Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1191 - 53: Open and Aboveboard

Today Director Feng brought his wife to the small villa at the Rescue Boat Battalion Camp, not only to celebrate the "Western New Year" with Old Ge and Wei Guifeng but also to bid farewell to them.

In a little over a month, it will be the Spring Festival. The children are all in the Capital. The old couple wants to go back early to prepare, so they can have a family reunion with the children. Meanwhile, they'll check with Captain Chen at the Navy Headquarters about when the Navy Chief will come to Binjiang to present flags to the Rescue Boat Battalion.

As for the daily management of the Rescue Boat Battalion, there's basically nothing to worry about.

Reserve Forces are different from active-duty forces; the key is being ready and effective at critical moments, with almost no management required during normal times. You could say that the success of Reserve Forces entirely tests the organizational, communication, and coordination skills of the military political leaders.

It's Little Han Han's first time at the Lang Mountain Scenic Spot, and she's eagerly wanting to go out to play.

Aunt Yao can't climb the mountain, Wei Guifeng is pregnant and shouldn't do any strenuous activities, so they simply let Han Yu and Han Xiang Ning take Han Han out for fun.

As soon as Han Yu and Han Xiang Ning left, Director Feng, holding his teacup, smiled and asked, "Master Ge, do you think Salted Fish will go to the East Sea?"

Old Ge thought for a moment and slightly shook his head.

"He won't go?"

"He probably won't, after all, he's no longer a child."

"You're probably right. Environment really can change people. He's participated in flood relief, won a First-level Merit, was named an anti-flood model, been to the People's Hall, seen so many big commanders. A sense of mission, responsibility, and honor determines many things he wants to do but cannot."

"More importantly, the phenomenon of local maritime 'using fines to support management' is widespread. Not to mention whether standing out like this could be seen as seeking personal revenge, even if his family's ship wasn't unreasonably detained, people could still ask why he doesn't speak about the checkpoints on the Grand Canal, leaving him without words."

Old Ge sighed and continued, "The Grand Canal is a bit far from us, but just speaking of Zhuangming, the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau and Zhuangming Local Maritime Office have completely different penalties for the same violations."

Director Feng asked in disbelief, "Does the Zhuangming local maritime agency have improper fines too?"

"They don't have improper fines, but they do fully utilize the local water traffic regulations."

"How do they utilize them fully?"

"To give a simple example, outside Zhuangming Old Xiao Gang River Mouth, overloaded ships fall under the jurisdiction of the Zhuangming Maritime Bureau. When ships travel 50 meters and dock at the Grain Storage Pier, they come under the Zhuangming Local Maritime Office's jurisdiction. The Zhuangming Maritime Bureau's overload fine ranges from 300 to 10,000 yuan, while the local maritime office's range is 2,000 to 100,000 yuan!"

Old Ge paused, then added, "The penalty differences are so great that not only do they give shipping parties the chance to selectively accept penalties, undermining the law's seriousness, but they also cause dissatisfaction among individual transport operators, including those from Linghai, entering and exiting Zhuangming's local maritime jurisdiction."

When Director Feng was the Port Supervision Director in Binjiang, there were differences in law enforcement standards between the Transportation Department Port Supervisor and local Port Supervisors, but not as exaggerated as now.

As a veteran of managing water traffic safety for so many years, Director Feng couldn't help but ask, "What about here in Binjiang?"

"Binjiang is developing the Yangtze River coastline and promoting port economy. Several districts and counties along the river must improve the investment environment, so Binjiang's local maritime agencies have actively aligned themselves with your old unit, with little difference in law enforcement standards, especially in penalty norms."

Old Ge thought for a moment, then raised his arm to point across the Yangtze River: "The local maritime agencies of Dacang, Shuzhou, and Zhangjia Port are similar. Overall, our situation here is still pretty good.

Ning Ning may be known as the Fine Master, but she enforces the law impartially and won't solicit or accept bribes. Many ship owners have been fined by her, but they still have a certain respect for her."

There's a maritime agency for each county, and they have different bases for enforcement.

Moreover, local maritime agencies mainly receive leadership from local Party committees and governments and only receive guidance from superior local maritime bureaus in business matters, making the water traffic management predictably chaotic.

