Zhè zhǒng luàn shōufèi jiǎnzhí jiùshì biànxiàng de mǎilùqián.
This kind of arbitrary charging is basically a disguised form of bandit toll.
Tips
culture
Iconic line from 《水浒传》 (Water Margin) — outlaws on Liangshan demand 买路钱 from travelers. Today used metaphorically for any illegitimate fee, like a bribe at a checkpoint.
history
A separate older meaning: paper money 纸钱 (zhǐqián) thrown along a funeral procession to 'buy passage' for the soul through the underworld.
