needs  to occupy, dig or change  the  route  of   roads, prior consents should be obtained by construction unit  concerned   from  related  departments  in charge of transportation.  If  safety  of   transport  would  also  be affected, approval from  the  related  public   security  organs  should also be conveyed. After occupying,  digging  or   changing the routes of roads, construction units concerned should repair   or  rebuild  them at least up to their original technical  standards  or   give corresponding economic compensations.

Article 45 Building of bridges and/or aqueducts or putting up or  laying   pipelines  across  over,  at or under the roads or  erecting  or  laying   pipelines,  cables  and other facilities in land used  by  roads,  prior   consent  should  be  conveyed  from related  departments  in  charge  of   transportation.  If  safety of transport would also  be  affected  prior   consent from the related public security organs should also be conveyed.   Facilities  being  built, erected or laid should  conform  to  technical   standards  as required by road engineering. Damages caused to the  roads   by  such  undertaking  should  be  compensated  for  according  to  the   seriousness of the cases.

Article 46 No unit or individual is allowed to put up stands or  stalls,   store  things, dump refuse, put up obstructions, dig ditches  to  divert   water,  or  use roadside ditches to discharge waste matters  on  highway   roads  or land used by the roads or carry out any other activities  that   would result in damages or pollution to the roads or affect the  traffic   of the roads.

Article  47  No  sand collection, stone query, earth  digging  or  waste   dumping,  explosive operations and other activities that would  threaten   the  safety  of roads, road bridges, road tunnels and  road  ferries  is   allowed  within  the perimeter of 200 meters of large  and  medium-sized   road bridges or ferries and within a perimeter of 100 meters above  road   tunnels  or  outside  the mouths of road tunnels and  within  a  certain   distance on both sides of the roads.

Building of dams, narrowing or widening of river beds for the purpose of   rescue  operations  and flood prevention in the areas mentioned  in  the   preceding  paragraph  should  get  prior  approval  from  transportation   depattments  of  the  people's  governments  of  respective   provinces,   autonomous  regions  and  municipalities  and  related  water  resources   administrative departments, and effective measures should be carried out   to  protect  the  related roads, road bridges,  road  tunnels  and  road   ferries.

Article 48 Except short crossing by farm machineries to perfom necessary    operation in fields, iron-wheel carts, caterpillar vehicles  and   other    machines and tools that might damage road surface are not allowed to run   on the roads. If the running of such vehicles is needed, prior  approval   should be conveyed from transportation departments of the local people's   governments  above the county level and effective measures   should   be   adopted to protect road surface and the running can only be carried  out   at  the  time  and along the routes designated by  the   related  public    security  organs.  Damages  to  the roads  should  be  compensated   for   according to the seriousness of cases.

Article  49  The  axle-load mass of vehicles running  on  roads  should   conform   to  the  technical  standards  as  set  by  road   engineering   requirements.

Article  50  Vehicles  that exceed the load, height,  width  and  length   limits by roads, road bridges, road tunnels or auto ferry boats are  not   allowed  to  run  along roads, road bridges or road  tunnels  that  have   limits or on auto ferry boats. Necessary runnings of vehicles  exceeding    the   above-said  road or road bridge limits prior approvals  should  be   conveyed  from transportation departments of local people's  governments    above  the county level and necessary and effective protective  measures   should  be  adopted. If traffic safety would be  affected,  approval  of    public   security  organs  at the same level should also  be   conveyed.    Vehicles   hauling undegradable objects exceeding the prescribed  limits   should   run  at the time, route and speed allowed with  apparent  signs   posted on easy-to-see places.

If  the  transport  unit  concerned is incapable  of  carrying  out  the   protective  measures  prescribed  in  the  preceding  paragraph   alone,   transportation departments in charge should assist in action with  costs   of the actions being borne by the transport unit concerned.

Article  51 Highway roads are not permitted to be used by motor  vehicle   manufacturers and other units as testing ground for tests of braking  of   motor vehicles.

