Japan rolls out on-the-spot bicycle fines under stricter ticketing system

A cyclist crosses a Tokyo street on Nov. 10, 2022. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO — Cyclists in Japan could face on-the-spot fines for traffic violations starting Wednesday under a new enforcement system aimed at improving road safety.

The new “blue ticket” system allows police to issue fines directly to bicyclists for offenses such as running red lights or using a mobile phone while riding, according to a leaflet from the National Police Agency.

The change marks a shift from a system in which cyclists are often given warnings or issued more serious “red tickets,” which can lead to criminal charges, depending on the severity.

The rules apply to cyclists age 16 and older. Fines vary depending on the violation but generally range from several thousand yen to more than 10,000 yen.

Examples include 12,000 yen, or about $75, for using a mobile phone while riding, 6,000 yen for running a red light and 6,000 yen for riding improperly on sidewalks or on the wrong side of the road.

Offenders would take their citations to a police station to learn the severity of their fine. Under the new system, offenders will be issued a ticket stating the fine, which may be paid at a bank or post office.

Failure to pay the fine may result in a criminal charge, according to an informational leaflet from Tokyo Safety Action.

“I think some of the fines are OK, but some are kind of severe, especially if it can result in imprisonment,” James Johnson Valeros, a project manager with American Engineering Corp., said Tuesday at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.

Valeros said he’s been riding his bike to work on base as a primary mode of transportation for the past two years. He said he’s observed plenty of unsafe practices while riding on the streets of Tokyo.

The punishment is severe “in order to correct those who are riding recklessly,” he added.

The increased enforcement campaign results from a trend in bike fatalities connected to traffic violations, according to information posted on the National Police Agency’s website.

“While the number of fatalities while riding bicycles is on a downward trend, the proportion of those fatalities involving traffic violations remains high at approximately 70% to 80%,” said the agency’s spring traffic safety campaign.

Police will generally give violators a warning or guidance, according to the bicycle rule book posted on the police agency website.

However, serious or dangerous violations, such as causing a traffic accident, may warrant arrest.

Riding under the influence or interfering with traffic may also be handled through criminal procedures, according to the Tokyo Safety Action leaflet.