Article 16(1)The rules for vehicle and streetcar traffic over roads are governed by this Chapter.

(2)To apply this Chapter, a vehicle that is being towed by a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle is deemed to be part of that motor vehicle or motorized bicycle.

(3)The provisions of this Chapter that pertain to traffic at intersections do not apply to a motor vehicle proceeding along a main roadway.

(4)To apply this Chapter to a road with a bicycle path, the bicycle path is treated as one roadway and the part of the road that is not the bicycle path is treated as another roadway.

Article 17(1)On a road with demarcations between the sidewalk or side strip (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "sidewalk or side strip") and the roadway, a vehicle must proceed along the roadway; provided, however, that this does not apply if circumstances compel the driver to cross the sidewalk or side strip in order to enter or leave a facility or place adjoining the road, or when the vehicle passes through the sidewalk or side strip to the extent necessary for the driver to stop or park on the sidewalk or side strip pursuant to Article 47, paragraph (3) or Article 48.

(2)In a case as referred to in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, the vehicle must come to a stop immediately before entering the sidewalk or side strip and must not prevent pedestrians from proceeding.

(3)A vehicle other than a two-wheeled or three-wheeled bicycle (this excludes bicycles with sidecars and those that are towing other vehicles) must not enter onto a bicycle path; provided, however, that a vehicle may cut across a bicycle path if circumstances compel the driver to do so in order to enter or leave a facility or place adjoining the road.

(4)A vehicle must proceed along the part of the road (or the part of the roadway, if the road with demarcations between the sidewalk or side strip and the roadway; the same applies hereinafter through Section 9-2) to the left of the center (if a railway track runs along the side edge of a road, this means the center of the part of the road that does not include the track bed, and if a center line is indicated by road signs or markings, the center of the road is the part of the road that is indicated to be the center line; the same applies hereinafter) (hereinafter, the part of the road to the left of the center is referred to as the "left side" of the road).

(5)Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a vehicle may stray fully or partially onto the part of the road to the right side of the center (hereinafter referred to as the "right side" of the road) in the cases set forth in the following items. In such a case, the driver of the vehicle must ensure that as little of the vehicle as possible strays onto the right side, except in the case set forth in item (i):

(6)It is prohibited for a vehicle to enter a safety zone or any other part of the road that road signs or markings indicate is not being made available for vehicle traffic.

Article 17-2(1)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a light road vehicle may use a side strip on the left side of a road (other than a side strip demarcated by road markings prohibiting use by light road vehicles) unless doing so would greatly prevent pedestrians from proceeding.

(2)In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the driver of a light road vehicle must progress down the side strip at such a speed and in such a way as to not prevent pedestrians from proceeding.

Article 18(1)Unless a vehicle (other than a trolleybus) is proceeding down a road with vehicle traffic lanes, it must proceed down the left side of the road if it is a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, and along the left edge of the road if it is a light road vehicle; provided, however, that this does not apply when the driver is passing; if the driver is moving towards the center or right edge of a road pursuant to Article 25, paragraph (2) or Article 34, paragraph (2) or (4); or if road conditions or other circumstances compel the driver to do otherwise.

(2)When passing a pedestrian while proceeding, pursuant to the preceding paragraph, down a road without demarcations between the sidewalk and the roadway or in any other case, the driver of a vehicle must maintain a safe distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian or drive at a reduced speed.

Article 19The driver of a light road vehicle must not pull abreast of another light road vehicle if doing so would result in those light road vehicles traveling abreast of each other.

Article 20(1)On a road with vehicle traffic lanes, a vehicle must proceed down the first lane from the left edge of the road; provided, however, that if the left side of the road (or the road itself, if it is a one-way street) has at least three vehicle traffic lanes, a motor vehicle (other than a special small motor vehicle or motor vehicle designated by road signs or markings) may proceed down any vehicle traffic lane other than the rightmost lane, pursuant to Cabinet Order and in accordance with its speed.

(2)On a road with vehicle traffic lanes, if road signs or markings specify a traffic distribution different from that which the preceding paragraph prescribes, vehicles must abide by that distribution of traffic in proceeding down those vehicle traffic lanes.

(3)When passing; when moving towards the left edge, center, or right edge of a road pursuant to Article 25, paragraph (1) or (2), Article 34, paragraphs (1) through (5) or Article 35-2; when proceeding in accordance with Article 35, paragraph (1); when continuing along a vehicle traffic lane down which the vehicle has been proceeding pursuant to Article 26-2, paragraph (3); when temporarily giving way pursuant to Article 40, paragraph (2); or if road conditions or other circumstances compel it, the driver of a vehicle may proceed other than in accordance with the preceding two paragraphs. When passing another vehicle in such a case, the driver must use the vehicle traffic lane that is to the immediate right of the vehicle traffic lane in which the vehicle has been proceeding.

Article 20-2(1)On a road with a vehicle traffic lane indicated by road signs or markings to be a priority lane for motor vehicles that a provider of motor carrier services for ride-sharing by general passengers as prescribed in Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Road Transportation Act make available for scheduled transportation on fixed routes as prescribed in Article 5, paragraph (1), item (iii) of that Act or for any other motor vehicle as prescribed by Cabinet Order (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "fixed-route bus or other such motor vehicle"), a motor vehicle (other than a fixed-route bus or other such motor vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must not proceed down that lane if traffic congestion on the road would render it unable to move out of the lane in the event that a fixed-route bus or other such motor vehicle approached from behind; and if a fixed-route bus or other such motor vehicle approaches from behind when a motor vehicle is proceeding down such a lane, the motor vehicle must promptly move out of the lane so as not to obstruct its regular operation; provided, however, that this does not apply if a motor vehicle is required pursuant to other provisions of this Act to proceed down that lane or if a motor vehicle must proceed down that lane due to road conditions or other compelling circumstances.

(2)The main clause of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article does not apply to a motor vehicle proceeding along any vehicle traffic lane or road section that is to the immediate right of the vehicle traffic lane prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Article 21(1)A vehicle (other than a trolleybus; the same applies hereinafter in this Article and paragraph (1) of the following Article) must not enter a railway track bed, except when driving across it in order to turn left, turn right, cut across the road, or make a U-turn, or unless the driver is compelled to do so in order to prevent a hazard.

(2)Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a vehicle may enter a track bed in the cases set forth in the following items. In such a case, the vehicle must not prevent streetcars from proceeding:

(3)If a streetcar approaches from behind while a vehicle is proceeding down a track bed, the driver of the vehicle must promptly move off the track bed or maintain the necessary distance from the streetcar so as not to obstruct its regular operation.

Article 22(1)A vehicle must not exceed the posted maximum speed limit when traveling on a road where a maximum speed limit is specified by road signs or markings, and must not exceed the maximum speed limit prescribed by Cabinet Order when traveling on any other road.

(2)A streetcar or trolleybus must not exceed the posted maximum speed limit when traveling on a road where a maximum speed limit below that which has been prescribed by an order based on Article 14 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 31 of that Act; the same applies in Article 62) of the Railway Track Act (Act No. 76 of 1921) is specified by road signs or markings, and must not exceed the maximum speed limit prescribed by such an order on any other road.

Article 22-2(1)If the driver of a vehicle violates the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to in this Article and Article 75-2, paragraph (1) as committing a "violation (of the maximum speed limit)") in connection with the services of the vehicle's user(other than the selfsame driver of the vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article), and the user of the vehicle in which the violation occurs is found not to be undertaking the necessary operational management to prevent such violations from occurring in that vehicle, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the vehicle's base of operations may instruct the user to direct or advise its drivers to drive in a way that does not violate the maximum speed limit, and may instruct the user to take other measures that are needed for preventing violations of the maximum speed limit.

(2)If the user of a vehicle that is subject to instructions as under the preceding paragraph is a motor carrier as prescribed in the Road Transportation Act, a person engaged in Type II cargo transportation services as prescribed in the Cargo Forwarder Service Act (Act No. 82 of 1989), or a track operator as prescribed in the Railway Track Act (but only a trolleybus operator), the instructions must be issued based on an agreement entered into in advance between the public safety commission and the administrative agency that supervises its services.

Article 23When proceeding down a road (other than the main roadway of a national expressway as prescribed in Article 75-4) where a minimum speed limit is specified by road signs or markings, a motor vehicle must not travel at a speed below that minimum speed limit, except when the driver reduces speed pursuant to laws and regulations or is compelled to do so in order to prevent a hazard.

Article 24The driver of a vehicle or streetcar must not suddenly apply the brakes in a way that causes the vehicle or streetcar to stop suddenly or sharply reduce speed, unless compelled to do so in order to prevent a hazard.

Article 25(1)To make a left turn and exit the road, a driver must bring a vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road beforehand and reduce speed.

(2)To make a right turn and exit the road, a driver must bring a vehicle (other than a light road vehicle or trolleybus) as close as possible to the center of the road beforehand (or as close as possible to the right edge of the road, if the road is a one-way street) and reduce speed.

(3)Once the driver of a vehicle indicates the intention to make a left or right turn in order to exit the road and brings the vehicle towards the left edge, center, or right edge of the road pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs, the driver of a vehicle behind the turning vehicle must not obstruct the course of the turning vehicle unless avoiding this would make the driver have to suddenly change speed or direction.

Article 25-2(1)The driver of a vehicle must not make a left or right turn, cut across a road, make a U-turn, or back up in order to enter a facility or place adjoining a road if doing so would likely obstruct the normal flow of pedestrian or other vehicle or streetcar traffic.

(2)The driver of a vehicle must not cut across a road, make a U-turn, or back up on a part of the road where doing so is prohibited by road signs or markings.

Article 26When proceeding down the road in a vehicle or streetcar immediately behind another vehicle or streetcar on the same course, the driver must maintain the distance that would be necessary to allow the driver to avoid a collision even if the vehicle or streetcar traveling immediately in front of it were to stop suddenly.

Article 26-2(1)The driver of a vehicle must not change course without due cause.

(2)The driver of a vehicle must not change course if this would likely cause a sudden change of speed or direction by a vehicle or streetcar that is approaching from behind on the same course that the driver would be on after changing course.

(3)Except in the following cases, when proceeding down a vehicle traffic lane demarcated with road markings to show that a change of course is prohibited for vehicles in that lane, the driver of a vehicle must not change course beyond where those road markings start:

Article 27(1)When a second vehicle subject to a higher maximum speed limit as prescribed by Cabinet Order based on Article 22, paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to in this Article as the "maximum speed limit") catches up with a first vehicle (other than a motor vehicle that a provider of motor carrier services for ride-sharing by general passengers as prescribed in Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Road Transportation Act uses for scheduled transportation on a fixed route as prescribed in Article 5, paragraph (1), item (iii) of that Act or a motor vehicle used for motor carrier services open to specific passengers as prescribed in Article 3, item (ii) of that Act (hereinafter referred to as a "bus"), and other than a trolleybus), the first vehicle must not increase its speed until the second vehicle has finished passing it. The same applies when a second vehicle that is subject to the same or a lower maximum speed limit catches up to a first vehicle, if the driver of the first vehicle seeks to continue to travel at a lower speed than the second vehicle.

(2)Notwithstanding Article 18, paragraph (1), unless a road has vehicle traffic lanes, if a second vehicle subject to a higher maximum speed limit catches up with a first vehicle (other than a bus or trolleybus) and there is insufficient room between the center of the road (or the right edge of the road, if the road is a one-way street; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) and the first vehicle for the second vehicle to pass, the driver of the first vehicle must give way to the second vehicle by bringing the first vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road. The same applies when a second vehicle that is subject to the same or a lower maximum speed limit catches up to a first vehicle, if the driver of the first vehicle seeks to continue to travel at a lower speed than the second vehicle and there is insufficient room between the center of the road and the first vehicle for the second vehicle to pass.

Article 28(1)When attempting to pass another vehicle, the driver of a vehicle must keep to the right side of the vehicle that the driver is attempting to pass (hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "leading vehicle").

(2)Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, when attempting to pass a leading vehicle that is traveling close to the center or the right edge of a road pursuant to Article 25, paragraph (2) or Article 34, paragraph (2) or (4), the driver of a vehicle must keep to the left side of the leading vehicle.

(3)When attempting to pass a streetcar, the driver of a vehicle must keep to the left side of the streetcar; provided, however, that this does not apply if the track runs along the left edge of the road.

(4)In the cases referred to in the preceding three paragraphs, the driver of a vehicle that is attempting to pass another vehicle (referred to in the following Article as the "trailing vehicle") must pay due attention to the traffic coming from the opposite direction and from behind it and the traffic ahead of the leading vehicle or streetcar, and must proceed at the safest possible speed and in the safest possible manner, in keeping with the speed and course of the leading vehicle or streetcar and the road conditions.

Article 29A trailing vehicle must not start to pass a leading vehicle when the leading vehicle is attempting to pass another motor vehicle or trolleybus.

