NCJ Number
60223
Date Published
1979
Length
20 pages
Annotation
INNOVATIONS IN JAPANESE TRAFFIC LAW ARE AIMED AT REDUCING ACCIDENTS AND EXPEDITING LEGAL PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
Abstract
INNOVATIONS IN JAPANESE TRAFFIC LAW, AND THE DIFFICULTIES IN CONVINCING LOCAL AUTHORITIES, LEGISLATURES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THEIR NECESSITY ARE EXAMPLES OF THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN INNOVATION. SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES INCREASED, WITH A PEAK IN 1970. FORMAL COURT PROCEEDINGS COULD NOT HANDLE THE WORKLOAD, THE TRAFFIC POLICE WERE OVERWORKED, AND CITIZENS FOUND IT EASY TO DISREGARD THE LAW. TO REMEDY THESE MATTERS, STUDY AND COMPARISON WITH AMERICAN, GERMAN, FRENCH, AND OTHER COUNTRIES' METHODS OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM PRODUCED INNOVATIVE ACTION. THE FIRST INNOVATION WAS THE INAUGURATION OF THE ONE DAY DISPOSITION PROCEDURE IN 1954, WHICH REVISED ROAD TRAFFIC LAWS TO ALLOW POLICE OFFICERS TO TAKE CUSTODY OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, COORDINATION OF EFFORTS, AND UTILIZATION OF THE SYSTEM OF TEMPORARY PAYMENT OF A FINE. A SECOND INNOVATION WAS THE TRAFFIC TICKET SYSTEM IN 1963 INAUGURATED AFTER DISCUSSION OF PENAL AND NONPENAL FINES. THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN A SAVING IN TIME AND MANPOWER. A THIRD CHANGE WAS THE TRAFFIC INFRACTION SYSTEM INSTITUTED IN 1968 TO MAINTAIN EFFICIENCY YET KEEP THE DIGNITY AND ORDERED REGULARITY OF JUDICIAL PROCEDURE. DEFINITIONS OF INFRACTION ARE CLEARLY STATED UNDER LAW TO AVOID UNCONSTITUTIONALITY. UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, THE POLICE OFFICER APPREHENDING A TRAFFIC LAW VIOLATOR GIVES A WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE OFFENDER ON THE SPOT. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY WRITTEN NOTIFICATION FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE. IF THIS FINE IS PAID IN A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME (AT A BANK OR POST OFFICE) THERE WILL BE NO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. OTHER INNOVATIONS TO BE MADE IN JAPAN INCLUDE THE PROSECUTION OR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BY CORPORATIONS. (RFC)