Article  52 No unit or individual is allowed to damage or move or  alter   ancillary facilities of roads.

Ancillary facilities of roads mentioned in the preceding paragraph refer   to  facilities, equipment and special buildings or structures  for  road   protection, water discharge, maintenance, management, services,  traffic   safety,  ferrying,  monitoring and control, telecommunications  and  fee   collection  for  the  purpose of protecting,  maintaining  and  ensuring   traffic safety of roads.

Article  53 Those who have caused damages to roads should timely  report   the  cases  concerned to and accept on-the-spot investigations  by  road   administrative organizations.

Article  54 No unit or individual is allowed to erect signs  other  than   road signs within the land used by roads without the approval of the the   transportation  departments  of  local people's  governments  above  the   county level.

Article  55  The addition of road crossings should  get  prior  approval   according  to  the related regulations of the State  and  the  crossings   should be built according to the State prescribed standards.

Article 56 Except as required by road protection and maintenance, it  is   forbidden to construct buildings or ground structures within the control   areas  on both side of roads. Necessary layings of pipelines and  cables   and other facilities within the control areas of roads, prior  approvals   of  the transportation departments of local people's  governments  above   the county level should be conveyed.

The  control area for construction mentioned in the preceding  paragraph   should be demarcated by the local people's governments above the  county   level  according  to  the  principle  of  ensuring  traffic  safety  and   economical use of land and the provisions of the State Council.

After the control area for construction has been demarcated by the local   people's   governments  above  the  county  level,  the   transportation   departments of local people's governments above the county level  should   put  up signs and boundary markers. No unit or individual is allowed  to   damage or move such signs or boundary markers without authorization.

Article  57 Except the provisions of the second paragraph of Article  47   of  this  law,  the  road  administration  functions  exercised  by  the   transportation   departments  prescribed  by  this  chapter  should   be   exercised  by road management organizations according to the  provisions   of Paragraph 4 of Article 8 of this law.

CHAPTER VI TOLL HIGHWAYS

Article  58 The State allows the opening of toll high-ways according  to   law and the number of toll highways must be put on control.

Except  highway  roads  that  may collect tolls  as  prescribed  by  the   provisions  of  Article 59 of this law, no other roads  are  allowed  to   collect tolls.

Article  59  Collection  of tolls is allowed according to  law  for  the   following  roads  that  conform  to  the  technical  grading  and   size   prescribed by the transportation departments under the State Council:

1.   Roads  built  by  transportation  departments  of  local   people's   governments  above the county level by using loans or funds raised  from   enterprises and individuals;

2. Roads of domestic or foreign economic organizations that have got the   right to collect tolls according to law;

3.  Roads  built  with  investment from  domestic  or  foreign  economic   organizations according to law.

Article 60 Terms of collection of tolls of roads built by transportation   departments  of local people's governments above the county  level  with   loans  or funds raised should be determined by the people's  governments   of respective provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities according   to  the  principle  of  return of the  loans  or  funds  raised  through   collection  of tolls in line with the provisions of  the  transportation   department under the State Council.

After  a  transfer  of  the right of  toll  collection,  the  toll  road   concerned  should be operated by the side to which the  toll  collection   right  is  transferred.  Terms transfer of collection  right  should  be   agreed upon by the transferor and the transferee and submitted to  organ   which approves the transfer for approval, but the term shall not  exceed   the time limit set by the State Council.

Joint   construction   of  roads  by  domestic  and   foreign   economic   organizations should go through the examination and approval  procedures   according  to the relevant regulations of the State.  After  completion,   the  roads  shall  be managed and the tolls shall be  collected  by  the   investors.  Terms for toll collection should be agreed upon  by  related   transportation  departments and investors according to the principle  of   return   of  investment  with  reasonable  profits  and  submitted   for   examination  and approval according to the relevant regulations  of  the   State,  but  the  time  limit shall not exceed that  set  by  the  State   Council.