Article 30The driver of a vehicle must not change course or overtake a leading vehicle on the side in order to pass another vehicle (other than a light road vehicle) on a part of the road where passing is prohibited by road signs or markings or on a part of the road as set forth below:

Article 31Having caught up with a streetcar that has stopped to load or unload passengers, the driver of a vehicle must stop behind the streetcar until it finishes loading and unloading passengers and until all persons who have alighted from the streetcar have finished crossing or are no longer trying to cross ahead of the vehicle on the left side of the streetcar; provided, however, that, if there is a safety zone in place to ensure the safety of persons boarding and alighting from a streetcar or if no person is boarding or alighting from a streetcar and it is possible to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters from the left side of the streetcar, a vehicle may pass the streetcar on its left side at a reduced speed.

Article 31-2Once the driver of a bus that has been stopped at a bus stop to load or unload passengers gives a hand or turn signal to indicate the intention to change course in order to depart, the driver of a vehicle behind the bus must not obstruct its change of course unless avoiding this would make the driver have to suddenly change speed or direction.

Article 32Having caught up with a vehicle or streetcar that is stopped or driving at a reduced speed in order to stop pursuant to laws and regulations, in compliance with a police officer's orders, or to prevent a hazard; or having caught up with another vehicle or streetcar that is stopped or driving at a reduced speed behind a leading vehicle or streetcar, the driver of a vehicle must not pass on the left side of the leading vehicle or streetcar or pull in front of or cross ahead of the vehicle or streetcar

Article 33(1)Before going over a railroad crossing, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar must stop immediately in front of the railroad crossing (or immediately in front of any stop line established by road signs or markings; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) and must not proceed until after checking that it is safe to do so; provided, however, that the vehicle or streetcar may proceed without stopping immediately before a railroad crossing when complying with a signal indicated by a traffic light.

(2)A vehicle or streetcar must not enter a railroad crossing while a railroad crossing gate is closing or closed or while a railroad crossing alarm is sounding.

(3)If the driver of a vehicle or streetcar becomes unable to drive the vehicle or streetcar at a railroad crossing due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, the driver must immediately signal an emergency or take other measures to inform railroad or track officials or police officers of the emergency, as well as taking the necessary measures to move the vehicle or streetcar off the railroad crossing.

Article 34(1)To make a left turn, a driver must bring a vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road beforehand, and proceed along that edge for as long as possible (or down the part of the road specified by road signs or markings, if any) at a reduced speed.

(2)To make a right turn, the driver of a motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, or trolleybus must bring it as close as possible to the center of the road beforehand, and proceed through the intersection just inside the center point (or through the part of the intersection specified by road signs or markings, if any) at a reduced speed.

(3)To make a right turn, the driver of a light road vehicle must bring the vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road beforehand, and proceed through the intersection along the outer edge at a reduced speed.

(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), to make a right turn onto a one-way street, a driver must bring a motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, or trolleybus as close as possible to the right edge of the road beforehand, and proceed through the intersection inside the center point at a reduced speed (or through the part of the intersection specified by road signs or markings, if any ) at a reduced speed.

(5)Notwithstanding paragraph (2) and the preceding paragraph, to make a right turn on a road on which motorized bicycles are required by road signs or markings to proceed along the side edge of a controlled intersection when turning right, and on any other road with three or more vehicle traffic lanes on the left side of the road (or on the road itself, if it is a one-way street) (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as a "multi-lane road") (but only if a motorized bicycle is turning right at a controlled intersection), the driver must bring the motorized bicycle as close as possible to the left edge of the road beforehand, and drive at a reduced speed along the outer edge of the intersection; provided, however, that this does not apply when a motorized bicycle is required by road signs or markings on a multi-lane road to move towards the center or the right edge of the road before turning right at a controlled intersection.

(6)When the driver of a vehicle uses a hand or turn signal to indicate the intention to move towards the left edge, center, or right edge of the road pursuant to the preceding paragraphs before turning left or right on a road, the driver of a vehicles behind that vehicle must not obstruct the change of course unless avoiding this would make that driver have to suddenly change speed or direction.

Article 35(1)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of the preceding Article, if road signs or markings on a road with vehicle traffic lanes specify a traffic distribution for the directions in which vehicles progress through the intersection, the driver of a vehicle (other than light road vehicle or motorized bicycle turning left or right at an intersection where motorized bicycles are required to comply with the main clause of paragraph (5) of the preceding Article when turning right) must abide by that distribution of traffic in proceeding down those vehicle traffic lanes; provided, however, that this does not apply if it is impossible to do so and still comply with Article 40 or if it is impossible to do so due to road damage, road work, or any other obstruction.

(2)The provisions of paragraph (6) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis if the driver of a vehicle uses a hand or turn signal to indicate the intention to change course in order to abide by a distribution of traffic as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 35-2(1)Notwithstanding Article 34, paragraphs (1) through (5), to make a left or a right turn through a roundabout, a driver must bring a vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road beforehand, and proceed for as long as possible along the outer edge of the roundabout (or down the part of the road specified by road signs or markings, if any) at a reduced speed.

(2)To go straight or make a U-turn through a roundabout, a driver must bring a vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road beforehand, and proceed for as long as possible along the outer edge of the roundabout (or down the part of the road specified by road signs or markings, if any) at a reduced speed.

Article 36(1)Unless the following paragraph applies, it is prohibited for the driver of either a vehicle or streetcar, these being classed separately as set forth in each of the following items, to obstruct the progress of another vehicle or streetcar as set forth in the item at an uncontrolled intersection:

(2)At an uncontrolled intersection, a vehicle or streetcar must not obstruct the progress of other vehicles and streetcars traveling on an intersecting road that constitutes a priority road (meaning a road designated as such by road signs or markings, or a road at whose intersections a center line or vehicle traffic lanes have been established by road signs or markings in order to regulate the movement of vehicles on the road; the same applies hereinafter) or of other vehicles and streetcars traveling on an intersecting road that is clearly wider than the road on which the first vehicle or streetcar is traveling, unless the road on which the first vehicle or streetcar is traveling is also a priority road.

(3)Before entering an uncontrolled intersection, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar (other than a vehicle or streetcar traveling on a priority road) must drive at reduced speed if the intersecting road is a priority road or is clearly wider than the road on which that vehicle or streetcar is proceeding.

(4)Before entering an intersection and when traveling through it, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar must pay particular attention to vehicles and streetcars traveling on intersecting roads, vehicles and streetcars approaching from the opposite direction and turning right, and pedestrians crossing the road at or in the immediate vicinity of the intersection, and must proceed at the safest possible speed and in the safest possible manner, in keeping with the conditions at the intersection.

Article 37When making a right turn at an intersection, a vehicle or streetcar must not obstruct the progress of other vehicles and streetcars passing straight through or turning left at the intersection.

Article 37-2(1)Notwithstanding Article 36, paragraphs (1) and (2) and the preceding Article, a vehicle or streetcar in a roundabout must not obstruct the progress of other vehicles and streetcars in the roundabout.

(2)Notwithstanding Article 36, paragraph (3), a vehicle or streetcar must reduce speed when entering a roundabout.

(3)Notwithstanding Article 36, paragraph (4), when about to enter a roundabout and when traveling in it, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar must pay particular attention to vehicles and streetcars about to enter the roundabout, vehicles and streetcars traveling in the roundabout, and pedestrians crossing the road at or in the immediate vicinity of the roundabout, and must proceed at the safest possible speed and in the safest possible manner, in keeping with the conditions at the roundabout.

Article 38(1)When approaching a pedestrian crossing or a bicycle crossing lane (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "pedestrian or bicycle crossing"), a vehicle or streetcar must proceed at a speed that will enable it to stop immediately in front of the pedestrian or bicycle crossing (or immediately in front of any stop line indicated by road signs or markings; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph), unless there are clearly no pedestrians or bicycles (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "pedestrian or cyclist") ahead of the vehicle or streetcar. In such a case, if a pedestrian or cyclist is crossing or about to cross the pedestrian or bicycle crossing ahead of the vehicle or streetcar, the vehicle or streetcar must come to a stop immediately in front of the pedestrian or bicycle crossing and must not prevent that pedestrian or cyclist from proceeding.

(2)When overtaking another vehicle or streetcar on one side before pulling in front of it, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar must come to a stop if the other vehicle or streetcar is stopped at or immediately in front of a pedestrian or bicycle crossing (other than a pedestrian or bicycle crossing where the signal indicated by a traffic light or the alternative signal of an officer prohibits pedestrians and cyclists from crossing at the time the vehicle or streetcar in question is overtaking; the same applies hereinafter in the following paragraph).

(3)A vehicle or streetcar must not overtake another vehicle or streetcar (other than a light road vehicle) on one side and pull in front of it over a pedestrian or bicycle crossing or on a part of the road within 30 meters before the pedestrian or bicycle crossing, except in a case that falls under Article 30, item (iii).

Article 38-2A vehicle or streetcar must not prevent a pedestrian from proceeding who is crossing the road at an intersection or any place in its immediate vicinity without a pedestrian crossing.

Article 39(1)Notwithstanding Article 17, paragraph (4), an emergency motor vehicle (meaning a fire truck, ambulance, or other motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes which is used for emergency services pursuant to Cabinet Order; the same applies hereinafter) may stray fully or partially onto the right side of a road beyond as prescribed in Article 17, paragraph (5), if it needs to do so in order to pass or if there are other compelling circumstances.

(2)An emergency motor vehicle is not required to stop even if stopping is required pursuant to laws and regulations. In such a case, the driver of an emergency motor vehicle must drive at reduced speed, paying attention to other traffic.

Article 40(1)When an emergency motor vehicle is approaching an intersection or its vicinity, streetcars must come to a stop and avoid entering the intersection, and vehicles (other than other emergency motor vehicles; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must avoid the intersection and come to a stop on the left side of the road (or on the right side of the road of a one-way street, if moving towards the left side of the road would prevent the emergency motor vehicle from proceeding; the same applies hereinafter in the following paragraph).

(2)When an emergency motor vehicle is approaching any place other than what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the driver of a vehicle must move the vehicle towards the left side of the road and give way to that emergency motor vehicle.

Article 41(1)Article 8, paragraph (1), Article 17, paragraph (6), Article 18, Article 20, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 20-2, Article 25, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 25-2, paragraph (2), Article 26-2, paragraph (3), Article 29, Article 30, Article 34, paragraphs (1), (2), and (4), Article 35, paragraph (1), and the first sentence of Article 38, paragraphs (1) and (3) do not apply to emergency motor vehicles.

(2)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, Article 22 does not apply to an emergency motor vehicle that is bearing down on a vehicle or streetcar violating Article 22.

(3)Article 18, paragraph (1), Article 20, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 20-2, and Article 25-2, paragraph (2) do not apply to a motor vehicle engaged exclusively in traffic control that Cabinet Office Order prescribes.

(4)Article 17, paragraphs (4) and (6), Article 18, paragraph (1), Article 20, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 20-2, Article 23, and Article 25-2, paragraph (2) do not apply to a motor vehicle designed for road maintenance (meaning a motor vehicle as Cabinet Order prescribes which is used exclusively in works such as the maintenance and repair of roads; the same applies in Article 75-9) when that motor vehicle is being employed in a work such as the maintenance or repair of a road pursuant to Cabinet Order.

Article 41-2(1)When a fire-services vehicle (meaning a vehicle other than a fire truck, which is used in firefighting and is being driven pursuant to Cabinet Order as a part of fire-fighting services; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) is approaching an intersection or its vicinity, vehicles and streetcars (other than emergency motor vehicles and other fire-services vehicles) must avoid the intersection and come to a stop.

(2)When a fire-services vehicle is approaching any place other than what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the driver of a vehicle (other than an emergency motor vehicle or another fire-services vehicle) must not prevent the fire-services vehicle from proceeding.

(3)Article 39 applies mutatis mutandis to fire-services vehicles.

(4)Article 8, paragraph (1), Article 17, paragraph (6), Article 18, Article 20, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 25, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 25-2, paragraph (2), Article 26-2, paragraph (3), Article 29, Article 30, Article 34, paragraphs (1) through (5), Article 35, paragraph (1), the first sentence of paragraph (1) and the entirety of paragraph (3) of Article 38, and Article 40, paragraph (1), Article 63-6, and Article 63-7 do not apply to fire-services vehicles.

Article 42The driver of a vehicle or streetcar must drive at a reduced speed when traveling on a part of a road where road signs or markings specify that such a vehicle or streetcar must be driven at a reduced speed, as well as in the following cases:

Article 43If road signs or markings specify that a vehicle or streetcar must come to a stop at or immediately in front of an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle or streetcar must come to a stop immediately in front of the stop line indicated by road signs or markings (or immediately in front of the intersection, if a stop line is not indicated by road signs or markings). In such a case, the vehicle or streetcar must not obstruct the progress of a vehicle or streetcar traveling down the intersecting road, except in a case falling under Article 36, paragraph (2).

Article 44The driver of a vehicle must not stop or park on a part of the road where stopping or parking is prohibited by road signs or markings or on a part of the road as set forth below, except when coming to a stop pursuant to laws and regulations, in compliance with a police officer's orders, or in order to prevent a hazard; provided, however, that this does not apply if a bus or trolleybus stops to load or unload passengers, or parks to adjust its timing so that operations can get back on schedule, at a stop or station that is a part of its transit system:

Article 45(1)The driver of a vehicle must not park on a part of the road where parking is prohibited by road signs or markings or on a part of the road as set forth below; provided, however, that this does not apply if permission to park there has been granted by the chief of the police station pursuant to public safety commission rules:

(2)The driver of a vehicle must not park pursuant to Article 47, paragraph (2) or (3) if doing so would fail to leave at least 3.5 meters (or the distance that is specified by road signs or markings, if any) of road to the right side of the vehicle; provided, however, that this does not apply when cargo is being loaded or unloaded if the driver does not leave the vicinity of the vehicle or if the driver leaves the vicinity of the vehicle but will be able to go back to driving immediately, and does not apply if the driver is compelled to park pursuant to those provisions in order to assist an injured or sick person.

