Beijing considers plans to improve its car registration system by punishing those who have the license plate but fail to purchase car within 6 months as the city still battles over traffic congestion.

The car license plate lottery system management office is working on an online survey about the expected restrictions for car plate abandoners, from May 26 to June 8, 2011. The most severe punishment is that abandoners are not allowed to apply for the license plate in two years.

The current rule is that the registration for a new car must be finished within six months after getting the plate, or the license plate will become invalid. People who abandon license plates can re-apply for a new car license plate after six months. There are no penalties for giving up the plates.

Some Beijing residents said people who are not eager to buy a car apply for the plates anyway, then they don't buy cars, so it is more difficult for people who really need a car to get a license plate.

Traffic management departments said that only 21% of applicants got a license plate in January in the first license plate lottery.