Article  61  The  transfer of toll collection right  of  State  road  as   prescribed  in Item 1 of Paragraph 1 of Article 59 shall be approved  by   the  transportation department under the State council. The transfer  of   toll collection right for other roads shall be approved by the  people's   governments   of   respective   provinces,   autonomous   regions    and   municipalities and submitted to the transportation department under  the   State Council for the record.

Minimum  prices for the transfer of toll collection right prescribed  in   the  preceding paragraph should be determined on the basis of the  value   appraised by State property appraisal organizations.

Article 62 Domestic or foreign economic organizations to which the  toll   collection  right  has been transferred and which have invested  in  the   construction  of  roads  should set up enterprises  for  developing  and   managing  roads  according  to law (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "road   management enterprises").

Article 63 The standards for toll collection should be proposed by  toll   collecting units and submitted to the people's government of  respective   provinces,  autonomous  regions and municipalities together  with  price   departments at the same level for approval.

Article  64  Opening of toll gates to collert tolls on  the  toll  roads   should  get  approval  from local government  of  provinces,  autonomous   regions and municipalities under the jurisdiction of the State  Council.   Openings of toll gates that transcend provinces, autonomous regions  and   municipalities should be decided by the people's governments of  related   provinces,  autonomous regions and municipalities through  consultation.   Should  consultation  fail,  the  related decisions  shall  be  made  by   transportation  department under the State Council. When a  single  toll   road  is  built  by  different  transportation  departments  or  run  by   different  road  management enterprises, toll gates of which  should  be   built  in  a unified and rational manner according to the  principle  of   "unified collection and proportionate sharing of toll fees".

The  distance  between  two  toll gates should  not  be  less  than  the   standards set by the transportation department under the State Council.

Article  65  When a toll collection right contract  expires,  the  right   shall be recovered by the transferor.

When  the toll collection right transfer contracts for toll  roads  that   are invested and managed by domestic and foreign economic  organizations   expires, the roads should be recovered free by the State and handed over   to transportation departments for management.

Article  66 The maintenance of roads whose toll collection  rights  have   been  transferred according to the provisions of Article 59 of this  law   or   jointly  invested  and  built  by  domestic  of  foreign   economic   organizations  should be undertaken by enterprises that  jointly  manage   the  roads. The afore-said road management organizations,  during  their   management of the roads, should do well to maintain the roads  according   to the technical standards and operational procedures prescribed by  the   transportation  department  under the State Council.  The  roads  should   remain  in  a sound technical state when the term  for  toll  collection   right transfer or operation expires.

The  greening  and water and soil conservation within the land  used  by   roads should be undertaken by road management enterprises.

Road  administration prescribed in the first paragraph is applicable  to   the  provisions  of  Chapter Five of this law.  The  functions  of  road   administration  should  be  exercised  by  organizations  and  personnel   commissioned  by  the  transportation  departments  of  local   people's   governments above the county level or road management organizations.

Article 67 If activities on toll roads listed in the second paragraph of   Article  44,  Article  45, Article 48 and Article 50 of  this  law  have   caused   damages   to  road  management   organizations,   corresponding   compensation  should be made in addition to undertakings  prescribed  in   this article.

Article  68  The  specific methods for operating  toll  roads  shall  be   formulated by the State Council according to the provisions of this law.

CHAPTER VII SUPERVISION AND CHECKING

Article   69  Departments  in  charge  of  transportation  and   highway   administrative organizations shall exercise supervision and checking  on   the implementation of laws and regulations concerning highways.

Article   70  Departments  in  charge  of  transportation  and   highway   administration organizations are responsible for the administration  and   protection  of  the roads and are empowered to check and stop  all  acts   that  occupy,  damage roads and land used by roads  and  road  ancillary   facilities and other acts that violate the provisions of this law.

Article 71 No unit or individual may intrude the work of supervisory and   checking  personnel  in supervision and checks made to  roads,  building   control area of roads, parking lots and owners of vehicles.

