Taiwan cracks down on fake license plates

台灣加重對假車牌的懲罰

Vehicle owners, drivers will face same fines


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Drivers and owners of vehicles with fake license plates will face fines of up to NT$36,000 (US$1,100) and the destruction of their vehicle, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said Thursday (Nov. 14).

The problem of counterfeit plates has grown considerably, posing a threat to public safety, according to the MOTC. To crack down on the problem, discussions between government departments resulted in a decision to introduce stiffer penalties for cars and scooters, per CNA.

For vehicle owners with fake plates, the maximum fine was raised from NT$10,800 to NT$36,000. The new measures will also see the vehicle impounded and destroyed.

If the driver or rider is not the vehicle owner, they still face the same fine. The MOTC proposals still need Cabinet and Legislative Yuan approval.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs contacted digital platform operators to remove 46 cases of counterfeit plates being sold online. The number of fake plates seized by authorities increased from 95 in 2021 to 169 in 2022, 251 in 2023, and 1,012 this year until October, according to the Highway Bureau. In August, the detection of the plates reached a peak of 259 plates.