Taiwan man sentenced for hitting traffic controller after cutting Costco queue

A man in Hsinchu, Taiwan, has been handed a suspended prison sentence for obstructing public duty after intentionally driving into a queue at a Costco and injuring a volunteer traffic controller. The incident occurred on June 8 last year at the intersection of Ciyun Road and Puding 1st Road.

The man, identified by his surname Hong, was attempting to enter the Hsinchu Costco store and sought to cut into the line of waiting vehicles. When the deputy squadron leader of the Hsinchu Civil Defense Corps' volunteer police unit, who was directing traffic, attempted to stop him, Hong refused to comply.

Instead of following the traffic controller's lawful instructions, Hong drove his vehicle forward, colliding with the official. The deputy squadron leader sustained injuries, including bruising and swelling to his left knee.

In court, the judge considered that Hong had deliberately cut into the queue and then used his vehicle to injure a public official who was performing their duties. The two parties reached a settlement during the preparatory proceedings, with Hong paying 60,000 New Taiwan dollars in compensation and an additional red envelope gift of 600 New Taiwan dollars.

Ultimately, Hong was convicted of using a motor vehicle to commit assault against a public official performing their duties. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.