Control Yuan member Pu Zhongcheng 浦忠成 said today that the positioning of ATVs is unclear, lacks clear standards, and involves ecological protection. However, beach environments are ecologically sensitive and fragile, serving as indicators for biodiversity maintenance. He urges the Executive Yuan to oversee and ensure a thorough review and improvement regarding the controversies arising from the beach car industry.
Members of the Control Yuan, Pu Zhongcheng, Chen Jingjun, and Ji Huirong, have expressed through a press release that the Control Yuan’s Transportation and Procurement Committee approved the investigation report submitted by the three individuals on the 12th.
The investigation found that beach cars, also known as all-terrain vehicles or ATVs, were originally intended for disaster relief or work purposes
. However, they have since been used for recreational purposes, such as enjoying the thrill of driving and entertainment. They are now used in various locations such as beaches, deserts, riverbeds, mud swamps, forests, and gravel roads, shifting their focus towards recreational use. The issues related to ATVa, including damage to forests, soil, and water, the reduction of biodiversity, air pollution, noise pollution, and concerns about personal safety, cannot be ignored.
it did not take me too long to find many of these activities in Kenting, some as low priced as 750 NTD, as this one.
You can get a pretty good feel of what it is, in the video provided by the activity organizer:
The Control Yuan pointed out that during the field inspection in June, the Kenting National Park Management Office stated that there were no ATV car operators within their jurisdiction, which showed initial progress.
However, to prevent any resurgence of this issue, continuous efforts in promoting awareness and enforcement are necessary. In Pingtung County, where beach cars fall under their jurisdiction, from the year 2015 to 2022, most of the violations were related to the violation of road traffic regulations, accounting for 95% of cases, and posed a risk to the safety of road users.
I remember seeing many ATV operators in Checheng Beach in Haikou village, and Jiupeng desert in Manzhou Township had many of them, but recently, not much has been seen around.
The Control Yuan pointed out that there are still some illegal beach car operators in Pingtung County, and compared to Yilan County and Hualien County, which have regulations in place, there is still a lack of unified standards. Disputes have been ongoing for years, and there is an urgent need for review and improvement.
In the general context, the Control Yuan has pointed out that currently, beach car activities take place in various locations such as rivers, coastlines, national parks, and national scenic areas. Due to the involvement of different government agencies, the penalties are scattered and lack comprehensive regulations. This has led to a lack of clarity in local enforcement responsibilities and a lack of legal authorization, resulting in recurring uncertainties. There is an urgent need for the Executive Yuan to proactively coordinate and plan across departments to develop comprehensive policy proposals.
The Control Yuan further stated that the relevant regulatory authorities should set aside self-interest and promptly seek integration and coordination. The Executive Yuan should oversee and ensure that the relevant agencies assess the suitability of beach car activities in various locations. This should be done in conjunction with ecological and coastline surveys and assessments of recreational carrying capacity, allowing for location-specific, periodic reviews, and adjustments as needed.