Taipei: The Legislative Yuan has enacted changes to the Noise Control Act, intensifying penalties for vehicles that violate noise regulations, including suspending license plates for significant repeat offenders.
According to Focus Taiwan, the amendments increase fines for vehicles exceeding noise limits to a range of NT$3,600-NT$36,000 (US$116-US$1,160), a significant rise from the previous NT$1,800-NT$3,600. Additionally, vehicles reported but failing to undergo mandatory testing by the specified deadline will also face increased fines within the same range.
The revised law stipulates that if a vehicle owner or user is notified to make improvements and fails to comply within the allocated timeframe, they will incur successive violations and fines. Major violations under the new amendments will lead to the suspension of the vehicle's license plate until necessary improvements are made. Furthermore, repeated violations within a year will result in a six-month suspension of the license plate, reinforcing the consequences for non-compliance.
The amendments are designed to curb modifications to exhaust pipes that produce disruptive noises, particularly during late-night or early morning hours, as highlighted in the proposal for the amendments. In accordance with the reorganization of the Environmental Protection Administration in August 2023, the amendments also designate the Ministry of Environment as the updated competent authority for enforcing these regulations.
