Beijing on Sunday launched a campaign to improve police etiquette by requiring its traffic policemen to say "good morning" and "please" after pulling over drivers.

The latest courtesy drive ruled that traffic and patrol police officers should salute and greet the drivers with "etiquette words", with the first sentences being "Good Morning. You have violated the traffic rules. Your driving licence please."

According to the regulation from the Beijing traffic management bureau, police officers are also required to end inspections with sentences like "Please abide by traffic rules. Thank you for your cooperation."

Local traffic authorities said designated inspectors would be sent to supervise police etiquette and those who repeatedly violated the rules would be fired.

Beijing came down hard on police manners last year by imposing bans on smoking, eating and chatting for on-duty officers.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2008)