A police officer urges cyclists to be aware of the launch of the blue-ticket system on March 10 in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward. (©Sankei by Ai Hashimoto)
A new blue ticket system allowing police to impose traffic fines on cyclists aged 16 and older will take effect on April 1. The move is aimed at strengthening enforcement and encouraging compliance with traffic rules.
In principle, police will continue to respond to violations with verbal or written warnings. However, they will immediately issue blue tickets for offenses likely to cause serious accidents, including riding while using a smartphone.
Moving Away From the Red Ticket System
Until now, police have handled dangerous or malicious bicycle violations through criminal procedures tied to so-called red tickets. That approach, however, has placed a heavy burden on investigators, requiring paperwork and questioning. Many cases also ended without indictment, prompting criticism that the system did too little to hold offenders accountable.
Blue tickets, already widely used for automobile traffic violations, allow offenders to avoid criminal prosecution by paying a fine within a set period. Under the new system, bicycle violations that had previously been handled through red tickets will be shifted to blue tickets when the offense is relatively minor, speeding up the process.
A senior police official said the rules cyclists are expected to follow, as well as the basic approach to enforcement, remain unchanged. "This is not so much a matter of tougher punishment as it is a simplification of the process after a violation is caught," the official said.
Immediate Tickets for Closed Railroad-Crossing Violations
A total of 113 violations will be subject to blue tickets. The highest fine, ¥12,000 JPY (around $75 USD), applies to using a mobile phone while riding, including cycling while holding a smartphone, talking on the phone, or staring at the screen.
Because such conduct is highly likely to lead to serious accidents, police are expected to issue a blue ticket on the spot whenever an officer directly observes the violation.
Other offenses are also expected to result in an immediate blue ticket without a prior warning. For example, entering a railroad crossing while the barrier is down ("trespassing at a closed crossing," ¥7,000) and riding a bicycle without brakes or with faulty brakes ("defective braking system," ¥5,000).
Sidewalk Riding Can Still Bring Fines
For other violations, police will generally begin with warnings unless the conduct is especially dangerous.
Under Japan's Road Traffic Act, bicycles are in principle required to travel on the road. Riding on the sidewalk constitutes a lane violation, punishable by a ¥6,000 ($38) fine. There are exceptions, however. Cyclists may ride on the sidewalk if signs permit it or if safety cannot be ensured on the roadway. In such cases, they must stay close to the roadside of the sidewalk and proceed slowly.
Simply riding on the sidewalk will generally result in a warning. Cyclists could face a blue ticket or other enforcement measures, however, if they ride fast enough to startle pedestrians into stopping, or if they continue riding on the sidewalk after ignoring a police warning.
Riding with an umbrella or while wearing earphones is a violation of public safety commission rules, which carry a ¥5,000 fine. Earphones, however, are not considered a violation if the rider uses only one or wears bone-conduction devices, as long as they can still hear sounds necessary for safe riding.
Serious Violations Still Subject to Red Tickets
Twenty-four especially serious violations will continue to be handled through red tickets. These include cycling under the influence of alcohol, drunk riding, and dangerous obstructive driving. As before, such cases will be referred for criminal procedures. Riding while using a smartphone will also be subject to criminal procedures if it actually creates a traffic danger.
Police hope the new system will prompt more people to take an interest in bicycle traffic rules. The National Police Agency has compiled a bicycle rule manual laying out its enforcement policy and specific examples, and has posted it on its website.
RELATED:
(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Yuko Ogata, The Sankei Shimbun
