Two police officers and one auxiliary police officer in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, were penalized for pasting a ticket on an illegally parked taxi while the driver was dead inside.

On May 2, the public transport branch of the Xi'an Public Security Bureau said on its Weibo account that an inspection team was set up to investigate.

At 10:19 am, traffic officers from Xincheng brigade, Xi'an traffic police detachment, found the car illegally parked and pasted the illegal parking notice on the driver's side of the car then left

According to video data collected from the car, at 4:57 am on May 1, the driver pulled the car over, moved to the passenger seat and laid down, then vomited and had convulsions.

The driver no longer showed physical movement in the video recorded after 9:42 am, the branch's statement said.

At 10:19 am, traffic officers from Xincheng brigade, Xi'an traffic police detachment, found the car illegally parked and pasted the illegal parking notice on the driver's side of the car then left.

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They did not notice the driver in the car, it said.

Later, a passerby saw the driver and called an ambulance.

Medical staff arrived and confirmed the driver was dead.

A statement issued by the Xi'an Public Security Bureau on Tuesday said that the police officers didn't follow proper procedures, didn't meet enforcement standards and simply gave out the ticket.

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The incident sparked controversy on social media platforms, with many netizens questioning the traffic officers' behavior.