Roadblocks and Police Inspections: What Should I Do?

The Police Powers and Duties Act, which passed its third reading in the Legislative Yuan in June 2003, took effect on December 1 of that year. To educate the public on safeguarding their rights under the new system, the Judicial Reform Foundation, the Taiwan Bar Association, and the Police Reform Association held a press conference on September 5 to instruct citizens on how to respond to police inspections and roadblocks.

For a long time, police officers often performed their duties in a predicament of having "no governing laws," which had adverse effects on both the police and the public. Now, although the implementation of the Police Powers and Duties Act provides clearer legal regulations, it remains questionable whether the 80,000-strong police force is fully prepared, and whether the public understands their own rights. Taking roadblocks and police inspections, which citizens encounter most frequently, as an example: under this Act, police officers may only conduct roadblocks or inspections of citizens when there is reasonable suspicion or factual grounds constituting special circumstances. Furthermore, when conducting such inspections or roadblocks, police officers must wear uniforms, present identification, and proactively inform citizens of the reasons for the inspection. In addition, if citizens believe that a police inspection is unjustified, they may raise an objection on the spot or seek remedy afterwards.

To thoroughly understand whether the police are effectively implementing the Police Powers and Duties Act, the Judicial Reform Foundation has established a complaint mailbox, welcoming citizens to report any instances of unlawful police inspections or roadblocks encountered after the implementation of this Act (December 1, 2003). After compiling the information provided by the public, the Judicial Reform Foundation will announce the statistical results to the public at an appropriate time and use them as a basis for demanding improvements from the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior.

Judicial Reform Foundation Complaint Mailbox: twjrf@seed.net.tw
If it is inconvenient to use email, written materials can be mailed to:
7F., No. 3, Lane 90, Sungkiang Rd., Taipei City, Judicial Reform Foundation "Improper Police Inspection and Roadblock Complaint Mailbox"

Attendees

Ch'en Ch'uan-yüeh, Attorney at Law, Chairman of the Taiwan Bar Association
Yu Po-hsiang, Attorney at Law, Judicial Reform Foundation
Ma Tsai-ch'in, Attorney at Law, Police Reform Association