(3)The main clause of the preceding paragraph does not apply in an area that the public safety commission prescribes as an area with infrequent traffic.

Article 45-2(1)Notwithstanding Article 44 or paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a standard motor vehicle that is driven by a person as referred to in one of the following items (referred to hereinafter in this paragraph and in the following paragraph as an "elderly or special-needs driver") (but only a standard motor vehicle for which the elderly or special-needs driver has made a filing with the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the domicile thereof pursuant to Cabinet Office Order) and that, while stopped or parked, displays a mark that an elderly or special-needs driver has been issued pursuant to the following paragraph in an easily visible location on its front-end (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle bearing an elderly or special-needs driver mark") may be parked or stopped fully or partially within a part of the road where stopping or parking is prohibited under Article 44 or where parking is prohibited under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if road signs or markings indicate that parking or stopping is permitted there:

(2)At the application of an elderly or special-needs driver, the public safety commission must issue the driver a mark indicating the driver to be an elderly or special-needs driver who drives the standard motor vehicle to which the filing prescribed in the preceding paragraph pertains.

(3)A person who has been issued an elderly or special-needs driver mark may apply to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the domicile thereof for its reissuance if the elderly or special-needs driver mark is lost, damaged, or defaced.

(4)A person who has been issued an elderly or special-needs driver mark must promptly return it to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the domicile if the person's license for standard motor vehicles is revoked or ceases to be valid, if the circumstances prescribed in paragraph (1), item (iii) cease to be a factor, or if any other event that Cabinet Office Order prescribes occurs.

(5)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding three paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the necessary matters in relation to elderly or special-needs driver marks.

Article 46Notwithstanding Article 44 or Article 45, paragraph (1), beyond as prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the driver of a vehicle may stop or park the vehicle partially within a part of the road where stopping and parking are prohibited under Article 44 or where parking is prohibited under Article 45, paragraph (1), if stopping or parking is permitted by road signs or markings.

Article 47(1)When stopping to load or unload persons or cargo, a driver must bring a vehicle as close as possible to the left edge of the road, and must position the vehicle so as not to obstruct traffic.

(2)When parking, a driver must bring a vehicle to the left edge of the road, and must position the vehicle so as not to obstruct traffic.

(3)Notwithstanding the preceding two paragraphs, when stopping or parking in a place with a side strip adjacent to the left edge of the roadway (other than side strips demarcated with road markings indicating that stopping and parking are prohibited there, and other than side strips as prescribed by Cabinet Order), the driver must bring the vehicle into the side strip pursuant to Cabinet Order, and must position the vehicle so as not to obstruct traffic.

Article 48Notwithstanding the preceding Article, if road signs or markings specify how to stop or park, the driver of a vehicle must stop or park in that way.

Article 49(1)A public safety commission is to install and manage parking meters (but only ones that function as Cabinet Office Order prescribes; the same applies hereinafter) or devices that function as Cabinet Office Order prescribes for issuing tickets (meaning an emblem in a format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes that indicates the time of issuance and other information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes; the same applies hereinafter) (hereinafter such a device is referred to as a "ticket dispenser") for areas of road that road signs or markings specify to be areas in which vehicles may remain parked during a limited timeframe (hereinafter referred to as a "time-restricted parking zone"), in order to ensure proper parking in those time-restricted parking zones.

(2)Beyond as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must take the necessary measures to ensure proper parking in time-restricted parking zones, such as providing information for drivers seeking to park their vehicles in time-restricted parking zones and establishing systems of organization for vehicles being parked in time-restricted parking zones.

(3)A public safety commission may ask a person that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to handle all or part of the administrative functions involved in the management of the parking meters and ticket dispensers prescribed in paragraph (1), as well as the measures prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Article 49-2The public safety commission may designate a time-restricted parking zone as an area of road where motor vehicles bearing elderly and special-needs driver marks may remain parked during a limited timeframe. In such a case, the public safety commission must indicate that designation on road signs or markings as prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

Article 49-3(1)Notwithstanding Articles 44 through 48, the parking of vehicles in time-restricted parking zones (other than when a bus or trolleybus parks at a stop or station which is part of its transit system to adjust its timing so that operations can get back on schedule; the same applies in the following Article) is subject to this Article through Article 49-5.

(2)A vehicle (but only a motor vehicle bearing an elderly or special-needs driver mark, if it is on an area of road designated pursuant to the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to in the following Article as a "time-restricted parking zone for elderly and special-needs drivers"); the same applies hereinafter in this Article, Article 49-6, and Article 119-3, paragraph (1), item (ii)) must not remain parked in a time-restricted parking zone beyond the timeframe specified by road signs or markings, as counted from the time that a parking meter as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (1) detects the vehicle or from the time that a ticket is issued by a ticket dispenser as referred to in that paragraph.

(3)The driver of a vehicle must not park in a time-restricted parking zone other than on a part of the road and in the way specified by road signs or markings.

(4)Having parked in a time-restricted parking zone, the driver of a vehicle, pursuant to Cabinet Order, must immediately activate a parking meter as set forth in Article 49, paragraph (1); or must immediately have a ticket dispenser as prescribed in that paragraph issue a ticket, and must display that ticket in an easily visible place at the front of the vehicle while it is parked (but only during the period of time from the issuance of the ticket until the expiration of the timeframe indicated by road signs or markings).

Article 49-4The driver of a vehicle other than a motor vehicle bearing an elderly or special-needs driver mark must not park in a time-restricted parking zone for elderly and special-needs drivers.

Article 49-5If the chief of a police station specifies a place, manner, start time, and end time for parking and grants permission, pursuant to public safety commission rules, for a vehicle to be parked in a time-restricted parking zone, the preceding two Articles (other than Article 49-3, paragraph (1)) do not apply to the vehicle subject to that permission and to the driver of that vehicle, so long as the driver parks the vehicle in the specified place and manner between that start time and end time. In such a case, the vehicle must not remain parked there beyond the specified end time.

Article 49-6Notwithstanding Article 44, the driver of a vehicle may stop in a part of a road as set forth in the items of that Article if it is within a time-restricted parking zone that road signs or markings specify to be a part of the road on which a vehicle may be parked pursuant to Article 49-3, paragraph (3).

Article 49-7(1)If an on-street parking spot as prescribed in Article 2, item (i) of the Act (hereinafter referred to in this Article and Article 110-2 as an "on-street parking spot") is created in a time-restricted parking zone pursuant to Article 5, paragraph (1) of the Parking Spaces Act (Act No. 106 of 1957), Article 49 does not apply to the part of the road containing that on-street parking spot.

(2)Any parking meters or ticket dispensers that are installed by an on-street parking administrator as prescribed in Article 6, paragraph (1) of the Parking Spaces Act for a part of the road where on-street parking spots have been created in a time-restricted parking zone are deemed to be parking meters or ticket dispensers as prescribed in Article 49, paragraph (1), and are subject to Article 49-3.

(3)Articles 49-3 through 49-5 do not apply to any part of a road where on-street parking spots have been created in a time-restricted parking zone for which no parking meter or ticket dispenser has been installed.

Article 50(1)A vehicle or streetcar must not enter a controlled intersection (or any part of a road beyond a stop line indicated by road signs or markings at a controlled intersection; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) if, because of the positioning of vehicles and streetcars further ahead on the intended course, it would likely end up stopping inside the intersection and thereby obstructing other vehicles or streetcars from proceeding down an intersecting road.

(2)A vehicle or streetcar must not enter a pedestrian crossing, bicycle crossing lane, railroad crossing, or part of the road demarcated with road markings if, because of the positioning of vehicles and streetcars further ahead on the intended course, it would likely end up stopping in that part of the road.

Article 50-2If a vehicle (other than a trolleybus; the same applies hereinafter from this Article to Article 51-2 and in Article 51-4) is found to be stopped in violation of Article 44, Article 47, paragraph (1) or (3) or Article 48, an officer may order the driver of the vehicle to change the way the vehicle is stopped or to move the vehicle from a place where stopping is prohibited.

Article 51(1)If a vehicle is found to be parked in violation of Article 44, Article 45, paragraph (1) or (2), Article 47, paragraph (2) or (3), Article 48, Article 49-3, paragraph (2) or (3), Article 49-4, or the second sentence of Article 49-5, or if a vehicle is parked in a time-restricted parking zone where a ticket dispenser as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (1) has been installed but a ticket issued by the ticket dispenser is not being displayed and this is found to violate Article 49-3, paragraph (4) (referred to collectively as a vehicle being "found to have been parked illegally" in paragraph (1) of the following Article and Article 51-4, paragraph (1)), an officer may order the driver of the vehicle or another person responsible for the oversight of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "driver or other responsible person") to change how the vehicle is parked, move the vehicle from a place where parking is prohibited, or move the vehicle from the time-restricted parking zone.

(2)If it is found to be difficult for a driver or other responsible person to immediately comply with an order under the preceding paragraph due to a vehicle malfunction or other such circumstance, the officer may change how the vehicle is parked or move the vehicle, but only so far as is necessary to prevent road hazards and otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic.

(3)If unable to issue an order pursuant to paragraph (1) in a case as referred to in that paragraph (1) because the driver or other responsible person is not at the scene, the officer may change how a vehicle is parked or take other necessary measures, or may move a vehicle to another place on the road within 50 meters of the place where it is parked, but only so far as is necessary to prevent road traffic hazards or ensure that traffic runs smoothly.

(4)If an officer wishes to move a vehicle pursuant to the preceding paragraph but there is no place on the road to which it can be moved that is within 50 meters of where it is parked, the officer must report this to the chief of the police station having jurisdiction over the place where the vehicle is parked.

(5)Upon receiving a report as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station may move a vehicle to a parking spot, open space, place on a road other than as prescribed in paragraph (3), or other such place.

(6)After moving a vehicle pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station must store the vehicle as its custodian. In such a case, the chief of the police station must take the necessary measures to prevent theft and other accidents from befalling the vehicle, such as indicating the chief of the police station to be storing the vehicle or attaching a wheel-lock device to the vehicle, depending on the layout of the place where the vehicle is being kept, how the vehicle is being managed, and other considerations.

(7)After taking a vehicle into storage pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station must notify the user of the vehicle of the date on which it was taken into storage and the place where the vehicle is being stored, as well as indicating that the user must promptly collect the vehicle.

(8)If the chief of a police station cannot ascertain the name and address of the user of a vehicle or if it is found to be difficult to return a vehicle to the user in a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the chief must notify the owner of the vehicle as prescribed in that paragraph.

(9)If the chief of a police station cannot ascertain the name and address of the owner of a vehicle in a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the chief must issue public notice giving the place where the vehicle is being stored and any other information that Cabinet Order prescribes, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(10)After issuing public notice under the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station must publicly announce the date and details of the public notice via the Internet and through other means, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(11)Beyond what is prescribed in paragraphs (7) through (10), Cabinet Order provides for the necessary particulars concerning the return of a vehicle that the chief of a police station has taken into storage pursuant to paragraph (6).

(12)If a vehicle that the chief of a police station has taken into storage pursuant to paragraph (6) remains unreturned one month after the date of a notification as under paragraph (8) or public notice as under paragraph (9), and the cost required to store the vehicle is unreasonable compared to the value of the vehicle as appraised pursuant to Cabinet Order, the chief of the police station may sell the vehicle and store the proceeds of the sale as the custodian thereof, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(13)If there is no purchaser for a vehicle in a sale as under the preceding paragraph and the value of the vehicle as prescribed in that paragraph is extremely low, the chief of the police station may dispose of it.

(14)The proceeds of a sale undertaken pursuant to paragraph (12) may be allocated to cover the expenses required to conduct that sale.

(15)The expenses required for moving and storing a vehicle, issuing public notice with regard to it, and other measures under paragraph (2) or (3) or paragraphs (5) through (11), are borne by the driver or other responsible person or by either theuser or the owner of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to through Article 51-2-2 as the "user or owner").

(16)The chief of the police station must set the amount, due date, and place for payment of the charges payable by the driver or other responsible person or by theuser or owner pursuant to the preceding paragraph, and must issue a written order to that person to pay them. In such a case, if the amount of expenses provided for in that paragraph is specified by prefectural regulations in consideration of actual costs, the amount payable is the amount prescribed therein.

(17)If a person ordered to make a payment pursuant to the preceding paragraph fails to do so before the due date, the chief of the police station must issue a written demand that fixes the due date for payment. In such a case, the chief of the police station may collect a fine for delinquency of up to the amount calculated as representing 14.5 percent per annum of the charges payable, and may collect a fee for the necessary costs of issuing the demand.

