Foreigners Say "I Don’t Understand," Police Action Sparks Debate

Source: OT-Team(G),光明网; 观察者网

  Recently, a netizen shared an experience of traveling in Shanghai with two foreign tourists, during which the local traffic police switched languages while enforcing the law, sparking widespread discussion online.

  According to the netizen, at the time of the incident, they were sitting in the front passenger seat, while the two Japanese tourists were seated in the back. The vehicle was stopped by the Huangpu District traffic police after the two tourists were found not wearing seatbelts. Upon learning that the backseat passengers were Japanese, the officer immediately switched to fluent Japanese and explained to the tourists that failing to wear a seatbelt was a violation of the law.

  After receiving the warning, the tourists put on their seatbelts. The police also issued a warning according to Chinese traffic laws and had the two sign a citation. The netizen was surprised by the officer's ability to speak Japanese. The officer responded, "It's just a coincidence—we also have officers who speak English, and if you go to the Bund, you'll even find officers who speak German."

  In addition, another netizen in Shanghai shared a similar experience, recalling how foreign residents near their home once hosted a late-night party. After calling the police, they were asked the nationality of the individuals involved, and the police seemed to arrange officers who could speak the relevant language.

  Furthermore, on December 3rd, an incident occurred when a foreign man was stopped by the traffic police in Putuo District for a traffic violation. When he claimed that he "didn't understand," the police switched to English for enforcement.

  These incidents have highlighted the Shanghai traffic police's ability to handle cases involving foreign tourists and residents in multiple languages, improving communication and law enforcement efficiency.