With the rapid expansion of crane machine stores in recent years, attention and controversy have arisen because there are adult sex toys for selected items, people even remodel the crane machines and exchange cash. The Taipei City Council Regulation Legal Affair Committee reviewed and approved “Taipei Municipal Self-Government Ordinance for Self- service Selection and Sales Business Management” draft on May 27, 2020, which requires the crane machines must be more that 50 meters away from junior high schools and elementary schools, otherwise the maximum penalty is up to NTD100,000. The distance from high schools and vocational schools is not limited.
The Taipei Municipal Self-Government Ordinance also clearly regulates that the amount of a guaranteed fetch prize must be marked and cannot exceed NTD790; the machine must not be remodeled to affect the possibility to fetch; the content must not be cash, securities, cigarettes, alcohol, adult products or prohibited items. The offender may be fined NTD6,000 to NTD30,000.
The Legal Affairs Committee also adopted a one-year buffer period after the announcement of the Taipei Municipal Self-Government Ordinance. Gao Zhen-Yuan, director of the Taipei City Office of Commerce pointed out that if this session passes smoothly and reports to the Executive Yuan, the implementation will be announced as soon as the end of 2020. From the date of implementation, there will be a one-year improvement period for the business owners to meet the 50-meter distance regulation away from elementary and junior high schools. Gao Zhen-Yuan said that there are currently 75 crane machine stores within 50 meters around elementary, junior high, high school and vocational school campuses, 11 of which are within 50 meters around high schools and vocational schools. If the Self-Government Ordinance is determined to be implemented, they will strengthen counselling for business owners.
In addition, Taoyuan City Council passed the “Taoyuan Municipal Self-Government Ordinance for Self-service Selection and Sales Business Management” in 2019. It was the first city to control the crane machines and it is clearly stipulated that the crane machines must be more than 50 meters away from the junior high and elementary schools. The New Taipei City Council is also reviewing the Self-Government Ordinance. (2020/06, 187G) |