The Bureau of Children under the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) yesterday announced that erotic shops are off limits to individuals under the age of 18 and vendors who admit young visitors may face a heavy fine.
According to a regulation promulgated by the bureau, vendors are now required to post clear signs on their doors prohibiting entry by the underaged and, if necessary, ask for identification from those who enter the stores.
This new regulation stipulates that store vendors who violate the rule will face a maximum fine of NT$100,000. The penalty will be imposed in October.
After conducting a round-table discussion with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Police Agency, district governments and child welfare specialists, representatives concluded that the window displays and signs for erotic shops may be too seductive, sensational or sexually suggestive, and therefore impede the healthy mental growth of children and youths.
Erotic shops are also now officially included in the list of off-limit locales for the underaged, under article 28 of the Children and Juveniles Welfare Law (兒童及少年福利法). Examples of locales on this list include gambling houses and saloons which offer sexually explicit services.
"In the future, during police patrols, if children under the age of 18 are found in an erotic store, the police may write out a fine on the spot. Vendors that do not follow the law will face a fine of between NT$20,000 and NT$100,000. In addition, the owner of such a store will be publicly announced and the parents or legal guardians of children who enter such stores will face a fine of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000," said Huang Bi-hsia (黃碧霞), the director of the bureau.
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