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Cabinet considers easing traffic fines

The Cabinet will draft a package of revisions to traffic regulations to address public grievances regarding penalties, an official said yesterday.

"Premier Yu Shyi-kun has asked Minister without Portfolio Yeh Chun-jung (葉俊榮) to head a panel to draft the revision package," said Cabinet spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍).

The panel will be composed of officials from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Lin said, adding that the draft bill will rescind certain penalties that are deemed excessive and lower fines for some traffic infractions.

The draft package will be referred to the Legislative Yuan for approval in its new session beginning in September, Yeh said.

Two motorists recently crashed into government facilities to protest what they thought were unfair ticketing practices and unreasonable fines. The incidents have sparked a public outcry against the government's perceived policy of using hefty fines as a major source of revenue.

Vice Minister of Transportation and Communications Chang Chia-chu (張家祝) said fines remain an effective tool to modify motorists' behavior but they are not supposed to become a vehicle for raising government revenue.

Chang acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in using fines to upgrade local traffic conditions.

"We'll consider lessening or exempting fines for petty offenses like turning right at a red light or illegal parking that may not cause serious traffic or safety problems," Chang said, adding that new penalty rules may be implemented by the end of next month.

But he stressed that hefty fines for serious offenses like drunk driving or speeding or overloading will not be eased because such fines are imposed to dissuade dangerous driving.
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