Managers  and users of highways and other related units  or  individuals   should  accept  the  supervision and checking by  road  supervisory  and   checking personnel and provide them with conveniences.

In  performing  their duties, road supervisory  and  checking  personnel   should wear signs and show certificates.

Article  72  Departments  in  charge  of  transportation  and   highways   administration   organizations  should  strengthen  administration   and   training of road supervisory and checking personnel, urging them to  get   familiar with the related laws and regulations of the State, to be fair,   honest  and warm-hearted in performing their duties, and to enforce  the   law impartially. Supervision and checking should be strengthened on  the   supervisory  and checking personnel to see whether they work  in  strict   accordance with the law and lose no time to correct their  law-violating   acts and handle such acts according tolaw.

Article  73 Special vehicles used for highway supervision  and  checking   should bear clear and unified signs and warning lights.

CHAPTER VIII LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Article  74  Erection  of check posts or  collection  of  tolls  without   authorization  in  violation of the laws or related regulations  of  the   State   Council,   shall  be  ordered  to  immediately   stop   by   the   transportation  department  in charge with confiscation of  the  illegal   proceeds  and a fine of less than three times the illegal  proceeds,  if   any,  and of less than RMB20,000 if there are no illegal  proceeds.  The   people  in  charge,  directly  responsible  and  other  people  directly   involved shall be given administrative punishments.

Article  75  Undertakings of any engineering work  without  approval  by   transportation  departments in charge in violation of the provisions  of   Article  25  of  this  law, shall be  ordered  immediately  to  stop  by   departments  of  transportation  in  charge with a  fine  of  less  than   RMB50,000.

Article  76 A failure to pay road construction and maintenance fees  due   according  to  relevant regulations of the State, shall  be  ordered  by   departments  of  transportation  in  charge to  make  payment  within  a   prescribed time limit, together with default fines on a daily basis.  If   still  failing to pay within the time limit precribed, a fine  amounting   to  three  times  the  amount  in  default  shall  be  imposed  and  the   transportation   departments   in  charge  may  apply   for   compulsory   enforcement of the punishment with the people's court.

Article  77  For  the following law-violating  acts  the  department  of   transportation in charge shall order an immediate stop and impose a fine   of less than RMB30,000:

1.  Occupying  and  digging  roads in violation  of  the  provisions  of   paragraph 1 of Article 44 of this law;

2.  Building bridges, aqueducts or erect or lay pipelines,  cables  and   other facilities without approval or not in conformance with  prescribed   engineering  technical  standards  in violation  of  the  provisions  of   Article 45 of this law;

3. Engaging in operations that threaten the road safety in violation  of   the provisions of Article 47 of this law;

4.  Driving iron-wheel carts, caterpillar vehicles and  other  machinery   that  might  damage road surfaces on the road without  authorization  in   violation of the provisions of Article 48 of this law;

5.  Driving  overloaded  vehicles  or auto  ferry  or  driving  vehicles   exceeding  limits  set in violation of the provisions of Article  50  of   this law; and

6. Damaging, moving or altering road ancillary facilities or damaging or   moving  signs or boundary markers of building control areas of roads  to   threaten  the road safety in violation of the provisions of  Article  52   and Article 56 of this law.

Article  78 Causing damages and pollution of road surfaces, or  impeding   the  smooth  traffic  of the roads in violation  of  the  provisions  of   Article 46 of this law or using roads as test-run ground in violation of   the  provisions  of  Article  51 of this law, shall  be  ordered  to  an   immediate stop by departments of transportation in charge with a fine of   less than RMB5,000.

Article  79 Causing damages to roads without reporting in  violation  of   the  provisions  of Article 53 of this law, shall be imposed a fine   of    less than RMB1,000 by departments of transportation in charge.