The more Director Feng thought, the more uneasy he felt. Lighting a cigarette, he furrowed his brows and said, "How did it become like this..."

"The Port Supervision Bureau has become the Maritime Bureau, now a national institution. Ning Ning and her peers are all public servants. Local maritime is different; most are self-funded service agencies and have even become revenue-generating units for some local governments, with their main job being fines."

"It's said that 'fines replacing management' doesn't work, it seems 'using fines to support management' is even more dreadful."

"That's why institutional reform is necessary. Only deepening institutional reform can fundamentally resolve the issues."

Old Ge picked up the teacup, thought about it, and helplessly said, "But talking about institutional reform is easier said than done. The eel-catching battle has been ongoing for over a decade. I estimate the chaos in water traffic safety enforcement won't be resolved in ten or eight years."

The newly formed Ministry of Transport Maritime Bureau, although a Full Bureau Level unit, has jurisdiction over more than a dozen other Full Bureau Level maritime bureaus, its power being substantial.

But in fact, National Maritime only manages Three Rivers and Four Seas, namely the Yangtze River, Zhujiang River, Songhua River, and the South Sea, East Sea, Yellow Sea, and Bohai. Other waterways' traffic safety falls under local transportation departments.

The only solution to resolve the chaos in water traffic safety enforcement is to formalize local water traffic management institutions, turn local maritime law enforcement officers like Han Xiang Ning into public servants, allow local maritime agencies to be funded by the state. But this involves fiscal spending, and it's evidently impossible to achieve in a short time.

Director Feng fell silent, not knowing what to say.

...

Meanwhile, Han Xiang Ning watched her daughter skipping and playing ahead, and casually asked, "San'er, what did Director Feng and Uncle Ge say?"

"They suggest I go to the East Sea."

"Go to the East Sea?"

"The Xinghu-Shen Line is very important for East Sea's economic development."

Han Yu paused, then asked in turn, "Ning Ning, what do you think?"

Han Xiang Ning realized and hesitated for a moment before saying, "After changing to the maritime label, we've all shifted to being public servants; we've all become national cadres. Even if we hadn't changed to the maritime label, our funding and treatment are better than local Port Supervisors. As Sister Zhu mentioned, this matter is very sensitive; it wouldn't be appropriate for me to step in."

Previously, the local Port Supervisor issued certificates indiscriminately, and the Transportation Department Port Supervisor couldn't say much.

Now, the local maritime authorities are issuing fines indiscriminately, and just like the other members of our alumni community, it's difficult to criticize them. After all, even though we're not part of the same system, when it comes down to it, we're all in maritime. Whoever speaks out would be seen by the superiors as engaging in infighting.

Thinking about all this, Han Yu nods.

Han Xiangning picks a leaf, plays with it while softly saying: "I called my brother earlier, and he told me he went ashore and paid three hundred yuan to get all the certificates back. Our family's ship mainly runs along the Yangtze River, and my brother said we won't go there again after this trip."

"Mind your own business and stay out of trouble?"

"The key is, if we just rush over there to demand an explanation, they'll definitely think we're seeking revenge for personal grievances."

"That's true."

"San'er, I know you don't like it, and honestly, neither do I. This kind of reckless behavior not only tarnishes our maritime reputation but also infringes on the rights of the shipmen. Despite the number of fines I've issued in Linghai, no one understands better than me how hard it is for the shipmen."

Han Xiangning tosses away the leaf, saying gravely: "Whether it's a big or small cargo ship, they all have to pay numerous taxes and fees every year. The superiors are increasingly demanding of inland river vessels, with a tendency to apply standards meant for sea vessels, and the competition is fierce. They work in windy and rainy weather, facing adversity, and it's hard to make a living.

Therefore, in law enforcement, I'm particularly strict with 'three-no' boats and vessels with incomplete procedures, because not being strict would be unfair to those who operate legally and compliantly. For vessels with complete documentation that violate regulations for the first time in my jurisdiction, I rarely impose fines, opting instead for criticism and education as the main approach."

It's undeniable that the alumna not only exhibits strength in enforcement but also empathy.

