A video capturing a modified car drifting on private land at a gas station in Taichung's Houli District quickly went viral on social media, raising public safety concerns. Although the uploader removed the video, a police investigation revealed the event was the grand opening of a car repair shop.
Video: Zhe Wang
The event organizer had obtained a permit for road use, but the approved license did not include dangerous driving activities like drifting and sharp turns within the gas station premises. Consequently, police immediately revoked the road use application and will continue their investigation. Depending on the circumstances, the incident may lead to penalties under public endangerment offenses, as well as social order preservation laws and other traffic regulations.
The car in the video had no license plate, featured many modifications, and was equipped with a long flag pole at the rear. At one of the gas pumps, a young man stood holding a fire extinguisher, seemingly prepared to act if an incident occurred.
The incident sparked a heated debate: supporters praised the driver's skill, while opponents questioned the inherent danger of using a gas station as a drifting venue.
Regarding the organizer's claim that the event took place on private land and that the permit process was complete, a lawyer pointed out that the crime of public endangerment in the Criminal Code protects the safety of an unspecified number of people. The crucial factor is not land ownership, but whether the location is freely accessible to the public.
Although gas stations are private land, they are essentially public spaces open to the general public. Even if an area is closed for filming, if a vehicle loses control and veers off course, it could still endanger nearby roads and pedestrians.
The lawyer added that administrative approval for an event does not equate to immunity from criminal liability. Gas stations typically have underground storage tanks, and volatile gas can remain in the air.
High-speed tire skidding, a characteristic of drifting, can generate high temperatures, sparks, or, in the event of a car collision, pose a significant risk of fire or explosion. Even with fire extinguishers and fuel cutoff equipment available at the scene, the driver could still be deemed by police and prosecutors to have intentionally driven in a highly dangerous manner, potentially facing criminal charges for actions endangering public safety.
My Anh (according to Mirror)
