By RK Shih/Staff
TAITUNG — Drivers who believe a speeding ticket can be overturned if multiple vehicles appear in the photo received a reality check this week, after a court ruled that modern laser speed guns can precisely target a single vehicle even in dense traffic.
The Liberty Times reports the case involved a man surnamed Chang (張) who was riding a large motorcycle on Provincial Highway 11 along Taitung’s east coast. On a stretch of road with a 60 km/h speed limit, police recorded him traveling at 101 km/h — 41 km/h over the limit. He was fined NT$12,000, ordered to attend traffic safety classes, and had his license plate temporarily suspended.
Chang challenged the citation, arguing that other cars and motorcycles appeared behind him in the enforcement photo, raising doubts about accuracy. He also claimed police failed to properly install warning signs.
However, the Kaohsiung High Administrative Court rejected his appeal. Judges explained that, unlike older radar systems, modern laser speed guns use a narrow beam that locks onto a single vehicle — a method known as “point-to-point” targeting. The evidence photos clearly showed the white crosshair aimed directly at Chang’s motorcycle, with no interference from surrounding traffic.
The court also accepted police documentation confirming speed warning signs were properly installed within required distances.
Judges concluded the device had passed government calibration tests and produced scientifically reliable evidence, warning motorists not to assume they can evade enforcement simply by blending into traffic.