Despite issuing numerous fines, legally operating ship owners and captains still hold a degree of respect for her.

Han Yu is wondering how the big ship owners will assess her now that she's primarily inspecting large ships. Suddenly, Han Xiangning changes the topic: "San'er, if you're really upset, why not talk to Uncle Wang? Uncle Wang is definitely interested in the chaos of maritime law enforcement on the Xinghu-Shen Line. Invite Uncle Wang to do an interview, to expose them!"

"In the past, I would indeed have asked Uncle Wang to step in, but not now."

"Why not?"

"What are our roles? We are all Party cadres and law enforcement officers! When faced with issues, we should report to our superiors, and unless absolutely necessary, we shouldn't immediately turn to the media for exposure like before."

"Makes sense. So are you going to the East Sea?"

"No."

"No?"

"One should be open and aboveboard. When problems are discovered, they should be reported, and there's no need for such roundabout approaches!"

Han Yu takes a deep breath, thinks for a moment, and says: "However, I still need to ask Director He for help, ask my brother-in-law for help, and even ask President Jiang of Linghai Shipping Company for help."

Not taking a roundabout approach or leveraging resources, but confronting the issue head-on.

Han Xiangning is momentarily stunned and subconsciously asks: "What are you asking Director He and my brother-in-law to help with?"

"Since we need to report the problem to the superiors, we must have first-hand information. I have work responsibilities and can't take leave to go gather materials, so I'll ask Director He and my brother-in-law to help collect it."

Fearing the alumna might not understand, Han Yu explains: "The ship owners suffering at the hands of Wujiang Maritime outnumber us on the East Sea. It's more appropriate to have Director He and my brother-in-law learn about it."

Han Xiangning presses further: "And then?"

"Then we'll find their superior."

"Find who?"

"A few days ago, I had dinner with Mayor Qin, who mentioned that Secretary Chen from Zhangjia Port got promoted and is now the Deputy Mayor and a member of the standing committee in Guzhou. I met Secretary Chen the year before last while leading a team to assist in flood control and rescue operations in Zhangjia Port and even took a photo with him. Once I have more detailed information, I'll go to Guzhou to report to Secretary Chen as a member of the Communist Party."

"I thought you would go to the Transportation Department."

"It's better to consult city leaders in Guzhou than to seek assistance from the Transportation Department."

...

Liu Sanwang did not expect the ship captain of Linghai Cargo 306 to not only have connections but also very strong ones!

Not even an hour after Linghai Cargo 306's ship certificates were detained, Director Yang from the Transportation Bureau and Vice Director Li both called.

Over the phone, Director Yang scolded Chief Ding harshly, questioning why penalties were imposed when there was no overloading and all procedures were complete. He said the matter had already alarmed the Guzhou City Transportation Bureau and instructed to return the certificates and let them pass immediately. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Vice Director Li called to say that this incident had alarmed a former director who had been retired for several years.

The ex-director was notoriously difficult to deal with, and he even came into the bureau to express his anger, berating Vice Director Li and two other staff members on duty until they were embarrassed and scolded harshly.

Chief Ding, being quite temperamental himself, found it hard to accept when both the Director and Vice Director called to ask for the release. He insisted that Linghai Cargo 306 had violated regulations and that not penalizing them would make future work difficult, and thus fined them three hundred under pressure.

Liu Sanwang locked the three hundred yuan in the safe, nervously asking: "Chief Ding, since both Director Yang and Vice Director Li didn't want us to fine them, we fined that Korean old man three hundred. Won't Director Yang and Vice Director Li be unhappy?"

"If we bowed to every ship owner seeking personal favors through them, how would we enforce our work if we let them pass with every phone call?"

Such things Chief Ding had seen often. He lit a cigarette and nonchalantly said: "A fine must be imposed, but there is an art to how much we penalize. If we don't fine them at all and just let it pass, it would indicate we made a mistake in our penalty. Fining them a small amount gives Director Yang and Vice Director Li face, making it easier for them to owe us personal favors in front of superiors."

"But Director Yang and Vice Director Li sounded really angry!"

"They vented their anger over the phone, but that was for the superiors to hear. Sometimes I criticize you in front of outsiders too, but are my criticisms genuine?"