Taipei: A Spanish tourist leaped out of a moving car near Terminal 2 of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Thursday night, as the driver attempted to escape from airport police, according to the Aviation Police Bureau (APB).
According to Focus Taiwan, the incident took place at 10:36 p.m., when police identified a private vehicle suspected of illegally picking up passengers. The driver, identified by the surname Hsu, was known to collaborate with unlicensed operators soliciting customers at the airport, in violation of local taxi regulations, APB official Lin Wei-shao reported. Lin mentioned that the driver disregarded police instructions and only halted the vehicle after the passenger exited, resulting in minor injuries to the tourist's arms.
Dash cam footage from a nearby car captured a bag falling from the vehicle before the passenger landed at the far end of a pedestrian crossing. Hsu subsequently exited the vehicle and was promptly approached by a police officer.
Police issued Hsu a fine of NT$9,600 (US$321.15) on-site for traffic violations, including running a red light, failing to yield at a crosswalk, and disobeying police commands. Additionally, he faces a potential fine of up to NT$25 million for operating an illegal taxi service, and authorities may suspend his license and confiscate his vehicle registration, Lin stated.
During the first five months of this year, police documented 1,564 traffic violations and 98 civil aviation violations at the airport, Lin added.