Taiwanese Rider Fined NT$36,000 for Parking Unplated Motorcycle

A motorcycle owner in Keelung, Taiwan, faced a hefty NT$36,000 fine and license plate suspension for parking his vehicle in a public motorcycle bay without its plates. The owner, identified by the surname Zhan, contested the penalty, arguing that the motorcycle was stationary and its plates had been removed by a repair shop for maintenance, not to evade inspection.

Zhan contended that the fine was excessive and violated the principle of proportionality, as the vehicle was not in motion and posed no actual traffic hazard. He believed the licensing authority should not have imposed the maximum penalty without specific justification.

However, the Taipei High Administrative Court upheld the ruling. The court cited Article 12, Paragraph 4 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, which stipulates that parking a vehicle without license plates on a road constitutes a violation. Motorcycle parking spaces are considered part of the road, and Zhan was responsible for ensuring his vehicle was legally plated.

The court also addressed the penalty amount, noting that while the law allows for fines between NT$3,600 and NT$36,000 for this offense, Paragraph 2 of the same article mandates the maximum penalty. This legislative provision, the court explained, aims to enforce owner responsibility for vehicle management and road safety, leaving no room for discretionary reduction by licensing authorities.