Since November, owners of cars not registered in Beijing have faced a penalty of three points on their 12-point licenses if found driving within the Fifth Ring Road during “rush hour”, Beijing News reported.

Violators also have to pay a fine of 100 yuan ($16.40). Before November, the fine was the only penalty.

Cars registered outside Beijing are not allowed to drive within the Fifth Ring Road from 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 8 pm.

A traffic police officer in Dongcheng district told the newspaper that the change took effect in November. But no notice about the change was published, the newspaper said.

Wang Xixin, a law professor at Peking University, said a public announcement is needed before changing an administrative penalty that affects so many people, but added that the change was necessary and legal.