2007年VOA标准英语-Mexico City Targets Bad Drivers, Police Corrupt

By Greg Flakus
Mexico City
25 July 2007

Mexico has long been vexed¹ by official corruption³, which enables drug traffickers to flourish and ordinary citizens to avoid fines for minor⁴ infractions. The authorities are trying to fight corruption at all levels, but as VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Mexico City, many citizens remain skeptical⁶ about the ultimate success of efforts at reform.

Felipe Calderon

In recent weeks, there have been moves on both the federal and local level in Mexico to fight corruption and reinforce the rule of law. President Felipe Calderon last month removed 284 of his top federal police officials because they were suspected of corruption. He has made the fight against corruption and organized crime one of his top priorities.

In Mexico City the focus has been on the lowest level of corruption, that of the so-called "mordida" or bite. This is Spanish slang for a bribe⁷ paid to a street cop in order to avoid a ticket for a minor infraction⁵.

Under new rules announced by Head of Government Marcelo Ebrard last week, motorists are discouraged from offering bribes⁸ and police are rewarded for reporting those who offer them bribes. The once common illegal practices of driving in the bus lane, failure to wear a seat belt, speeding and running red lights are now targeted by the new laws.

Ebrard says the main goal is public safety. He says the fundamental reason for the new regulations is the need to reduce accidents, which cause deaths and injuries.

But critics, including many city motorists, are skeptical. Arturo is one of them. He says the new laws will only hurt those who have to drive and will do little to protect the public.

He also sees it as a way for the local government of the Federal District, which comprises Mexico City, to take in more revenue. The Federal District is controlled by the left-leaning Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD. Its opponents see the new laws, with their stiff fines, as a way for the PRD to gain more money for its political agenda.

That view is based, to some extent, on actions taken by the city government last year in support of PRD militants⁹ who blocked major avenues in the city center to protest alleged¹⁰ election fraud. They claimed Calderon had won his narrow victory over PRD candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador through vote manipulation and corruption in the Federal Electoral Institute. Instead of enforcing the law and preventing the demonstrators from blocking streets, the city government accommodated them and spent public funds in support of their encampment that lasted for several weeks.

City officials, however, defend the new rules, most of which will take effect in September. They note that past campaigns against drunk driving have been ineffective because they were not strictly¹¹ enforced. This time, they say, police will enforce traffic laws, turn down bribe offers and, in general, support public safety.

Monica Flores, a city resident who does not own a car, backs the new law. She says many drivers are irresponsible and they should obey laws in order to protect the public and themselves from accidents. She also believes the new effort to stop corruption will work, because the police, whom she describes as super-corrupt², will stop demanding bribes if citizens stop giving them.

Taxi driver Enrique, however, disagrees. He says the police will remain corrupt as long as they lack education and a decent salary. He says the government's failure to pay them adequately is partly to blame for the problem. He also blames the culture of corruption that has been part of life here for centuries.

Police officers are not saying much about the new law, but spokesmen for the city police forces express optimism that it will work to reduce corruption and traffic accidents in the city.

1 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

5 infraction   

n.违反；违法

参考例句：

• He was criticized for his infraction of the discipline.他因违反纪律而受到了批评。
• Parking at the bus stop is illegal,Motorists committing this infraction are heavily fined.在公交站停车是违法的，触犯此条的司机将受重罚。

6 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

7 bribe   

n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通

参考例句：

• He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
• He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。

8 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

9 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

11 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。