China's Ministry of Communications will launch a nationwide campaign to stop unauthorized "privileged vehicles" from paying road tolls.

Vehicles owned by the army or armed police, on duty police vehicles, disaster-relief vehicles, combine harvesters and the trucks that haul them and vehicles carrying fresh farm produces are exempt from paying road tolls, said sources with the ministry here Wednesday.

The problem is with local government officials who issue themselves and even their friends with cards that exempt their cars from paying tolls when they are not entitled to do so.

The practice not only violates road rules but has caused great losses to the communications departments, said an official with the ministry.

He asked local departments publicize the list of vehicles that are legally allowed to pass toll gates without pay and expose unauthorized "privileged" cars if they refuse to pay the road tolls.

Source: Xinhua