Mexico City Targets Bad Drivers, Police Corruption (3/3)

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 strictly 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" title="n.腐化；贪污；贿赂">corruption will work, because the police, whom she describes as super-corrupt, 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" class="hjdict" word="decent" target=_blank>decent salary. He says the government's failure to pay them adequately" class="hjdict" word="adequately" target=_blank>adequately is partly to blame for the problem. He also blames the culture of corruption" title="n.腐化；贪污；贿赂">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" title="n.腐化；贪污；贿赂">corruption and traffic accidents in the city.