(18)If a person subject to a demand under the preceding paragraph fails to pay the charges, fines for delinquency, or fees referred to in the second sentence of that paragraph (hereinafter referred to in this Article as "charges, fines, or fees") by the fixed due date, the chief of the police station may collect the charges, fines, or fees based on the rules governing measures to collect local tax arrears. In such a case, charges, fines, or fees follow national taxes and local taxes in order of priority as concerns statutory liens.

(19)Charges, fines, and fees paid and collected are the revenue of the prefecture where the police station is located.

(20)If a vehicle stored pursuant to paragraph (6) (or the proceeds of a sale under paragraph (12); the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) remains unreturned three months after the date of a notification as under paragraph (8) or public notice as under paragraph (9), ownership of the vehicle vests in the prefecture where the police station is located.

(21)Following the sale of a vehicle as under paragraph (12) (but only one that constitutes a motor vehicle registered under the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation (Act No. 185 of 1951); the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph), the disposal of a vehicle as under paragraph (13), or the vesting of ownership in a vehicle in the prefecture as under the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station, pursuant to Cabinet Order, must commission a person delegated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or a person delegated pursuant to Article 105, paragraph (1) or (2) of that Act to undertake the registration under that Act that is associated with the measure taken as regards the vehicle.

(22)Paragraphs (6), (7), and (9) through (20) apply mutatis mutandis to any load in a vehicle that is taken into storage pursuant to paragraph (6). In such a case, the phrase "the user of the vehicle" in paragraph (7) is deemed to be replaced with "the owner or person in possession of the vehicle or the holder of title to the load (hereinafter referred to in this Article as the 'owner or other such person')"; the phrase "the preceding paragraph" in paragraph (9) is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (7) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22)" and the phrase "paragraph, the chief" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph, and it is found to be difficult to return the load to a person other than its owner, the chief"; the phrase "paragraphs (7) through (10)" in paragraph (11) is deemed to be replaced with "paragraphs (7), (9), and (10) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22)"; the phrase "remains unreturned one month after the date of a notification as under paragraph (8) or" in paragraph (12) is deemed to be replaced with "is likely to spoil or deteriorate, remains unreturned one month after the day on which the owner of the load has been notified pursuant to paragraph (7) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22), or remains unreturned one month after the" and the term "cost" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "cost or effort"; the phrase "taking measures pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) or paragraphs (5) through (11), including moving and storing the vehicle, and issuing public notice" in paragraph (15) is deemed to be replaced with "taking measures pursuant to paragraph (6), (7), or (9) through (11) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22), including storing the load and issuing public notice" and "the driver or other responsible person or by either theuser or the owner of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to through Article 51-2-2 as the 'user or owner')" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "the owner or other such person"; the phrase "the driver or other responsible person or by the user or owner" in paragraph (16) is deemed to be replaced with "the owner or other such person"; and the phrase "the date of a notification as under paragraph (8)" in paragraph (20) is deemed to be replaced with "the date that the owner of the load was notified as under paragraph (7) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22)".

Article 51-2(1)An area of road where drivers habitually engage in conduct due to which their vehicles are found to have been parked illegally (this conduct is referred to in this Article and Article 51-4 as "illegal parking") and where it is appropriate to attach wheel-lock devices as under the following paragraph in order to deter illegal parking, the public safety commission may designate that section of a road to be an area where wheel-lock devices are employed. In such a case, the public safety commission must indicate in the area of road it has so designated that the area is one where wheel-lock devices are employed, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(2)On finding that, based on road or traffic conditions, circumstances compel the use of a wheel-lock device in order to deter illegal parking in an area where wheel-lock devices are employed, the chief of the police station may attach a wheel-lock device to a vehicle that has been illegally parked in that area.

(3)Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a wheel-lock device may not be attached to one of the following vehicles:

(4)Before attaching a wheel-lock device to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (2), the chief of the police station must endeavor to inform the public, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, that wheel-lock devices will be attached to vehicles.

(5)When attaching a wheel-lock device to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (2), the chief of a police station must affix, in an easily visible location on the vehicle, a mark giving the information that a person wishing to move the vehicle may apply to the chief of the police station for removal of the wheel-lock device from the vehicle, and giving the other information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes.

(6)Upon receiving an application for removal of a wheel-lock device from the user or owner or person otherwise affiliated with a vehicle to which a wheel-lock device has been attached pursuant to paragraph (2) who wishes to move that vehicle, the chief of the police station must remove the wheel-lock device.

(7)Beyond as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, within 24 hours of attaching a wheel-lock device to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (2), the chief of the police station must remove that device from the vehicle.

(8)Beyond as prescribed in paragraph (6), on finding that the compelling circumstances referred to in paragraph (2) that were found to exist no longer exist, or if it becomes necessary to do so in order to prevent a road hazard or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic, the chief of the police station is to remove a wheel-lock device attached to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (2).

(9)When removing a wheel-lock device attached pursuant to paragraph (2), the chief of the police station must also remove the mark attached to the vehicle pursuant to paragraph (5).

(10)It is prohibited for any person to damage a wheel-lock device attached to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (2) or to damage or deface a mark attached to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (5); and it is prohibited for any person to remove such a wheel-lock device or mark unless it is the chief of the police station that removes them.

(11)Cabinet Office Order provides for the format of the mark prescribed in paragraph (5) and other necessary particulars concerning marks as prescribed in that paragraph.

Article 51-2-2(1)On finding it to be necessary to do so to enforce Article 51, the chief of a police station may request the user or owner or person otherwise affiliated with a vehicle being stored pursuant to paragraph (6) of that Article; or the owner or person in possession of a load being stored pursuant to paragraph (6) of that Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22) of that Article or a person holding title to or otherwise affiliated with such a load, to report as necessary or submit the necessary materials in connection with that vehicle or load.

(2)On finding it to be necessary to do so to enforce Article 51, the chief of the police station may make inquiries with or ask for cooperation from government agencies, public bodies, and other persons.

Article 51-3(1)The chief of a police station may ask a corporation that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to handle all or part of the administrative functions involved in moving and storing vehicles (including their loads; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) pursuant to Article 51, paragraphs (5) and (6) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22) of that Article) (such functions exclude the decision to move, return, sell, or dispose of a vehicle, the issuance of orders under paragraph (16) of that Article, measures to collect arrears, and other functions that Cabinet Order prescribes).

(2)It is prohibited for the current or former officer or employee of a corporation that has been asked to handle administrative processes by the chief of the police station pursuant to the preceding paragraph to divulge confidential information learned in connection with those processes.

Article 51-4(1)The chief of the police station may have an officer check for whether there is any vehicle (or a light road vehicle, but only if it has a structure and equipment that allows it to be towed, and only if it has a gross weight (meaning a gross weight as prescribed in Article 40, item (iii) of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation) exceeding 750 kilograms (hereinafter referred to as a "heavy towable vehicle"); the same applies hereinafter in this Article) that can be found to have been parked illegally and that cannot be driven immediately because driver has left the vicinity (such a vehicle is hereinafter referred to as an "abandoned vehicle"), and attach a mark in an easily visible place on the abandoned vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, providing notice that the officer has confirmed the vehicle to have been parked illegally and that, if the person that parked the abandoned vehicle illegally does not fall under the case referred to in the proviso to paragraph (4), the user of the abandoned vehicle may be ordered to pay an abandonment penalty pursuant to the main clause of that paragraph.

(2)It is prohibited for any person to damage or deface a mark attached to a vehicle pursuant to the preceding paragraph or to remove the same; provided, however, that this does not apply to the removal of such a mark by the user or driver of the vehicle or any other person responsible for the management of that vehicle.

(3)Having caused a mark to be attached to a vehicle pursuant to paragraph (1), the chief of the police station must report how the vehicle is parked to the public safety commission.

(4)Upon receiving a report under the preceding paragraph, if the public safety commission finds that the vehicle to which the report pertains is an abandoned vehicle, it may order the user of the vehicle to pay an abandonment penalty; provided, however, that this does not apply if the person that has illegally parked the vehicle pays a penalty pursuant to Article 128, paragraph (1) within 30 days, counting from the day following that on which a mark is attached to the vehicle pursuant to paragraph (1), nor does it apply if a case that is connected with that instance of illegal parking becomes subject to prosecution or is brought before the family court for trial.

(5)An order under the main clause of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as a "payment order") is to be issued in writing through a document that gives the amount, due date, and place for payment of the abandonment penalty.

(6)Prior to issuing a payment order, the public safety commission must notify theuser of the vehicle of the following information in writing and give the user an opportunity to submit a written explanation of the matter at issue (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph and paragraph (9) as an "explanatory statement") and evidence in theuser's favor within a reasonable timeframe:

(7)If the whereabouts of the person that should be issued a payment order are unknown, the public safety commission may notify the person as under the preceding paragraph by making a posting on its notice board indicating the person's name, the information set forth in item (ii) of that paragraph, and that the public safety commission will issue a document to the person giving the information set forth in the items of that paragraph at any time. In such a case, the notice is deemed to have reached the person two weeks after its posting.

(8)Cabinet Order provides for the amount of abandonment penalties within the scope of the amount prescribed in Schedule I.

(9)A person notified as under paragraph (6) may make a provisional payment in an amount equivalent to the abandonment penalty by the due date for submission of the explanatory statement, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(10)A payment order may be issued by public notice against a person making a provisional payment under the preceding paragraph, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(11)If a payment order is issued in connection with a notice referred to in paragraph (9) against a person that has made a provisional payment as under that paragraph (9), the provisional payment in the amount equivalent to the relevant abandonment penalty is deemed to constitute the payment of the abandonment penalty as under that payment order.

(12)If the public safety commission decides not to issue a payment order in connection with a notice referred to in paragraph (9) against a person that has made a provisional payment as under that paragraph, it must promptly notify that person in writing, giving a clear indication of the reasons for this and returning the provisional payment.

(13)If a person issued a payment order fails to pay the abandonment penalty by its due date, the public safety commission must issue a written demand that fixes the due date for payment. In such a case, the public safety commission may collect a fine for delinquency of up to the amount calculated as representing 14.5 percent per annum of the abandonment penalty, and may collect a fee for the necessary costs of issuing the demand.

(14)If a person subject to a demand under the preceding paragraph fails to pay the abandonment penalty, fines for delinquency, or fees referred to in the second sentence of that paragraph (hereinafter referred to in this Article and Article 51-7 as an "abandonment penalty, fines, or fees") by the fixed due date, the public safety commission may collect the abandonment penalty, fines, or fees based on the rules governing measures to collect local tax arrears. In such a case, the abandonment penalty, fines, or fees follow national taxes and local taxes in order of priority as concerns statutory liens.

(15)Abandonment penalties, fines, and fees paid and collected are the revenue of the prefecture where the public safety commission is located.

(16)The public safety commission must revoke a payment order it has issued if the person illegally parking a vehicle and thereby giving grounds for the payment order pays a penalty for having parked illegally as under Article 128, paragraph (1), or if the case involving that instance of illegal parking becomes subject to prosecution or is brought before the family court for trial.

(17)Having revoked a payment order pursuant to the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must promptly notify the person subject to it of this, clearly indicating the reason for the revocation. In such a case, if the abandonment penalty, fines, or fees to which the payment order pertained have been paid or collected, the public safety commission must refund an equivalent amount.

(18)Service of documents and service by publication in connection with the collection and refunding of the abandonment penalty, fines, or fees are governed by the rules governing local taxes.

Article 51-5(1)On finding it to be necessary to do so to enforce the preceding Article, a public safety commission may request theuser, the owner, or a person otherwise affiliated with a vehicle on which a mark has been attached pursuant to paragraph (1) of that Article to report as necessary or submit the necessary materials in connection with the use of the vehicle.

(2)On finding it to be necessary to do so to enforce the preceding Article, a public safety commission may make inquires with or ask for cooperation from government agencies, public bodies, and other persons.

Article 51-6(1)Having issued a payment order, made a demand pursuant to Article 51-4, paragraph (13) or revoked a payment order pursuant to paragraph (16) of that Article or when any other reason that Cabinet Office Order prescribes has been found to exist with respect to the user of a vehicle that has been the cause of a payment order, a public safety commission must report this, the name and address of theuser, the plate number of the vehicle, and the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to the National Public Safety Commission. In such a case, the National Public Safety Commission must report the information given in the report to each public safety commission in order to ensure the appropriateness of measures for abandoned vehicles.

(2)When the National Public Safety Commission receives a report that a demand has been issued pursuant to the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, it must notify the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or other relevant authority (meaning the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; or the Director of the District Transportation Bureau, the Director of Transportation Administration Department, or the Transportation Bureau Chief to whom the authority of the Minister has been delegated; or the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization (meaning the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization established pursuant to Chapter V-2 of the Road Transportation Vehicle Act); the same applies in the following Article) of the information given in the report (but only the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes). The same applies if the National Public Safety Commission receives a report that a payment order for which a demand has been issued has been revoked.

