SEVERE FINES OF UP TO NT$25 MILLION AIM TO HALT UBER|重罰Uber違法經營 初審上修最高2500萬

The government decided to amend legislation to fine Uber more harshly for operating illegally. On Dec.7, the Legislative Yuan passed amendments on the Public Transport Act at the first reading. Future fines for illegal passenger transport were set at NT$25 million. These may start from Jan. 1, 2017. Minister of Transportation and Communications Ho Chen Tan said that the US had previously sent a concerned party to discuss this, but that the government will continue to fine illegal transport operatives. Unhappy that the government has amended the law expressly to fine Uber severely, Uber drivers gathered around the Legislative Yuan, honking their horns angrily. The company itself took put ads in the four major papers excoriating legislators for fining drunk drivers just NT$90,000 but hitting Uber with NT$25 million fines. The industry said the government was like an unstoppable juggernaut. The Legislative Yuan passed amendments as Articles 77 and 78 of the Highways Act. ==HO CHEN TAN Minister of Transportation and Communications== This way, directly fining NT$25 million, is within the basis of the current law, now with this strengthening, we can demonstrate to Uber our determination to enforce the law. After the amendment, fines for illegal vehicle or illegal electric vehicle transport businesses will be raised to between NT$100,000 to NT$25 million. They can be ordered to suspend business and car number plates and drivers' licenses can be suspended from between 4 months to one year, or can be revoked. Drivers cannot take another drivers' license test or obtain other vehicle number plates within two years. The bonus of ten percent for reporting Uber drivers will be given to a maximum of NT$2.5 million. Minister Ho Chen said that prior to this, concerned individuals from the US had come to Taiwan to understand the issues, but would not make further comment. ==LIN CHUN-HUI DPP Legislator with MOTC Minister HO CHEN TAN== Did someone from the US or the US government apply any pressure to Taiwan over UBER? There was no pressure, but they were certainly concerned. Will this turn into a Taiwan-US trade dispute? I don't think that is likely. Ho Chen Tan said the point was not the heavy fines, but rather that the government hoped that Uber would become legally managed, taxed and insured to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. After the third reading was passed, the law would be implemented from Jan. 1 at the soonest. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR 不滿立院法修法提高罰金，重罰Uber違規載客，Uber司機一早聚集立法院外，按喇叭抗議。除了司機外，Uber一早也在四大報刊登廣告、批評立委酒駕只罰九萬，但開Uber居然要重罰2500萬。業者抨擊台灣政府開倒車，不過還是無法阻擋，立法院上午初審通過公路法第77條與，第78條之1修正案。 ==交通部長 賀陳旦== 這個做法我想(直接罰2500萬) 在目前的法理上是有它的依據的 那麼這個上面(加強執法)我們也會 在這個上面來向我們Uber業者 表達這個(執法)上面我們的決心 修法後 違法從事汽車或電車運輸業，罰鍰提高至10萬到2500萬元，可勒令停業、吊扣車牌及駕照4個月到1年或吊銷，駕駛2年內不得考領駕照或重領牌照，也增訂1成檢舉獎金，鼓勵民眾檢舉，最高可獲得250萬。交通部長賀陳旦也親口證實，在此之前、美國官方與民間都有派人來關切了解，但層級內容不方便透露。 ==民進黨立委 林俊憲 vs 交通部長 賀陳旦== 美方人士甚至 美國政府相關人士 有沒有為了Uber的事情 對台灣施加壓力 沒有感覺到有壓力 但是他們確實有來關心 Uber的事情會不會成為 美台之間的一個貿易爭議的事情 我想應該不會 賀陳旦表示提高罰則不是重點，希望Uber可以合法納管納保納稅，保障司機乘客安全。而公路法修正案在這個會期三讀後、最快明年1月1號實施。 記者 李志華 吳其昌 台北報導