The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has released a preview of planned amendments to the Mass Rapid Transit Act (大眾捷運法) that would impose fines of up to NT$1 million (US$31,322) on people who trespass on MRT railway tracks, including those in Kaohsiung’s light-rail system.
Many people often stop on tracks in Kaohsiung to take photographs, especially on a section lined with trees known as the “Totoro tunnel” between the Neiwei Arts Center Station and the Museum of Fine Arts Station.
The amendments would prohibit non-MRT personnel and vehicles from entering areas not used for public passage, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of the China Steel Corp
They would increase the fines imposed on non-MRT personnel or drivers of vehicles who enter MRT routes, bridges, tunnels, culverts and nonpublic areas in stations of the MRT system from NT$1,500 to NT$7,500 to NT$10,000 to NT$1 million, it said.
In addition, the draft amendments would add a new fine of NT$10,000 to NT$1 million for placing, piling up or throwing objects onto MRT tracks or equipment that might impair driving safety, which is based on the Railway Act (鐵路法), it said.
As most light-rail systems operate with “nonexclusive right-of-way,” pedestrians or vehicles often trespass into the restricted areas along the MRT routes, the ministry said.
The draft amendments also stipulate that any railway incidents or abnormal events must be reported, and response plans must be established with local authorities in charge of examining the plans and drills, it said.
The MRT system management should also establish a disaster prevention and response operation contact platform with local governments and hold regular meetings, it said.
Under the proposals, MRT operators must submit safety management reports on operational incidents and abnormal events, and also keep records of railway operations, maintenance and train monitoring for local authorities.
The amendments would give local authorities supervision rights, allowing them to review or investigate railway incidents and impose penalties or take other necessary measures, the ministry said.
MRT operators and their employees should cooperate with investigations and may not evade, obstruct or refuse to comply, or they may face fines of NT$100,000 to NT$500,000, the draft amendments said.
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