The penalties are being significantly strengthened! Please be careful.
■ “Distracted driving accidents” result in immediate license suspension
But the boundary between “holding” and “traffic danger” is determined by the officer on scene, right?
“Traffic danger” = interpreted as an accident, is that correct…?
To briefly explain points and fines:
• Use it and cause an accident: “no fine” & “license suspension” 6 points
• Use it and get cited:
” Standard car ¥18,000 Two-wheeler ¥15,000 Moped ¥12,000 “
3 points
【About holding】
【Violation for using a mobile phone or smartphone while driving (holding)】
●After the revision: “up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥100,000” with imprisonment
●Violation points increased to “3 points”
●Fine
Large vehicle ¥25,000
Standard car ¥18,000
Two-wheeler ¥15,000
Moped ¥12,000
【About traffic danger】
【When distracted driving with a mobile phone or smartphone results in traffic accidents or other dangers】
●After the revision: “up to 1 year imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥300,000”
●Violation points increased to “6 points.” In other words, immediate license suspension
●Fine: None
Below: Excerpt from the National Police Agency
1. Penalties
(Effective December 1, 2019)
(1) Mobile phone use (traffic danger)
Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥300,000
Fine: Not applicable
Base points: 6
(2) Mobile phone use (holding)
Penalty: Up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥100,000
Fine: Large vehicle ¥25,000, standard car ¥18,000, two-wheeler ¥15,000, moped ¥12,000
Base points: 3
2. Penalties
(Until November 30, 2019)
(1) Mobile phone use (traffic danger)
Penalty: Up to 3 months imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥50,000
Fine: Large vehicle ¥12,000, standard car ¥9,000, two-wheeler ¥7,000, moped ¥6,000
Base points: 2
(2) Mobile phone use (holding)
Penalty: Fine of up to ¥50,000
Fine: Large vehicle ¥7,000, standard car ¥6,000, two-wheeler ¥6,000, moped ¥5,000
Base points: 1
3. Revised Road Traffic Act provisions (effective December 1, 2019)
(Duties of drivers)
Article 71: Drivers of vehicles must comply with the following matters.
(5-5) When operating an automobile or motorized bicycle (hereinafter referred to as “automobile, etc.” in this section), except when such automobile, etc. is stopped, drivers must not use a mobile phone device, automobile telephone device, or other wireless communication device (limited to those that cannot transmit or receive without being held in hand; referred to as “wireless communication device” in Article 118, Paragraph 1, Item 3-2) for calls (excluding emergency calls made while the automobile, etc. is running to rescue the injured or maintain public safety; the same applies in Item 3-2 of Article 118), nor must they gaze at images displayed on an image display device installed in or brought into the automobile, etc. (excluding devices specified in Article 41, Items 16 or 17, or Article 44, Item 11 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act; the same applies in Article 118, Paragraph 1, Item 3-2).
