Japanese Road Law Changes

[InspectorGadget]

Japanese road laws have changed effective today (November 1st 2004)

From today, anyone seen driving while holding a cellphone can be stopped and issued with a 50,000yen fine and one demerit point.

The old laws banned ketai useage while driving . . . . . . . but the officer involved would have to show that using the ketai was impairing your driving. Hence the reeason no one was EVER pulled over for this, and everyone just ignored the law.

The same changes to the law also apply to bicycle and motorcycle riders. So be careful everyone.

IG

[Parag0n]

50,000, thats quite alot

[Rezz]

Thanks gadget... I knew the law were going to change, but to exactly what I didn't know. Cheers

[InspectorGadget]

If you can get hold of a copy of the Japan Times from last Friday, there is a big write up of the changes in there on Pg 10.

Most of the other changes were aimed at Bosozoku. Eg

Removed or poorly fitted exhaust = 50,000 yen.

Noisy driving (such as gunning the engine) = 50,000

Refusing a breathalyzer test = 300,000

Mob riding = Instant arrest (once they catch them)

Also, all the new bank notes are being released today.

http://202.221.217.59/print/business/nb06-...b20040616a3.htm

[yukz2daizzo]

dont they have some for the seat belt too??

[Revhead]

Similar to the ones here in Aus (or Qld at least, dunno about everywhere else). The only difference is that ours is a 3 point loss and $135 fine... Y50,000 seems pretty steep!

How do you use a mobile phone on a motorbike? It's a bit hard to hear through the helmet

[Evo_Lee]

i read this earlier in the year, a few things have changed...but the most important one you should note is 60,000yen to 300,000yen fine for drink driving!

[REDFC]

Damn, 50,000Y is a big fine!!

[InspectorGadget]

i read this earlier in the year, a few things have changed...but the most important one you should note is 60,000yen to 300,000yen fine for drink driving!

Not quite correct. That particular fine comes into play if you try and evade a breath test.

Under the old laws, it was cheaper to try and speed off, or refuse to take the test, if you saw the police breath testing on the road ahead. The new laws just correct that.

With regard to the new cellphone laws. I was slightly off.

The police can issue instant fines of 7,000 yen if they catch you talking on a ketai while driving. However, if you refuse to pay the fine, the courts can increase that to 50,000 yen.

Sorry for the misinformation. The Japan Times article wasn't particularly clear.

IG

[Evo_Lee]

huh...evade and when they catch you, you could be up deportation my friend...not just 300,000yen and a suspended license.

Under the old law i.e. the old smell test, they would let you go as long as they judged you still competent to drive...which was not accurate.

Furthermore under the old law they were basically not catching anyone as such!

[Demon Dave]

Sure the fine for using a keitai is 7,000 yen? My wife seemed to think it was only 5,000?

[InspectorGadget]

Sure the fine for using a keitai is 7,000 yen? My wife seemed to think it was only 5,000?

Japan Today is saying that:

Small motorcycles = 5,000

Cars and Large Motorcycles = 6,000

Trucks and Busses = 7,000

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&...&cat=&id=317518

Either way, It's going to get expensive really quickly if people continue to do it.

IG

[Evo_Lee]

dave read this

http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20041101p2a...0dm006000c.html

funny thing is they will do this to show they are enforcing the new law but after a month or so they won't care plus 7000yen ain't that much but no doubt it will go up.

[InspectorGadget]

dave read this  

http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20041101p2a...0dm006000c.html

funny thing is they will do this to show they are enforcing the new law but after a month or so they won't care plus 7000yen ain't that much but no doubt it will go up.

Nailed it in one Evo_Lee. Give it a month and they'll be back to normal (ie doing nothing) and people will just start using their ketai in their cars again.

Pathetic isn't it.

IG

[Demon Dave]

well, I have to admit the new fines don't really bother me...I'm a good boy me :innocent:

I never talk on the phone while driving.

Certainly don't drink and drive. :alcoholic

And my cars are 100% legal...and when I want to have some "fun" I pick the time and the place with care :angel:

:D

Drive smart people and pay less tax

[lwells]

Time to move in to the bluetooth headset market me thinks

LW.

[yukz2daizzo]

bluetooth headsets?! those are expensive as hell, try autobacs 900 yen hehehe.