Article 51-7(1)If a person seeking the return of a motor vehicle inspection certificate (meaning the return of a motor vehicle inspection certificate pursuant to Article 62, paragraph (2) of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 67, paragraph (4) of that Act) or Article 22-2, paragraph (3) of the Comprehensive Special Zones Act (Act No. 81 of 2011); the same applies hereinafter in this Article) has become subject to a demand under Article 51-4, paragraph (13) (but only one connected with a payment order (other than one that has been revoked pursuant to paragraph (16) of that Article) of which the motor vehicle in question was the cause) after a motor vehicle inspection certificate was last issued as under Article 60, paragraph (1) or Article 71, paragraph (4) of that Act or after a motor vehicle inspection certificate was last returned for that vehicle (meaning a motor vehicle as prescribed in Article 58, paragraph (1) of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation), the person must present a document to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or other relevant authority evidencing that the abandonment penalty, fines, or fees subject to the demand have been paid or collected.

(2)If a person (but only one notified as referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article) that the preceding paragraph requires to present the document prescribed in that paragraph fails to do so, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or other relevant authority must not return the motor vehicle inspection certificate.

Article 51-8(1)The chief of the police station may ask a corporation registered by the public safety commission to handle all or part of the administrative processes involved in checking for abandoned vehicles, confirming that vehicles have been abandoned, and attaching marks to them as prescribed in Article 51-4, paragraph (1) (hereinafter these actions are referred to as "checking for, confirming, and marking abandoned vehicles") (hereinafter these administrative processes are referred to as "checking and confirmation processes").

(2)Registration as referred to in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to from this Article through Article 51-11 as "registration") is carried out at the application of a corporation that has been asked to handle the checking and confirmation processes and that seeks to handle them.

(3)A corporation as referred to in one of the following items may not be registered:

(4)The public safety commission must register a corporation that has applied for the registration pursuant to paragraph (2) if it conforms to all of the following requirements:

(5)A registration must give the name of the registered corporation, the name of its representative, the locality of its principal office, the date of the registration, and the registration number.

(6)Unless a registration is renewed by the end of each period as prescribed by Cabinet Order, it becomes invalid once that period passes.

(7)The provisions of paragraphs (2) through (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the renewal of a registration as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 51-9If a public safety commission finds that a registered corporation has ceased to conform to one of the items under paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, it must order that corporation to take necessary measures to conform to that item.

Article 51-10If one of the following items applies to a registered corporation, the public safety commission may revoke its registration:

Article 51-11(1)A public safety commission may have a registered corporation report on its operational or accounting status or have a police official enter the office of a registered corporation and inspect its operational status, books, documents and other articles, but only so far as is necessary for enforcing Article 51-8 through the preceding Article.

(2)Police officials conducting on-site inspections pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry identification and present it at the request of a relevant person.

(3)The authority for an on-site inspection under paragraph (1) must not be construed as authorizing a criminal investigation.

Article 51-12(1)Having asked a person to handle the checking and confirmation processes pursuant to Article 51-8, paragraph (1), the chief of a police station must issue public notice giving the name of the person undertaking to handle these processes (hereinafter referred to as the "agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles"), the locality of its principal office, and the information that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(2)An agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles must undertake the checking and confirmation processes fairly and in a way that conforms to the requirements set forth in Article 51-8, paragraph (4), items (i) and (ii).

(3)An agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles must not allow a person other than a parking inspector selected from among parking inspectors that have been issued certificates as referred to in paragraph (1) of the following Article to check for, confirm, or mark abandoned vehicles.

(4)An agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles must not have parking inspectors check for, confirm, or mark abandoned vehicles unless they are made to wear uniforms or otherwise indicate that they are parking inspectors, and unless they are made to wear badges in the form prescribed by Rules of the National Public Safety Commission.

(5)A parking inspector must carry a parking inspector certificate as referred to in paragraph (1) of the following Article when checking for, confirming, or marking abandoned vehicles, and must present it at the request of an officer.

(6)It is prohibited for a current or former officer or employee of the agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles (including parking inspectors; the same applies in the following paragraph) to divulge confidential information learned in connection with the checking and confirmation processes.

(7)To apply the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) and the penal provisions of any other laws and regulations, officers and staff members of the agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles that are engaged in checking and confirmation processes are deemed to be officials engaged in public service pursuant to laws and regulations.

(8)To apply Article 51-4, paragraph (1) pursuant to Article 51-8, paragraph (1) if a person has been asked to handle checking and confirmation processes, the term "an officer" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "an officer or an agency in charge of checking for abandoned vehicles as prescribed in Article 51-12, paragraph (1)".

Article 51-13(1)The public safety commission issues a parking inspector certificate to a person falling under both of the following items:

(2)If a public safety commission finds that any one of the following items applies to a person who has been issued a parking inspector certificate, it may order the person to return the parking inspector certificate issued thereto:

Article 51-14Beyond what is prescribed in Article 51-8 through the preceding Article, the Rules of the National Public Safety Commission provide for the necessary particulars concerning the procedure for asking others to handle checking and confirmation processes and parking inspector certificates.

Article 51-15(1)A public safety commission may ask a company or other corporation to handle all or part of the administrative processes related to abandonment penalties as prescribed in Article 51-4 (other than checking and confirmation processes, payment orders, demands, and measures to collect arrears).

(2)It is prohibited for the current or former officer or employee of a corporation that has been asked to handle administrative processes by the public safety commission pursuant to the preceding paragraph to divulge confidential information learned in connection with those processes.

Article 51-16The prefectural government may ask private citizens to handle administrative processes involved in the receipt of abandonment penalties pursuant to Cabinet Order, but only if it finds that doing so would contribute to the fulfillment of payment obligations by persons receiving payment orders and to ensuring revenue.

Article 52(1)When traveling on a road at night (meaning the period from sunset to sunrise; the same applies hereinafter in this Article and Article 63-9, paragraph (2)), a vehicle must have its headlights, road lights, taillights, and other lights turned on pursuant to Cabinet Order. The same applies at times other than night in cases that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(2)The driver of a vehicle or streetcar must turn off or reduce the brightness of its lights or otherwise operate them in accordance with Cabinet Order at night (or in a case as referred to in second sentence of the preceding paragraph) when there is an oncoming vehicle or streetcar and when traveling behind another vehicle or streetcar, if the brightness of those lights are likely to interfere with vehicle or streetcar traffic.

Article 53(1)When turning left, turning right, making a U-turn, driving slowly, stopping, backing up, or changing course while proceeding in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle (other than a light road vehicle that is not a bicycle; the same applies in paragraphs (2) and (4)) must signal by hand, turn signal, or turn light, and must continue to signal until the action is completed.

(2)Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, when leaving a roundabout or when slowing down, stopping, or backing up in a roundabout, the driver of a vehicle in the roundabout must signal by hand, turn signal, or turn light and must continue to give the signal until the action is completed.

(3)Cabinet Order provides for the necessary particulars as regards when and how to signal as referred to in the preceding two paragraphs.

(4)Having completed an action provided for in paragraph (1) or (2), the driver of a vehicle must stop signaling; the driver of a vehicle must not signal if not taking the action for which one of those paragraphs prescribes that signal.

Article 54(1)The driver of a vehicle or streetcar (other than a light road vehicle that is not a bicycle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must sound the horn:

(2)The driver of a vehicle or streetcar must not sound the horn unless required to do so pursuant to laws and regulations; provided, however, that this does not apply if sounding the horn is necessary in order to prevent a hazard.

Article 55(1)The driver of a vehicle must not drive while allowing a passenger to ride in a place not meant to carry a passenger, and must not drive while carrying a load in a place not meant to carry a passenger or a load; provided, however, that, in a motor vehicle built exclusively to transport cargo (hereinafter referred to in the following Article and Article 57 as a "truck") which is carrying cargo, the driver may drive while allowing the minimum number of personnel necessary to guard the cargo to ride on the loading platform.

(2)The driver of a vehicle must not drive while allowing a person to ride or carrying a load in a way that could obstruct the driver's field of vision, the steering wheel, or the operation of other instruments, or diminish the effectiveness of the rearview mirrors, harm the stability of the vehicle, or obscure the vehicle's turn signals, license plates, brake lights, taillights, or rear reflectors when viewed from the outside of the vehicle.

(3)The passenger of a vehicle must not ride in or on a vehicle in a way that causes the driver to violate the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 56(1)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if the chief of the police station having jurisdiction over the place of departure of a vehicle (hereinafter referred to through Article 58 as "police chief of the place of departure") grants permission for a specific place in which a load may be carried, having found that there is nothing to prevent this in terms of the structure of a vehicle or road or traffic conditions, the driver may drive that vehicle while carrying a load in a specific place other than one that is meant to carry a passenger or a load.

(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if the police chief of the place of departure grants permission for a limited number of personnel to be carried, having found that there is nothing to prevent this in terms of the structure of a truck or the road or traffic conditions, the driver of the truck may drive while carrying a number of personnel on its loading platform that falls within the scope of that permission.

Article 57(1)The driver of a vehicle (other than a light road vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph and in Articles 58-2 through 58-5) must not drive a vehicle while carrying a number of personnel or a load that exceeds the restrictions on the number of accompanying personnel or the weight, size, and way of carrying cargo (hereinafter referred to in this Article as "weight, size, and way of carrying cargo") that Cabinet Order prescribes for that vehicle; provided, however, that a driver may drive a vehicle while carrying a number of personnel exceeding those restrictions if they are carried on the loading platform of a truck pursuant to the proviso to Article 55, paragraph (1) or after obtaining permission pursuant to paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.

(2)On finding it to be necessary to do so in order to prevent a road hazard or otherwise ensure traffic safety, a public safety commission may prescribe restrictions on the number of accompanying personnel or the weight, size, and way of carrying cargo for light road vehicles.

(3)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph, if cargo cannot be divided and for this reason exceeds the restrictions on the weight, size, and way of carrying cargo that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in paragraph (1) or exceeds the restrictions on this that are prescribed by the public safety commission pursuant to the preceding paragraph, but the police chief of the place of departure grants permission for a limited weight, size, and way of carrying cargo, having found that there is nothing to prevent this in terms of the structure of the vehicle or the road or traffic conditions, the driver may drive that vehicle while carrying a load in excess of the restrictions, within the scope of the permission.

Article 58(1)Having granted permission pursuant to Article 56 or paragraph (3) of the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to in this Article as "permission to exceed restrictions"), the police chief of the place of departure must issue a permit.

(2)A driver of a vehicle issued a permit pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry the permit at all times while driving the vehicle for which the permission has been given.

(3)On finding that it is necessary to do so when granting permission to exceed restrictions, the chief of police of the place of departure may attach conditions to that permission as necessary to prevent hazards, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(4)Cabinet Office Order provides for the format of permits as referred to in paragraph (1) and the necessary particulars concerning procedures for permission to exceed restrictions.

Article 58-2When a vehicle is being driven that could be found to exceed the weight restrictions on loads prescribed in Article 57, paragraph (1), a police officer may stop it, require the driver to present a motor vehicle inspection certificate (meaning a motor vehicle inspection certificate as referred to in Article 60 of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation; the same applies in Article 63, paragraph (1)) and other documents that Cabinet Order prescribes, and measure the weight of the vehicle's load.

Article 58-3(1)A police officer may order the driver of a vehicle carrying an excessive load (meaning a load carried by a vehicle which exceeds the weight prescribed in Article 57, paragraph (1) (or that exceeds the permitted weight, if the permission under paragraph (3) of that Article has been granted); the same applies hereinafter) to take the necessary stop-gap measures so that the vehicle is no longer carrying an excessive load.

(2)Notwithstanding Article 57, paragraph (1), if it is found that an order under the preceding paragraph is insufficient to stop a vehicle from carrying an excessive load, and if a police officer finds that, in light of the degree to which the vehicle is overloaded and road or traffic conditions, there is nothing to prevent the driver from driving the vehicle while abiding by the instructions that the officer gives, the officer may order the driver of the vehicle to drive in compliance with measures that need to be taken in order to prevent hazards on a section of road for vehicle traffic, route, or road, to abide by other instructions that the police officer gives, and to take other necessary measures so that the vehicle is no longer carrying an excessive load. In such a case, the police officer must issue written road use instructions to the driver of the vehicle.

(3)A driver of a vehicle who has been issued written road use instructions pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry the instructions at all times while driving the vehicle based on an order under that paragraph.

(4)Cabinet Office Order provides for the format of, and other necessary particulars concerning, the written road use instructions referred to in paragraph (2).

Article 58-4When an order under paragraph (1) or (2) of the preceding Article is issued, if the user of the vehicle subject to the order (other than the selfsame driver of the vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) is found not to be undertaking the necessary operational management to prevent drivers from carrying excessive loads in that vehicle, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the vehicle's base of operations may instruct the user to direct or advise drivers to check the weight of the load before allowing them to drive its vehicles, and may instruct the user to take other necessary measures to prevent its vehicles from carrying excessive loads.

Article 58-5(1)It is prohibited for a person other than a user or an owner as prescribed in Article 75, paragraph (1) to do the following:

(2)If a person violates the preceding paragraph and the chief of the police station finds that the violator is likely to violate that paragraph again, the chief may order the violator not to violate that paragraph, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

Article 59(1)The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another vehicle unless the motor vehicle doing the towing has the structure and equipment necessary for towing and the towed vehicle has the structure and equipment necessary for being towed; provided, however, that this does not apply to the towing of a motor vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Order when a malfunction or other such circumstance compels this.

