Job Discussion Forums

[elliot_spencer]

I left Taiwan with fines on my scooter...

what would happen if I went back?

Thanks

[englishmaster]

You'll be arrested by Taiwan's dreaded Scooter Gestapo!

Seriously, you could have saved yourself from this anxiety by not breaking the law in the first place, or, having done so, by paying your fines before departing the island.

I doubt that Taiwan's traffic police and other agencies have their act together well enough to track you down upon your return, but you should pay your fines upon returning, anyway.

[BigWally]

Why would you consider not paying your fines?

You make more money than the average Taiwanese, probably many times over. The money from the fines probably goes to the city, to repair roads, to help with projects that would improve the area.

Why would you not want to contribute to a country that you're living in, or have lived in? Its the right thing to do.

[elliot_spencer]

I will pay then but I don't have my registration card that shows the scooter is mine,,, I left it wit a friend. Also, do you know how I can get the scooter out of my name?

[BigWally]

You can't get the scooter out of your name unless you have proof of ownership. You need to take the ownership papers, and your ARC to the DMV, with whoever the new buyer will be, and do the legwork in transferring the ownership to the new owner.

see here

[elliot_spencer]

I am worried... I want to come bac to TAiwan but I dont know who has my scooter which is in my name.... what can I do?

[phdinfunk]

All this talk of morality aside, I think paying the fines would have saved you some grief.

Ask one of your Taiwanese buddies to find out either what the new fine would be or to find out what kind of trouble you might now be in.

The funny thing is that I think of the U.S. What if I had a speeding ticket and didn't pay it. I think if it was in another state besides my own, and I didn't end up getting another ticket there.... probably it would amount to nothing at all, ever.

In fact, I twice had unpaid tickets in Georgia, and technically that means they issue a bench warrant for your arrest. During one of those near year-long times I was waiting outside a girlfriend's house and a neighbor called the police about a "strange man" parked outside her house. It was in the precinct my ticket was issued in so I worried. The guy ran my license and nothing showed up. When I paid the ticket finally, I had to pay an extra 100 USD.

My point: The U.S., especially in the major city of Atlanta, has remarkably good computer tracking systems for police and they didn't care, even when my license was run. And I only paid another hundred buckos after almost a year. Taiwan seems a lot less organized than police system in the growing American city of Atlanta.

In Taiwan there might be some heinous law that will have your hands cut off, but probably not. Probably they will only charge you some more money. Probably there isn't a Ticket Gestapo out there, with your photo tacked up on their hideout wall. Probably no one will ever find out, or chop off any of your phalanges...

....probably.

--Jonathan

[Miyazaki]

Ask your wife.

Check this guy's previous posts - he's a nutter for sure.