OSAKA - A man found to be cycling under the influence of alcohol has been charged in Osaka City, western Japan, becoming the first to be penalized in Osaka Prefecture under newly tightened traffic regulations.
Police said they charged the cyclist in his 50s early Friday morning after detecting alcohol beyond the legal limit from his breath. The prefectural police are tightening controls on cyclists as 24 fatal accidents involving cyclists occurred in the prefecture this year up to the end of September - the largest number in the country.
Traffic regulations for bicycles were tightened across the country as a revised Road Traffic Law took effect on Friday. Under the revised law, cyclists under the influence of alcohol face broader penalties.
Cyclists had previously not been penalized unless they were impaired to a point that made them unlikely to be able to ride properly. Under the revised law, a threshold of 0.15 milligrams of alcohol per liter of breath has been set. Anyone over that limit will face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, or about 3,300 dollars.
So-called "distracted cycling" is also subject to penalties. Anyone who causes an accident or danger by using a mobile device while cycling faces up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen.
Cyclists who talk into mobile devices or stare at them while cycling will be subject to a prison term of up to six months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen, even if they do not cause danger.
