Motorcycles with engine capacities of more than 550cc will be allowed on the country's expressways from today, but will still be excluded from freeways, a Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) official said yesterday.
The official, from the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau, reminded motorcyclists riding on the 15 expressways that are connected to freeways to pay close attention to exit signs, in order to avoid ending up on a freeway.
Motorcyclists who are caught riding on freeways will be fined NT$3,000, the official said.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
J-Motors Professional Group vice president Hsiao Yu-lin (蕭毓麟) said that the regulation change had boosted his company's sales of large-engined motorcycles by about 20 percent.
Meanwhile, a National Police Agency official said that during the early stages of the new road rules, police will focus on serious violations by motorcycle riders and only issue warnings for minor violations, as riders adjust to the new regulations.
The official advised motorcycle riders to wear full-face helmets when riding on expressways and called on drivers of cars to respect the bigger motorcycles on expressways, as they enjoy the same road rights as cars.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Wang Sing-nan (
Wang, who was joined by bike enthusiasts and DPP legislators Wang Shu-hui (
Wang Sing-nan said the Tainan City Government and motorcycle manufacturers and organizations would host celebrations to mark the law change on Saturday.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as