The National Police Administration yesterday said that it will introduce a second stage of stricter traffic law-enforcement from Sept. 1 and that the enforcement will last for at least the next three years.
According to a press release by the agency, the police's new zeal will be aimed at getting motorists, scooter riders and pedestrians to better obey traffic rules. In particular they will enforce regulations governing stop and yield signs. Though such signs are common, they are seldom obeyed -- especially in the case of the stop sign, where stopping is supposed to be compulsory irrespective of other traffic conditions.
The second-stage enforcement will be an extension of the first stage which began on Aug. 1. Six major regulations are to be enforced more strictly and violators will face fines of between NT$600 to NT$1,800.
According to the agency, these six major regulations are:
? No illegal left or right turns (turns at red lights or at corners where no turns are allowed);
? Cars in left-turn only lanes must turn left;
? Motorists must stop completely in front of a stop sign and yield in front of a yield sign;
? Motorists may not block an intersection under any kind of circumstances;
? Motorists must be in the appropriate lane for making a turn -- far left for turning left, far right for turning right;
? Motorists may not use left-turn only or right-turn only lanes but not turn.
The regulations for stop and yield signs will be the same as in the US. Cars must come to a complete stop at a stop sign. When two cars arrive at a junction with stop signs in both directions, the car on the right will have the priority to proceed.
The agency said that the stricter traffic law enforcement plan is divided into three stages. The first stage, which took place on Aug. 1, was focused on freeway motorists. The second stage will focus on city motorists and scooter riders. And a third stage to begin on Nov. 1, will focus on pedestrians.
Also from Sept. 1, police will begin to pull over motorists carrying children but not using child safety seats. By law, children below the age of 4 must and under 18kg in weight must be seated in child seats.
Violators will be fined NT$500 for each offense.
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