Recently in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, a hair salon was fined 1,000 yuan by urban management officials because its air quality inspection report had expired. The salon owner’s video exposing the incident has stirred up discussions online.
The video circulating online shows three urban management staff members wearing uniforms arguing with the salon owner inside the salon over the “air quality inspection” and the fine issue. The staff members claimed that the owner failed to provide a valid “air quality inspection” certificate and issued an on-the-spot administrative penalty decision.
On October 25, Mr. Wei, the person who released the video, told Jiemu News that enforcement officers from the local government visited the salon on the 24th to penalize them for their expired “air quality inspection report” and urged them to handle it promptly.
At that time, apart from the three urban management enforcement officers, there were also two police officers standing outside the salon. Mr. Wei told the police that he didn’t know where to handle it and yet he was facing a fine ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 yuan. The police officers did not respond, but the urban management enforcers confirmed the fine was 1,000 yuan.
Mr. Wei mentioned that in 2022, officials from the local government previously requested him to obtain the valid certificate, and he paid for it once. However, even after the payment, no one came to the salon for the inspection, and shortly after, he received the valid report. In August this year, staff members returned to the salon and demanded the valid certificate again, claiming that the air quality inside the salon was not up to standard, which led to driving away customers and causing him a loss of over 2,000 yuan.
Afterwards, Mr. Wei inquired with various government departments but no one told him where to get the inspection done. He questioned, not knowing where to obtain the air quality inspection certificate, what should he do? “Most importantly, their actions have severely affected my reputation.”
In response, the staff from Shuiyue Temple Street office stated that public hygiene places like hair salons and beauty parlors must have a third-party issued air quality inspection report. However, enforcement departments do not specify which testing institution to use; businesses can find one on their own.
The staff also mentioned that the hair salon was fined the minimum amount of 1,000 yuan and urged the owner to promptly handle the relevant reports.
Netizens voiced their opinions, with some saying, “Blatantly robbing…,” “Money-hungry madness.” “Just grab it directly,” and “Stop at nothing.”
Some netizens questioned, “Does having the certificate mean the air is qualified?” “Why do police and urban management jointly enforce this?”
One netizen sarcastically remarked, “Tight on budget lately, need to go out more and check, make some easy money.” “Down with privileges.”