(2)When towing another vehicle with a standard motorcycle, large motorcycle, or special small motor vehicle, the driver of that motor vehicle must not tow more than one other vehicle, and when towing another vehicle with any other type of motor vehicle, the driver of that motor vehicle must not tow more than two other vehicles; the driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another vehicle if the length from the front end of the towing motor vehicle to the rear end of the towed vehicle (or to the rear end of the second towed vehicle, if towing two vehicles) would exceed 25 meters; provided, however, that this does not apply if the public safety commission grants permission for the motor vehicle to do so, specifying the road or limiting the timeframe for towing.

(3)When the public safety commission grants permission pursuant to the proviso of the preceding paragraph, it must issue a permit.

(4)The driver of a motor vehicle issued a permit pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry the permit at all times while undertaking the permitted towing.

(5)Cabinet Office Order provides for the format of permits as referred to in paragraph (3) and other necessary particulars concerning the procedures for the permission prescribed in the proviso to paragraph (2).

Article 60On finding it to be necessary to do so in order to prevent road hazards and otherwise ensure traffic safety, a public safety commission may establish restrictions on towing by vehicles other than motor vehicles.

Article 61Beyond as provided for in Article 58-3, paragraphs (1) and (2), a police officer may order the driver of a vehicle or streetcar to stop and take the necessary stop-gap measures to prevent a hazard in connection with the vehicle's or streetcar's carrying of passengers, carrying of loads, or towing of vehicles, on finding it to be particularly necessary to do so in order to prevent that hazard.

Article 62It is prohibited for a vehicle or streetcar user or any other person responsible for maintaining its equipment to allow a person to drive that vehicle or streetcar if its equipment fails to conform to Chapter III of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation or an order issued thereunder (or whose equipment fails to conform to what is established by the Minister of Defense under Article 114, paragraph (2) of the Self Defense Forces Act (Act No. 165 of 1954), for a motor vehicle used by the Self-Defense Forces to which the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation do not apply; the same applies hereinafter), or fails to conform to Article 14 of the Railway Track Act or an order issued thereunder, as a result of which the vehicle or streetcar is likely to cause a traffic hazard or be a nuisance to others (referred to in paragraph (1) of the following Article as an "improperly maintained vehicle"); and it is also prohibited for the driver of a vehicle or streetcar to drive an improperly maintained vehicle.

Article 63(1)When a vehicle (other than a light road vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) is being driven that could be found to constitute an improperly maintained vehicle, a police officer may stop the vehicle, ask the driver of the vehicle to present a motor vehicle inspection certificate and other documents that Cabinet Order prescribes, and inspect the vehicle's equipment.

(2)In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a police officer may order the driver of the vehicle to take the necessary stop-gap measures to prevent a road hazard or otherwise ensure traffic safety or to prevent the vehicle from being a nuisance to others; if it is found not to be possible to effect the necessary maintenance on a vehicle through stop-gap measures alone (hereinafter such a vehicle is referred to in this Article as a "malfunctioning vehicle"), the police officer may issue an order prohibiting the driver from continuing to drive the malfunctioning vehicle.

(3)Notwithstanding the preceding Article, a police officer may grant permission for a person to drive a malfunctioning vehicle on a specified section and route of travel on finding, in a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, that there is nothing to prevent this in terms of the degree of improper maintenance on the malfunctioning vehicle and road or traffic conditions, but only so far as is necessary for the malfunctioning vehicle to undergo maintenance, and may attach other conditions necessary to prevent road hazards or to prevent the malfunctioning vehicle from being a nuisance to others. In such a case, a police officer must issue a permit.

(4)Having taken a measures under paragraph (2), a police officer must issue a document to the driver of the malfunctioning vehicle showing the things on the malfunctioning vehicle that require maintenance, and must attach a mark in an easily visible place on the front end of the malfunctioning vehicle.

(5)Having taken a measure under the preceding paragraph, a police officer must report this to the competent police station chief over the place where the measure was taken.

(6)Upon receiving a report as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station must notify the Director of the District Transport Bureau with jurisdiction over the base of operations of the malfunctioning vehicle of the information that Cabinet Office Order/Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prescribes.

(7)It is prohibited for any person to damage or deface a mark attached pursuant to paragraph (4); it is also prohibited for any person to remove such a mark until after the chief of the nearest police station or the administrative agency with authority over vehicle maintenance confirms, through procedures that Cabinet Office Order/Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prescribes, that the malfunctioning vehicle has undergone the necessary maintenance.

(8)Cabinet Office Order/Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism provides for the format of permits as referred to in paragraph (3), the format of documents issued to the driver of a malfunctioning vehicle pursuant to paragraph (4), and the format of marks as referred to in that paragraph.

Article 63-2(1)It is prohibited for the user of a motor vehicle or any other person responsible for maintaining its equipment to allow a person to drive that motor vehicle if it is required to be equipped with a tachograph pursuant to Chapter III of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation or an order based on the same, but is either not equipped with a tachograph or is equipped with one that is uncalibrated and therefore unable to record the information prescribed in that Chapter; and it is also prohibited for a driver to drive such a motor vehicle.

(2)The user of a motor vehicle required to be equipped with a tachograph as referred to in the preceding paragraph must keep the records made by the tachograph regarding that motor vehicle on file for a period of one year, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

Article 63-3When on a road with a bicycle path, a person riding a two-wheeled or three-wheeled bicycle whose body size and structure conforms to the standards that Cabinet Office Order prescribes (hereinafter referred to in this Section as "standard bicycle") and that is not towing another vehicle must proceed down the bicycle path, except when crossing a part of the roadway other than the bicycle path or unless road conditions or other circumstances compel the rider to do otherwise.

Article 63-4(1)Notwithstanding Article 17, paragraph (1), a standard bicycle may be ridden on a sidewalk in the following cases; provided, however, that this does not apply if an officer instructs a person riding a standard bicycle not to ride on the sidewalk, having found it necessary to do so in order ensure the safety of pedestrians:

(2)In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a person riding a standard bicycle must ride at reduced speed when on the part of the sidewalk between the center and the roadway (or the part of the sidewalk that road signs or markings designate as that on which standard bicycles are required to be ridden (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as the "part of the sidewalk for use by standard bicycles"), if any), and must come to a stop if the bicycle's progress would prevent pedestrians from proceeding; provided, however, that, if there are no pedestrians proceeding down or about to enter the part of the sidewalk for use by standard bicycles, the person riding a standard bicycle may travel down that part of the sidewalk at a safe speed and in a safe manner, in keeping with sidewalk conditions.

Article 63-5Notwithstanding Article 19, if permitted by road signs or markings, a person riding a standard bicycle may ride abreast of a person riding another standard bicycle; provided, however, that this does not apply it would result in three or more standard bicycles riding abreast of one another.

Article 63-6When crossing the road in the vicinity of a bicycle crossing lane, a person riding a bicycle must use the bicycle crossing lane.

Article 63-7(1)Notwithstanding Article 17, paragraph (4), Article 34, paragraphs (1), and (3) and Article 35, paragraph (2), and beyond as prescribed in the preceding Article, when proceeding through an intersection in the vicinity of a bicycle crossing lane, a person riding a bicycle must use the bicycle crossing lane.

(2)If there are road markings at or immediately in front of an intersection prohibiting standard bicycles from proceeding into the intersection, a person riding a standard bicycle must not go past those road markings and enter that intersection.

Article 63-8An officer may instruct a person riding a bicycle that is proceeding in violation of Article 63-6 or paragraph (1) of the preceding Article to comply with the traffic rules prescribed therein, and may instruct a person riding a standard bicycle that is proceeding in violation of paragraph (2) of that Article to travel on the sidewalk.

Article 63-9(1)A person must not ride a bicycle that is likely to pose a traffic hazard because it lacks braking equipment that conforms to the standards Cabinet Office Order prescribes.

(2)A person must not ride a bicycle at night (or as prescribed in the second sentence of Article 52, paragraph (1)) if it lacks reflective equipment that conforms to the standards Cabinet Office Order prescribes; provided, however, that this does not apply if a bicycle has taillights turned on pursuant to the first sentence of Article 52, paragraph (1).

Article 63-10(1)When a bicycle is being ridden that could be found likely to cause a traffic hazard due to the absence of braking equipment that complies with the standards Cabinet Office Order prescribes which are referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a police officer may stop that a bicycle and inspect its braking equipment.

(2)In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a police officer may order the person riding the bicycle to take the necessary stop-gap measures to prevent a road hazard or otherwise ensure traffic safety; if it is found not to be possible to effect the necessary maintenance on the bicycle through stop-gap measures alone, a police officer may issue an order prohibiting the person riding the bicycle from continuing to ride it.

Article 63-11Persons responsible for the protection of elementary schoolers and children not yet of school age must endeavor to make them wear helmets when allowing them to ride bicycles.

Article 64(1)It is prohibited for any person to drive a motor vehicle or ride a motorized bicycle without being licensed to drive by a public safety commission as under Article 84, paragraph (1) (this includes if the person's driver's license has been suspended pursuant to the Article 90, paragraph (5), Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4), Article 103-2, paragraph (1), Article 104-2-3, paragraph (1) or (3), or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 104-2-3, paragraph (5)).

(2)It is prohibited for any person to provide a person who is likely to drive a motor vehicle or ride a motorized bicycle in violation of the preceding paragraph with a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle.

(3)It is prohibited for any person to ask or rely on a driver to transport that person in a motor vehicle (other than a motor vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (3) of the Road Transportation Act (hereinafter simply referred to as "passenger motor carrier services") while it is in service; and other than any other motor vehicles that Cabinet Order prescribes; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) or on a motorized bicycle for which the person knows that the driver has not been licensed by a public safety commission as under Article 84, paragraph (1) (this includes if the driver's license has been suspended pursuant to Article 90, paragraph (5), Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4), Article 103-2, paragraph (1), Article 104-2-3, paragraph (1) or (3), or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 104-2-3, paragraph (5)), and then get into or onto a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that the driver will drive in violation of paragraph (1) together with the driver.

Article 65(1)It is prohibited for any person to drive a vehicle or streetcar while under the influence of alcohol.

(2)It is prohibited for any person to provide a vehicle or streetcar to a person under the influence of alcohol who is likely to drive it in violation of the preceding paragraph.

(3)It is prohibited for any person to provide an alcoholic beverage to or encourage the consumption of alcohol by a person who is likely to drive a vehicle or streetcar in violation of paragraph (1).

(4)It is prohibited for any person to request or rely on a driver to transport that person in a vehicle (other than a trolleybus or motor vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services that is in service at the time, or any other motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph, item (vi) of Article 117-2-2 and item (iii) of Article 117-3-2) with the knowledge that the driver is under the influence of alcohol, and then get into a vehicle that the driver is driving in violation of paragraph (1) together with the driver.

Article 66It is prohibited for any person to drive a vehicle or streetcar while in a state in which overwork, illness, the influence of drugs, or any other circumstances is likely to make the person unable to drive safely, beyond as provided in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. Inability to drive safely because the person is

Article 66-2(1)If a driver violates the preceding Article by driving a vehicle while in a state in which overwork is likely to make the driver unable to drive safely (hereinafter referred to as "driving while overworked" in this Article and Article 75-2, paragraph (1)) in connection with the services of the user of the vehicle (other than the selfsame driver of the vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article), and the user of the vehicle that the driver has driven while overworked is found not to be undertaking the necessary operational management to prevent drivers from driving while overworked in that vehicle, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the vehicle's base of operations may instruct the user of the vehicle to give its drivers directions or advice so that they will not drive while overworked, and may instruct the user to take other necessary measures to prevent drivers from driving while overworked.

(2)Article 22-2, paragraph (2) applies mutatis mutandis to instructions given pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

Article 67(1)On finding that the driver of a vehicle or streetcar is driving the vehicle or streetcar in violation of Article 64, paragraph (1), Article 65, paragraph (1), Article 66, Article 71-4, paragraphs (3) through (6) or Article 85, paragraphs (5) through (7) (other than item (ii)), a police officer may stop the vehicle or streetcar and demand that the driver present a driver's license as referred to in Article 92, paragraph (1) or an international driving permit or foreign driver's license as referred to in Article 107-2.

(2)Beyond as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, if the driver of a vehicle or streetcar, in driving a vehicle or streetcar, violates this Act (other than Article 64, paragraph (1), Article 65, paragraph (1), Article 66, Article 71-4, paragraphs (3) through (6) and Article 85, paragraphs (5) through (7) (other than item (ii))), an order under this Act, or a measure under this Act; or causes injury or death to a person or damage to object with a moving vehicle or streetcar (hereinafter this is referred to as causing a "traffic accident"), and a police officer finds it to be necessary to do so in order to determine whether it would be appropriate to allow the driver to continue driving the vehicle or streetcar, the police officer may demand that the driver present a driver's license as referred to in Article 92, paragraph (1) or an international driving permit or foreign driver's license as referred to in Article 107-2.

(3)If it is found to be likely that a person who is inside of or about to enter a vehicle or streetcar will drive the vehicle or streetcar in violation of Article 65, paragraph (1), a police officer may test that person's breath pursuant to Cabinet Order to determine the level of alcohol in the person's system, in connection with the measures under the following paragraph.

