Taiwan driver fined $370 after mask falls from truck

A driver in Tainan, Taiwan, has been fined NT$12,000 (approximately $370 USD) after a face mask fell from his truck, leading to a legal battle that ended with his appeal being rejected.

The incident occurred when the driver, identified by the surname Du, was transporting a friend's bicycle in the bed of his truck. A personal face mask was hanging from the bicycle. While driving on Provincial Highway 86, the mask was dislodged by the wind and fell onto the road. Du claimed he was unaware the mask had fallen.

Despite the small size of the item, Du contested the fine, arguing that a single mask did not constitute "cargo" in the conventional sense and that the penalty lacked credibility. He believed the situation was an accident due to wind.

However, the fine was issued under Article 30, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. This law penalizes drivers for failing to properly secure items loaded onto their vehicles, leading to spillage, scattering, or falling off. The mask falling from the truck was captured by a rear vehicle's dashcam and reported to the police.

The Kaohsiung High Administrative Court upheld the fine, ruling that the evidence was clear and that Du's actions violated the regulations regarding falling cargo. The court dismissed his administrative lawsuit, confirming the NT$12,000 penalty and ordering Du to bear the NT$300 in litigation costs.