Fines for drivers who leave their vehicles idling on the side of the road for more than three minutes are set to be implemented tomorrow.
The Air Pollution Control Act (空氣污染防制法), which was introduced on March 1, states that the fines imposed for idling vehicles will be NT$1,500 for motorcycles, NT$3,000 for small cars and NT$5,000 for larger vehicles.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said more than 34,000 warnings have been issued during a three-month grace period at places such as schools, hospitals and bus and train stations — where drivers are most likely to park their car and keep the engine running.
EPA officials said law enforcement authorities would have some flexibility in handing out tickets.
For instance, officials said, there could be exemptions for those with senior citizens or physically disadvantaged people in their car because they might need to keep the engine running to keep the car air-conditioned.
The EPA estimates that if drivers cut down their idling time by 30 minutes per day, about 640 liters of gas, 54.8kg of carbon monoxide and 1.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved per car each year.
In related news, the speed limit on Freeway No. 2 and Freeway No. 4 is to be raised from 90kph to 100kph tomorrow.
Currently, the speed limit on the east of Freeway No. 2 is 100kph and that on the west is 90kph.
The National Freeway Bureau said motorists would be given 10kph leeway, adding that those violating the speed limit could face a fine of NT$3,000 or more.
Meanwhile, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC, 台灣高鐵) announced yesterday that passengers would be able to cancel tickets at convenience stores starting tomorrow.
Tickets purchased from convenience stores, such as the 7-Eleven, Hi-Life (萊爾富) and OK Mart (OK超商) chains, can be canceled at any store up to half an hour before the train is due to depart.
Tickets can be canceled from 10am to 10pm, with a handling fee of NT$20 per ticket canceled, THSRC said.
Also starting tomorrow, transaction fees for cross-bank withdrawals at ATMs are being cut from NT$6 to NT$5, and transaction fees for cross-bank wire transfers are being cut from NT$17 to NT$15, the Financial Supervisory Commission announced.
Additional reporting by Shelley Shan
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