(4)In a case as referred to in one of the preceding three paragraphs, if the driver of the vehicle or streetcar is likely to drive the vehicle or streetcar in violation of Article 64, paragraph (1), Article 65, paragraph (1), Article 66, Article 71-4, paragraphs (3) through (6) or Article 85, paragraphs (5) through (7) (other than item (ii)), a police officer may take the necessary stop-gap measures to prevent a road traffic hazard , such as instructing the driver not to drive the vehicle or streetcar until able to drive safely.

Article 68When the drivers and riders of any combination of at least one motor vehicle and at least one motorized bicycle are traveling down a road two or more in a row or abreast of each other, they must not act in concert in a way that gives rise to a serious road traffic hazard or causes a serious nuisance to others.

Article 69Deleted

Article 70The driver of a vehicle or streetcar must work the vehicle's or streetcar's steering wheel, brakes, and other equipment in a consistent manner, and must drive at a speed and in a manner that poses no hazard to others in consideration of road conditions, traffic conditions, and the condition of the vehicle or streetcar.

Article 71The driver of a vehicle or streetcar must observe the following rules:

Article 71-2It is prohibited for the driver of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle (other than a machine that Cabinet Office Order prescribes; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) to drive the motor vehicle or ride the motorized bicycle if it is not equipped with a muffler as prescribed in Article 41, item (xi) or Article 44, item (viii) of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation (this includes a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle whose muffler has been cut or which are equipped with a muffler to which other Cabinet-Order-prescribed modifications causing a serious hindrance to its function have been made).

Article 71-3(1)The driver of a motor vehicle (other than a standard or large motorcycle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must not drive without fastening the seatbelt that is required to be installed in the motor vehicle pursuant to Chapter III of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation and pursuant to orders based upon that Act (hereinafter referred to as a "seatbelt"); provided, however, that this does not apply if the driver's restraint by a seatbelt is not appropriate in light of the medical treatment that the driver is receiving for an illness, if the driver in question is the driver of an emergency motor vehicle and is driving that emergency motor vehicle, or if there are any other compelling circumstances that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(2)The driver of a motor vehicle must not carry a person unrestrained by a seatbelt on equipment, other than the driver's seat, that is meant to carry a person (but only in a motor vehicle in which such equipment must be equipped with seatbelts; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) as a passenger in the motor vehicle; provided, however, that this does not apply if the driver is carrying a child not yet of school age (other than one that is of sufficient height when seated for a seatbelt to be fastened appropriately; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) on such equipment, if the driver is carrying a person whose restraint by a seatbelt is not appropriate in light of the medical treatment that the person is receiving for an illness on such equipment, or if there are any other compelling circumstances that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(3)The driver of a motor vehicle must not carry a child not yet of school age unrestrained by child restraints (meaning restraints fixed to a seat and used to replace the functions of a seatbelt when a child not yet of school age is on board, which comply with Chapter III of the Act on Vehicles for Road Transportation and orders given under that Chapter and which are configured for the size of a child not yet of school age; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) as a passenger in the motor vehicle; provided, however, that this does not apply if the driver is carrying a child not yet of school age whose restraint by child restraints is not appropriate in light of the medical treatment that the child is receiving for an illness or if there are any other compelling circumstances that Cabinet Order prescribes.

Article 71-4(1)A person riding a standard or large motorcycle must not ride that vehicle without wearing a motorcycle helmet, and must not carry a passenger who is not wearing a motorcycle helmet.

(2)A person riding a motorized bicycle must not ride that vehicle without wearing a motorcycle helmet.

(3)A person holding a large motorcycle license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (3) who is under 20 years of age or who has not held that license for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which it was suspended) (other than a person currently holding a standard motorcycle license as referred to in that paragraph who has held that license for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) and other persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must not carry a passenger while driving a standard or large motorcycle (other than one with a sidecar; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) on a national expressway or limited highway.

(4)A person holding a standard motorcycle license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (3) (other than a person also holding a large motorcycle license as referred to in that paragraph) who is under 20 years of age or who has not held that license for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) (other than a person who has held a standard motorcycle license at some point within the six months before the day on which the person came to hold the current license and other persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must not carry a passenger while driving a standard motorcycle on a national expressway or limited highway.

(5)A person holding a large motorcycle license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (3) who has not held that license for at least one year in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) (other than a person currently holding a standard motorcycle license as referred to in that paragraph who has held that license for at least one year in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) and other persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must not carry a passenger while driving a standard or large motorcycle.

(6)A person holding a standard motorcycle license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (3) (other than a person also holding a large motorcycle license as referred to in that paragraph) who has not held that license for at least one year in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) (other than a person who has held a standard motorcycle license at some point within the six months before the day on which the person came to hold the current license and other persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must not carry a passenger while driving a standard motorcycle.

(7)Cabinet Office Order provides for the standards for motorcycle helmets as referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).

Article 71-5(1)A person holding a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (3) who has not held that license for at least one year in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) (other than a person who has held a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle license at some point within the six months before the day on which the person came to hold the current license and other persons that Cabinet Order prescribes, and other than a person who currently holds a standard motor vehicle license as referred to in that paragraph and who held that license for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) before the day on which the person came to hold the current semi-mid-sized motor vehicle license) must not drive a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle without displaying a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of that vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(2)A person holding a standard motor vehicle license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (3) who has not held that license for at least one year in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) (other than a person who has held a standard motor vehicle license at some point within the six months before the day on which the person came to hold the current license; other than a person that, after coming to hold the standard motor vehicle license that the person currently holds, has come to hold a license of a higher grade than this (meaning a different type of driver's license (other than a provisional driver's license as referred to in Article 84, paragraph (2)) with which a person may also drive the motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that, pursuant to Article 85, paragraph (2), may be driven by a person who is permitted to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle of a category that the Table following Article 85, paragraph (1) sets forth for a given type of driver's license (hereinafter the category of motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that the Table sets forth for a given type of driver's license is referred to as a "vehicle the person is licensed to drive"); hereinafter the same applies in Article 100-2, paragraph (1), items (i) and (iii)); and other than any other person that Cabinet Order prescribes) must not drive a standard motor vehicle without displaying a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of that vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(3)A person 75 years of age or older who holds a license that permits the person to drive a standard motor vehicle pursuant to Article 85, paragraph (1) or (2) or Article 86, paragraph (1) or (2) (hereinafter referred to as a "license for a standard motor vehicle") must not drive a standard motor vehicle without displaying a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of that vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(4)A person 70 years of age or older but under 75 who is licensed for a standard motor vehicle must endeavor to display a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear pursuant to Cabinet Office Order when driving a standard motor vehicle if the person's age-related decline in physical ability is likely to affect the person's driving.

Article 71-6(1)A person holding a license that permits the person to drive a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle pursuant to Article 85, paragraph (1) or (2) or Article 86, paragraph (1) or (2) must not drive a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle without displaying a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of that vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order if any condition is attached to the license because the licensee has a hearing impairment to a degree that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(2)A person holding a license for a standard motor vehicle must not drive a standard motor vehicle without displaying a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of that vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order if any condition is attached to the license because the licensee has a hearing impairment to a degree that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(3)A person holding a license for a standard motor vehicle to which any condition is attached because the licensee has an orthopedic impairment must endeavor to display a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of the vehicle pursuant to Cabinet Office Order when driving a standard motor vehicle if the orthopedic impairment is likely to affect the person's driving.

Article 72(1)In the event of a traffic accident, the drivers and staff members of the vehicles and streetcars involved in the traffic accident (hereinafter each such person is referred to in this Section as a "driver or staff member") must immediately stop driving and take the necessary measures, such as aiding injured persons and preventing road hazards. In such a case, the driver of a vehicle or streetcar (or a staff member, if the death or injury of the driver compels it; the same applies hereinafter in the following paragraph) must report to a police officer at the scene or at the nearest police station (including police booths and police satellite offices; the same applies hereinafter in the following paragraph) giving the date, time, and place where the traffic accident occurred; the number of injured persons and the extent of their injuries; damaged objects and the extent of the damage; the loads carried by the vehicles and streetcars involved in the accident; and measures taken in connection with the accident.

(2)On finding it to be necessary to do so in order to aid an injured person or prevent a road hazard, a police officer at the nearest police station who receives a report pursuant to the second sentence of the preceding paragraph may order the driver giving the report not to leave the scene until a police officer arrives.

(3)In a case as referred to in the preceding two paragraphs, a police officer at the scene may give necessary instructions to the driver or staff member of the vehicle or streetcar in order to aid injured persons, prevent road hazards, or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic.

(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if it is necessary for a vehicle or streetcar to continue in operation, the driver of an emergency vehicle, a vehicle carrying injured persons, or a bus, trolleybus, or streetcar that is in operation at the time of the accident may have another staff member take the measures prescribed in the first sentence of paragraph (1) or report as prescribed in the second sentence of that paragraph so that the driver may continue driving the vehicle or streetcar.

Article 72-2(1)In a case as referred to in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, if it is found to be difficult for the driver or staff member of a vehicle or streetcar to immediately follow the instructions given pursuant to that paragraph due to injury or another reason, a police officer at the scene may physically move an object damaged in the traffic accident or a load being carried by a vehicle or streetcar involved in the traffic accident (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "damaged object or load") and take other stop-gap measures, but only so far as is necessary to prevent road traffic hazards and otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic.

(2)In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, having moved a damaged object or load, a police officer must hand it over to the chief of the police station who has jurisdiction over the place where the damaged object or load was originally found. In such a case, the chief of the police station must store the damaged object or load as its custodian.

(3)Article 51, paragraph (7) and paragraphs (9) through (21) and Article 51-2-2 apply mutatis mutandis to damaged objects and loads subject to measures under the preceding two paragraphs. In such a case, the term " user" in Article 51, paragraph (7) is deemed to be replaced with "owner or person in possession of the vehicle or the holder of title to the damaged object or load (hereinafter referred to in this Article and Article 51-2-2 as the 'owner or other such person')"; the phrase "the preceding paragraph" in paragraph (9) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (7) as applied mutatis mutandis following a deemed replacement of terms pursuant to Article 72-2, paragraph (3)" and the phrase "paragraph, the chief" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph, and it is found to be difficult to return the damaged object or load to a person other than its owner, the chief"; the phrase "paragraphs (7) through (10)" in paragraph (11) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (7) and the preceding two paragraphs as applied mutatis mutandis following a deemed replacement of terms pursuant to Article 72-2, paragraph (3)"; the phrase "remains unreturned one month after the date of a notification as under paragraph (8)" in paragraph (12) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "is likely to spoil or deteriorate, remains unreturned one month after the day on which the owner of the damaged object or load has been notified pursuant to paragraph (7) as applied mutatis mutandis following a deemed replacement of terms pursuant to Article 72-2, paragraph (3), or remains unreturned one month after the" and the term "cost" is deemed to be replaced with "cost or effort"; the phrase "the driver or other responsible person, theuser, or the owner of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to through Article 51-2-2 as the "user or owner")" paragraph (15) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the owner or other such person"; the phrase "the driver or other responsible person or by the user or owner" in paragraph (16) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the owner or other such person"; the phrase "the date of a notification as under paragraph (8)" in paragraph (20) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the date that the owner of the damaged object or load was notified as under paragraph (7) as applied mutatis mutandis following a deemed replacement of terms pursuant to Article 72-2, paragraph (3)"; and the phrase "the user or owner or person otherwise affiliated with a vehicle being stored pursuant to paragraph (6) of that Article; or the owner or person in possession of a load being stored pursuant to paragraph (6) of that Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (22) of that Article or a person holding title to or otherwise affiliated with such a load," in paragraph (1) of Article 51-2-2 is deemed to be replaced with "the owner or other such person or the person otherwise affiliated with the damaged object or load being stored pursuant to the second sentence of Article 72-2, paragraph (2)".

Article 73In the event of a traffic accident, if a person other than the driver or staff member of the vehicle or streetcar involved in the traffic accident is in the vehicle or streetcar, that person must not interfere with the driver's or staff member's taking the measures prescribed in the first sentence of Article 72, paragraph (1) or with the driver's or staff member's reporting as prescribed in the second sentence of that paragraph.

Article 74(1)When allowing persons to drive its vehicles or streetcars in connection with its business activities, a vehicle or streetcar user must endeavor to make the drivers of its vehicles or streetcars, its driving safety supervisors, deputy driving safety supervisors, and other persons in a position to directly manage the operations of its vehicles or streetcars observe the rules that this Act or an Order based on this Act prescribes with respect to vehicle and streetcar driving safety.

(2)The user of a vehicle must endeavor to make the drivers of that vehicle to observe the rules that this Act or an Order based on this Act prescribes with respect to the speed, parking, and loading of vehicles, and the mental and physical condition of drivers.

(3)Theusers of fire-services vehicles, ambulances, and other motor vehicles that Cabinet Order prescribes (other than users that have appointed a driving safety supervisor pursuant to Article 74-3, paragraph (1)) must endeavor to provide the drivers of its motor vehicles with the necessary traffic safety education to ensure that their motor vehicles are driven safely.

Article 74-2The user of a vehicle must ensure that there is a place for its vehicles to be properly parked and take other necessary measures for the proper parking of its vehicles.

