Just a quick heads-up that the Jing'an police department seems to be clamping down on non-Shanghai license plated bikes and cars. Please note that this is not an official report, but apart from my own experience last week, and the feedback I have had from friends that live in the area, they are getting tougher on this.

For those of you not living in or around Shanghai; only the coveted Hu license plates are allowed inside the city, and they are expensive. Therefore many people seem to make do with Jiangsu or Zhejiang plates, and accept the occasional fine. Now, however, the fine seems to be accompanied by points on your license (3 for this offense), and confiscation of the bike for a limited amount of time.

From what I can see, this ambition to limit illegal bikes isn't necessarily shared in other parts of town (yet?). Where I live in Xujiahui, the police seem completely disinterested in foreigners with outside plates...

Mark