No fines for elderly who drive without autumn leaf sticker
The NPA has decided not to enforce part of a law that would fine drivers over the age of 75 who do not attach an autumn leaf sticker to their vehicle:
The Road Traffic Law amendment that took effect in June stipulates a ¥4,000 fine for elderly drivers who fail to display the symbol, but in a draft law revision worked out by the agency Thursday, the requirement to display the sticker has been reduced to an “obligation to make an effort” to display it, without penalty.
The NPA said it will scrap the penalty because some 75 percent of elderly drivers already display the sticker.
Due to public criticism of the penalty, police had decided not to penalize violators for the first year the law is in force.
While the sticker’s design does provide a clean counterpart to the green leaf seal used for beginning drivers, autumn leafs tend to bring to mind decay and death, and if I was an elderly driver I’d be pretty depressed to place such a mark on my car. It seems I’m not alone in this feeling, as authorities may look into redesigning the sticker because of complaints about its dead appearance.
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