The Shanghai police are cracking down on newspaper peddlers and beggars who spend their days harassing commuters on the city's subway system.

As part of a 15-day crackdown, officials began patrolling metro trains and stations on Monday.

"Peddling on the subway is prohibited, and in fact we're always keeping an eye on such things," said Huang Weichun, a senior official with the Shanghai Rail Transport Administration Division under the Shanghai Urban Transport Bureau.

The transport division together with city police sent a 50-man task force to patrol three local metro lines, including two subways and the first light rail, according to Huang.

The crackdown came in response to rising complaints from local passengers who are not in the mood to be pestered on the commute home from work.

"These sellers over-charged me for newspapers by 0.5 yuan (6 US cents) each copy," said Yan Mei, a 24-year-old white-collar worker at a local hotel. "At first, I thought they were legitimate sellers who had approval from the Shanghai Metro Operation Company. I was wrong."

Although most commuters regard peddlers as a nuisance, some travelers think those hawkers provide a useful service.

Nearly 4,000 peddlers and beggars operating on local metro trains have been fined during the first 11 months of this year, said Huang.

An anti-peddling regulation, which took effect on July 1 last year, prohibits solicitations of any kind on metro trains and subway stations.

Anyone caught selling newspapers or begging could face a fine of up to 100 yuan (US$12). In fact, many of those fined do not have enough money to pay the penalties, and violators cannot be arrested.

The regulation also bans the use of force while boarding or exiting trains, as well as smoking, spitting, littering, lying on the floor and bringing pets into trains. Each could bring a fine of up to 100 yuan.

Fines of up to 500 yuan (US$60) await those who jump into a railway tunnel, attempt to block trains or enter a secured area.

Peddlers have spared the city's latest rail transportation line -- Xinmin Light Rail -- an elevated train that connects the city outskirts to the downtown area, because relatively few commuters use that line.

The light rail is also designed in a way that makes peddling difficult; its cars are separated from one another by a locked door, officials said.

(eastday.com December 17, 2003)