People who impede an ambulance in an emergency would be subject to a fine of NT$500 (US$15.09), the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) clarified yesterday.
The MOTC made the comments after dashcam footage circulated on social media showed a man on a crosswalk in Kaohsiung stopping in front of an ambulance and making what appeared to be an obscene hand gesture before walking away.
Local media reported on the incident which took place on Saturday last week and quoted police as saying there was "no law to punish his behavior."
Photo: Tang Shih-ming, Taipei Times
When an ambulance activates its strobe lights and siren during an emergency, it has the right of way and all vehicles and pedestrians are required to yield, the MOTC said.
The ministry said pedestrians caught obstructing an ambulance would be fined NT$500 under Paragraph 4, Article 78-1 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例).
This stipulates the penalty for "running, chasing around, playing, sitting, lying, squatting, or standing on roadways with heavy traffic or at railroad crossings in a manner that impedes traffic."
It also warned that pedestrians who deliberately obstruct an ambulance using force or violence could be charged with obstructing official duties under the Criminal Code.
In a separate statement yesterday, the National Police Agency (NPA) said the man was not initially found to have violated the traffic management law.
Regarding the alleged obscene hand gesture, the NPA said the individual is being investigated for suspected contravention of Article 85-1 of the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法).
The law states that individuals can be detained or fined up to NT$12,000 for using inappropriate language or engaging in unacceptable behavior toward government officials or employees performing their duties.
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