The government is to beef up anti-counterfeiting technology and penalties to fight a surge in fake license plates, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) told lawmakers on Friday.
There were 627 cases of forged license plates since January, significantly more than the 57 reported in 2019, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said, citing data from the National Police Agency.
The use of counterfeit plates spiked following the amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) last year, which defined “severe overspeeding” as driving 40kph over the limit, down from 60kph.
Photo: Hsu Kuo-chen, Taipei Times
The penalty for severe overspeeding includes a six-month suspension on the offender’s car license, he said, adding that speeding cases skyrocketed from 15,000 in 2019 to 62,000 cases last year.
About 40 percent of the fake license plates were used to replace suspended legal licenses, Lin said, adding that a tightening of regulations appeared to have worsened traffic contraventions.
For many, a suspended driver’s license meant losing their livelihood, ability to get to work or provide necessary transportation to family members, so it is not surprising that some would turn to using counterfeit plates, he said.
In response to Lin asking how the government plans to counter the rise in traffic contraventions and forged plates, Chen said that new license plates issued next year would feature anti-counterfeiting technology to make forgery more difficult and that the punishment for using fake plates would be increased.
The ministry would also re-examine the reasonableness of the amended law with relevant police agencies and local governments, and potentially increase the speed limit allowed on freeways, Chen said.
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