What to do if the last character of the license plate is a letter during traffic restriction?
3 Answers
If the last character of the license plate is a letter during traffic restriction, then the preceding digit should be considered. In essence, the last digit is the actual restricted number. Below are relevant details: 1. Traffic restriction: Traffic restriction refers to limiting usage rights based on license plate numbers. For example, from Monday to Friday, 2 out of the 10 possible license plate tail numbers are restricted, prohibiting them from entering the urban area within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road for a certain period. This is a form of traffic restriction. 2. Exempt vehicles: Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, engineering rescue vehicles, public buses, interprovincial long-distance passenger vehicles and large buses, taxis (excluding rental vehicles), vehicles holding tourist bus operation certificates issued by the municipal transport management department, and unit shuttle buses and school buses approved by the municipal public traffic management department.
Once I drove my new car out only to realize I got the traffic restriction rules wrong—my license plate ends with the letter D. Later, I asked a traffic officer and learned that almost everywhere in the country, they look at the digit before the letter. For example, in Beijing, if the license plate ends with a letter, the digit before the letter is used to determine the restricted tail number. My friend in Hangzhou encountered a similar situation—his plate ended with Y, so they referred to the preceding digit 5. It’s actually quite simple: just check the last digit of the license plate number. Now, before driving out, I always use a mobile app to check the restricted tail number for the day and confirm the rule for my plate. Local traffic management apps allow you to register your plate for automatic reminders—developing this habit ensures you won’t get caught.
I've dealt with this type of traffic violation appeal before. The tail number restriction rules are very clear. For license plates ending with a letter, the restriction day is determined by the digit preceding the letter. I've checked the regulations in 32 cities, including major ones like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou - they all implement it this way. In practical terms, if your license plate is Su E·AB88C, the restriction applies based on the number 8. New car owners are most likely to overlook this, so I recommend putting a sticky note in your car as a reminder. It's also best to have the local traffic police number saved in your phone. When in doubt, just call and ask - it's much more cost-effective than getting a ticket.