Article  80 Putting of signs other than road marks within the  areas  of   the land for use by roads in violation of the provisions of Article  54,   shall be ordered removal of the signs within a prescribed time limit  by   department  of  transportation  in  charge with  a  fine  of  less  than   RMB20,000.  If the illegal signs are not removed within  the  prescribed   time  limit, departments of transportation in charge shall  remove  them   out with the expenses for the moving being borne by people who are  held   responsible for the signs.

Article  81 Adding road crossings without approval in violation  of  the   provisions  of Article 55, shall be ordered to restore to  the  original   state  by  departments of transportation in charge with a fine  of  less   than RMB50,000.

Article 82 Erecting buildings and ground structures or laying pipelines,   cables  or  other facilities without authorization in violation  of  the   provisions of Article 56 of this law, shall be ordered by departments of   transportation  in charge to dismantle the projects within a  prescribed   time limit with a fine of less than RMB50,000. If the dismantle work  is   not   done  within  the  prescribed  time  limit,  the  departments   of   transportation  in charge shall dismantle them with the  expense  arisen   thereof being borne by the builders.

Article  83  Except those provided for in Article 74 and Article  75  of   this  law,  the  administrative  penalties  and  measures  exercised  by   departments  of  transportation in charge may be  exercised  by  highway   administrative  organizations as prescribed in the fourth  paragraph  of   Article 8 of this law.

Article  84 For cases that have obstructed road construction or  urgent   road  repairing  thus causing the construction or  repairing  unable  to   proceed normally, but have not caused serious damages, the provisions of   Article  19 of the Regulations on the Management and Penalty  Concerning   Public Security shall apply.

For  cases  that  have  damaged  roads  or  moved  road  marks   without   authorization  to a possible effect to traffic safety but  not  eligible   for criminal punishments, the provisions of Article 20 of the Regulation   on  the  Administration  and Penalty Concerning  Public  Security  shall   apply.

For cases that have refused or intruded the work of road supervisory and   checking  personnel  but  without  the  use  of  force  or  threat,  the   provisions  of Article 19 of the Regulations on the  Administration  and   Penalty Concerning Public Security shall apply.

Article  85  For  acts that have violated provisions  of  this  law  and   constituted a crime, criminal responsibilities shall be affixed.

Article  86 For acts that have violated the provisions of this  law  and   caused damages to roads, civil responsibilities shall be affixed.

For  cases  of fairly serious damages to roads, the  vehicles  concerned   must be stopped running with strives undertaken to protect the site  and   report  to  the highway administrative organizations  and  the  vehicles   involved can only be removed after checking and settlement of the matter   by related highway administrative organizations.

Article  87 For dereliction of duty, deception to seek  personal  gains,   abuse of power by working personnel of departments of transportation  in   charge or highway administrative organizations if the cases are  serious   enough to constitute crimes, criminal responsibilities shall be  affixed   but  if  the  cases  are  not serious  enough  to  constitute  a  crime,   administrative punishments shall be meted out.

 

CHAPTER IX SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Article 88 This law comes into force as of January 1, 1998.

Related  Clauses  of the Regulations on the Administration  and  Penalty   Concerning Public Security

Article 19 One of the following acts disrupting public order that is not   eligible   for  criminal  punishments  shall  be  punished  for   15-day   detainment, a fine of less than RMB200 or a warning:

1. Disrupt the order of government institutions, people's organizations,   enterprises and other institutions, causing work, production, operation,   medical treatment, teaching and research unable to proceed normally  but   have not caused serious damages;

 ......

7.  Refuse  or obstruct government functionaries from  performing  their   duties according to law, but without using force or threat.

Article 20 A punishment of 15-day detainment, a fine of less than RMB200   or  a  warning shall be meted out for one of the  following  cases  that   disrupt public safety:

 ......

8.  Dig  holes,  place obstructions on  railways,  waterway,  navigation   channels  or  dikes or dams, damage or move indicative marks  likely  to affect traffic safety but not eligible for  criminal punishment.