The Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday unveiled its mandatory two-month preview of amendments to the Road Traffic Security Rules (道路交通安全規則) and the Chart for Standard Rates for Fines Regarding Traffic Violations (違反道路交通管理事件統一裁罰基準表).
The amendments, which are to take effect in October, would penalize people who are not authorized to direct traffic or engage in other acts that obstruct traffic or pedestrian crossings.
Security guards hired by high-rise communities who obstruct traffic to allow priority exit of vehicles from the community would be fined between NT$1,200 and NT$2,400, the ministry said.
Photo: Cheng Wei-chi, Taipei Times
Acts that obstruct traffic or pedestrian crossings, such as shooting a music video or an advert without prior application, are to be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$6,000, it said.
It would not be a breach of regulations if the film crew has obtained approval and cordoned off part of the road for the shoot, or hired people to direct traffic around the area, it said.
People who are not authorized to direct traffic on crosswalks would be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$6,000, it added.
Drivers who fail to yield to the visually impaired — people carrying a white walking stick or who have a seeing-eye dog with them — near a crossing or when making a turn are to be fined between NT$2,400 and NT$7,200, which is double the current amount, the ministry said.
The changes are in line with the Legislative Yuan’s approval on May 3 of amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例).
Bicycle riders who fail to yield to the visually impaired on crosswalks or sidewalks, thereby causing injury or death, would be fined NT$600 to NT$1,200, also double the current amount, the ministry said.
Obstructing pedestrians by placing, setting or throwing items that would impede traffic; burning items near crosswalks and affecting pedestrians’ vision; or using crosswalks for work are to be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$6,000, with the penalties doubling if it causes injury or death, it said.
While visually impaired people were the primary concern that spurred the amendments, other types of pedestrians were included after discussion, the ministry said, adding that crosswalks should serve as a crossing and nothing more.
Additionally, electric bicycle riders who are not wearing a helmet while going above 25kph are to be fined, it said.
Penalties for vehicles that fail to signal they are making a turn or switching lanes would also increase to between NT$1,200 and NT$3,600, it said.
CAUTION: Based on intelligence from the nation’s security agencies, MOFA has cautioned Taiwanese travelers about heightened safety risks in China-friendly countries The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged Taiwanese to be aware of their safety when traveling abroad, especially in countries that are friendly to China. China in June last year issued 22 guidelines that allow its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death so-called “diehard” Taiwanese independence activists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan. Late last month, a senior Chinese official gave closed-door instructions to state security units to implement the guidelines in countries friendly to China, a government memo and a senior Taiwan security official said, based on information gathered by Taiwan’s intelligence agency. The
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said yesterday that it will revoke the dependent-based residence permit of a Chinese social media influencer who reportedly “openly advocated for [China’s] unification through military force” with Taiwan. The Chinese national, identified by her surname Liu (劉), will have her residence permit revoked in accordance with Article 14 of the “Measures for the permission of family- based residence, long-term residence and settlement of people from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area,” the NIA said in a news release. The agency explained it received reports that Liu made “unifying Taiwan through military force” statements on her online
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said yesterday that it is looking to hire 8,000 people this year, at a time when the tech giant is expanding production capacity to maintain its lead over competitors. To attract talent, TSMC would launch a large-scale recruitment campaign on campuses across Taiwan, where a newly recruited engineer with a master’s degree could expect to receive an average salary of NT$2.2 million (US$60,912), which is much higher than the 2023 national average of NT$709,000 for those in the same category, according to government statistics. TSMC, which accounted for more than 60 percent
Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢), a Taiwanese businessman and deputy convener of the nation’s National Climate Change Committee, said yesterday that “electrical power is national power” and nuclear energy is “very important to Taiwan.” Tung made the remarks, suggesting that his views do not align with the country’s current official policy of phasing out nuclear energy, at a forum organized by the Taiwan People’s Party titled “Challenges and Prospects of Taiwan’s AI Industry and Energy Policy.” “Taiwan is currently pursuing industries with high added- value and is developing vigorously, and this all requires electricity,” said the chairman
RSS