New Taipei's Banqiao cracks down on scooters with expired exhaust inspections

新北板橋嚴厲打擊排氣檢驗過期機車

Scooter riders face fines ranging from NT$500 to NT$3,000 and possible loss of license


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei's Banqiao District began Wednesday to crack down on scooters with expired exhaust inspections.

The city's Environmental Protection Department said the enforcement area includes surrounding zones between Fuzhong and Xinpu MRT stations. Passing scooters are screened for overdue inspections using a license plate recognition system in the controlled area.

Tsai Min-ching (蔡旻憬), a chief of the air quality maintenance division, told CNA that 10 license plate recognition systems have been installed on major roads for round-the-clock monitoring. He said violations are identified through a connection with the scooter exhaust inspection management system.

Tsai said the city has over 2.2 million registered scooters. The city also has around 600 exhaust inspection stations, achieving an 80% inspection rate last year.

Tsai said scooters more than five years old should undergo exhaust inspections annually. Riders who fail to undergo timely inspections may face a NT$500 (US$16.39) fine.

Tsai said that if inspections are overdue by six months, an additional NT$3,000 fine will be levied, with the possibility of license plate revocation.

The department said diesel buses and trucks more than three years old will also be subject to regulation. Violators will be fined between NT$500 and NT$60,000 under the Air Pollution Control Act.

The department added the city will impose harsher penalties on vehicles that break the law when the air quality index reaches an alert level.