Article 74-3(1)For each place serving as the base of operations for not less than the number of motor vehicles that Cabinet Office Order prescribes, a motor vehicleuser (other than a motor carrier under the Road Transportation Act (other than those engaged in cargo transportation services under the Act on Motor Vehicle Cargo Transportation Services (Act No. 83 of 1989); the same applies hereinafter) and persons engaged in Type II cargo transportation services under the Cargo Forwarder Service Act; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must appoint a driving safety supervisor who meets the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes with respect to age, experience in the management of motor vehicle driving, and other particulars to perform the duties referred to in the following paragraph.

(2)A driving safety supervisor must provide drivers engaged in the business activities of the user with the necessary traffic safety education to ensure that they drive motor vehicles safely, and undertake the necessary duties that Cabinet Office Order prescribes so that motor vehicles are driven safely (other than duties involved in the maintenance of motor vehicle equipment; the same applies in paragraph (1) of Article 75-2-2).

(3)The traffic safety education referred to in the preceding paragraph must be provided in accordance with the traffic safety education guidelines referred to in Article 108-28, paragraph (1).

(4)For each place serving as the base of operations for not less than the number of motor vehicles that Cabinet Office Order prescribes, a motor vehicle user must appoint a deputy driving safety supervisor, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, as a person to support the duties of the driving safety supervisor, from among those who meet the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes with respect to age, experience in motor vehicle driving, and other particulars.

(5)Within 15 days of appointing a driving safety supervisor or deputy driving safety supervisor (hereinafter referred to as a "primary or deputy driving safety supervisor"), a motor vehicle user must file the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes with the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the motor vehicles' base of operations. The same applies if the user dismisses a primary or deputy driving safety supervisor.

(6)If a primary or deputy driving safety supervisor no longer meets one of the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes which is referred to in paragraph (1) or (4) or if the public safety commission finds that the driving safety supervisor has not ensured that the relevant motor vehicles will be driven safely because the supervisor has failed to observe paragraph (2), the public safety commission may order the motor vehicle user to dismiss the relevant primary or deputy driving safety supervisor.

(7)A motor vehicle user must grant its driving safety supervisor the necessary authority to perform the duties referred to in paragraph (2).

(8)If a motor vehicle user is notified by a public safety commission that it will hold the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (i) for primary or deputy driving safety supervisors appointed by the user, the user must have its primary or deputy driving safety supervisor undergo that training.

Article 75(1)It is prohibited for a motor vehicle user (including the user of heavy towable vehicles; the same applies hereinafter in this Article, paragraph (1) of the following Article, and Article 75-2-2, paragraph (2)) (or the primary or deputy driving safety supervisor or any other person in a position to directly manage the operations of its motor vehicles; referred to as a " user, supervisor, or manager" in the following paragraph) to order or allow a driver of its motor vehicles to engage in the conduct set forth in one of the following items in connection with the business of theuser:

(2)If auser, supervisor, or manager of motor vehicles violates the preceding paragraph thereby causing the driver of a motor vehicle to engage in conduct set forth in one of the items of that paragraph, and the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the base of operations of the motor vehicle connected with the violation finds that the operator's use of its motor vehicles in connection with its business activities is likely to cause an extreme traffic hazard on a road or an extreme obstruction to traffic, it may issue an order to the user , in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, not to drive or allow any person to drive the motor vehicles connected with the violation for a period of up to six months that it fixes.

(3)Before issuing an order pursuant to the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must hear the as of the supervising administrative agency for the relevant services if theuser of a motor vehicle that would be subject to the order is a passenger motor carrier under the Road Transportation Act or a person engaged in Type II cargo transportation services under the Cargo Forwarder Service Act.

(4)Irrespective of the category of proceedings for hearing statements of opinion under Article 13, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993), a public safety commission seeking to issue an order pursuant to paragraph (2) must hold a hearing.

(5)To hold a hearing as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must notify the relevant persons as under Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act and issue public notice of the date and place of the hearing, by one week prior to the hearing date.

(6)If a person is notified as referred to in the preceding paragraph in the way that Article 15, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act prescribes, the reasonable period of time to be set aside before the hearing date pursuant to paragraph (1) of that Article must not be less than two weeks.

(7)The proceedings on the hearing date referred to in paragraph (4) must be open to the public.

(8)On finding it to be necessary to do so, the person presiding over the hearing referred to in paragraph (4) may request the appearance of witnesses who have expert knowledge about road traffic or persons connected with the matter at issue so as to hear their opinions or circumstances.

(9)A public safety commission that has issued an order pursuant to paragraph (2) must issue a document to the user of the motor vehicle subject to the order giving the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes, including the number of the identification plate of any motor vehicle that the user may neither drive nor allow others to drive, and must affix a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes in a conspicuous place on the front of any such motor vehicle.

(10)A person purchasing a motor vehicle to which a mark has been affixed pursuant to the preceding paragraph from auser or from a third party who holds title to its use may apply to a public safety commission, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, for removal of that mark. In such a case, the public safety commission must remove the mark.

(11)It is prohibited for any person to damage or deface a mark affixed pursuant to paragraph (9); and it is prohibited for any person to remove such a mark until after the end of the period during which the motor vehicle is prohibited from being driven.

Article 75-2(1)If a public safety commission issues an instruction as set forth in the left-hand column of the following Table to the user of a motor vehicle and if a violation set forth in the corresponding right-hand column of that Table is committed in a motor vehicle operated thereby within one year after the user is issued that instruction and the commission finds that the user's operation of such a motor vehicle is likely to cause an extreme traffic hazard, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the motor vehicle's base of operations may order the user, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, not to drive or allow any person to drive the motor vehicle for a period of up to three months that it fixes:

(2)If a public safety commission issues a payment order to the user of a vehicle to which a mark has been affixed pursuant to Article 51-4, paragraph (1) and if the operator had been issued any other payment order (other than one revoked pursuant to paragraph (16) of that Article) because of that vehicle within six months before the date on which the mark was affixed and the commission finds that the operator's operation of such a vehicle is likely to cause an extreme hazard or an obstruction to traffic, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the vehicle's base of operations may order the operator, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, not to drive or allow any other person to drive the vehicle for a period of up to three months that it fixes.

(3)Paragraphs (3) through (11) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to orders issued pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 75-2-2(1)On finding it to be necessary to do so for a base of motor vehicle operations at which a driving safety supervisor has been appointed in order to facilitate the needed traffic safety education to ensure that motor vehicles are driven safely and to otherwise facilitate the needed business activities for motor vehicles to be driven safely, a public safety commission may ask either the user of motor vehicles that has appointed the driving safety supervisor or the driving safety supervisor to report as necessary or submit the necessary materials.

(2)On finding it to be necessary to do so in order to facilitate the proper operation of motor vehicles in terms of speed, parking, or loading, or the mental and physical condition of the driver, a public safety commission may ask a user of a motor vehicle to report as necessary or submit the necessary materials.

Article 75-2-3Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding four Chapters, the rules for motor vehicle traffic over national expressways and limited highways and other such considerations are governed by this Chapter.

Article 75-3Notwithstanding Article 17, paragraph (1) and Cabinet Order under Article 47, paragraph (4) of the Road Act, on finding a compelling reason to do so in order to prevent a road hazard or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic on a national expressway or limited highway (hereinafter referred to as a "national expressway or limited highway") on which road damage, a traffic accident, or other circumstances are likely to cause a traffic hazard or traffic congestion, a police officer may prohibit or restrict road use by motor vehicles arriving at the scene or order the drivers of motor vehicles at the scene to travel on the shoulder or a side strip of the road or to comply with different traffic rules than the traffic rules for motor vehicles that are prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 8, Chapter III, Section 1, and Section 6 or this Chapter, but only so far as is necessary.

Article 75-4On the main roadway of a national expressway (other than one that Cabinet Order prescribes), it is prohibited for a motor vehicle to travel at a speed below the posted minimum speed limit in a section of road where this is designated by road signs or markings or to travel at a speed below the minimum speed limit that Cabinet Order prescribes in any other section of road, unless the driver is decreasing the speed of the motor vehicle pursuant to laws and regulations or is compelled to drive below the minimum speed limit in order to prevent a hazard.

Article 75-5A motor vehicle must not cross over to the other side of a road, make a U-turn, or reverse direction on any main roadway.

Article 75-6(1)A motor vehicle (other than an emergency motor vehicle) attempting to enter a main roadway (if attempting to enter a main roadway from another main roadway, this is limited to when the main roadway that the motor vehicle is attempting to enter is designated by road signs or markings) must not obstruct the progress of any other motor vehicle proceeding down the main roadway; provided, however that this does not apply if traffic controls are in place at the intersection.

(2)A motor vehicle other than an emergency motor vehicle must not prevent an emergency motor vehicle that is attempting to enter a main roadway or exit a main roadway on which it is traveling from proceeding.

Article 75-7(1)A motor vehicle attempting to enter a main roadway with an acceleration lane must use the acceleration lane.

(2)A motor vehicle attempting to exit a main roadway on which it is traveling must travel in the vehicle traffic lane connected to the exit before exiting the main roadway. In such a case, if the main roadway has a deceleration lane, the motor vehicle must use the deceleration lane.

Article 75-8(1)A motor vehicle (including a vehicle with the necessary structure and equipment to allow them to be towed by a motor vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must not be stopped or parked on a national expressway or limited highway unless the driver has come to a stop pursuant to laws and regulations, in compliance with a police officer's orders, or in order to prevent a hazard; provided, however, that this does not apply if:

(2)Article 50-2, Article 51 and Article 51-2-2 apply mutatis if a motor vehicle is found to have been stopped or parked in violation of the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the phrase "another place on a road within 50 meters of the place where it is parked" in Article 51, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "a place that Cabinet Order prescribes", the phrase "but there is no place on the road to which it can be moved that is within 50 meters of where it is parked" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "but it cannot be moved to a place that Cabinet Order prescribes which is referred to in the preceding paragraph" and the phrase "a parking spot, open space, place on a road other than as prescribed in paragraph (3), or other such place" in paragraph (5) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "a place on a road other than as prescribed in paragraph (3)".

(3)A motor vehicle that is found to have been parked on a national expressway or limited highway in violation of paragraph (1) and which cannot be driven immediately because the driver has left the vicinity is deemed to be an abandoned vehicle as prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 51-4, and that Article applies.

Article 75-8-2(1)Article 20 does not apply to lanes for standard, mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, large, and special large motor vehicles with the structure and equipment for towing (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle equipped for towing") that are towing heavy towable vehicles, when the motor vehicle equipped for towing is traveling on the main roadway of a limited highway (but only one as prescribed in the following paragraph) or national expressway with vehicle traffic lanes. In such a case, the following paragraph through paragraph (4) applies

(2)On the main roadway of a limited highway with vehicle traffic lanes (but only on sections designated by road signs or markings), a motor vehicle equipped for towing as referred to in the preceding paragraph must travel in the far left-hand vehicle traffic lane.

(3)On the main roadway of a national expressway with vehicle traffic lanes, a motor vehicle equipped for towing as referred to in paragraph (1) must travel in the far left-hand vehicle traffic lane (or in the vehicle traffic lane that is designated by road signs or markings).

(4)It is permissible for a motor vehicle equipped for towing as referred to in paragraph (1) not to observe the preceding two paragraphs when passing a motor vehicle traveling at a speed below the minimum speed limit as prescribed in Article 23 or Article 75-4; when continuing to travel in the vehicle traffic lane in which it has been traveling pursuant to Article 26-2, paragraph (3); when temporarily yielding the right-of-way pursuant to Article 40, paragraph (2); or when road conditions or other circumstances compel this. In such a case, the motor vehicle equipped for towing must use the vehicle traffic lane to the immediate right of any motor vehicle it is passing in order to pass that motor vehicle.

Article 75-9(1)Article 75-5, Article 75-7, and the preceding Article do not apply to an emergency motor vehicle or to a motor vehicle engaged exclusively in traffic control that Cabinet Office Order prescribes which is referred to in Article 41, paragraph (3).

(2)Article 75-4, Article 75-5, and the preceding Article do not apply to a motor vehicle designed for road maintenance work when that motor vehicle is being employed in a work such as the maintenance or repair of a road pursuant to Cabinet Order.

Article 75-10Before driving a motor vehicle on a national expressway or limited highway, the driver must inspect the motor vehicle's amount of fuel, coolant, and motor oil and the condition of loaded cargo and, if necessary, take measures to prevent the motor vehicle from becoming undriveable due to a shortage of fuel, coolant, or motor oil, and to prevent loaded cargo from falling or scattering from the motor vehicle on the national expressway or limited highway

Article 75-11(1)If, due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, the driver of a motor vehicle has become unable to drive that motor vehicle on a main roadway or in an acceleration lane, deceleration lane, or climbing lane adjoining a main roadway (hereinafter referred to as the "main roadway or adjoining lane"), or on a shoulder or side strip adjoining a main roadway or adjoining lane, the driver must indicate that the motor vehicle is stopped due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(2)If, due to a malfunction or other such circumstance, the driver of a motor vehicle has become unable to drive that motor vehicle on a main roadway or adjoining lane, the driver must promptly take the necessary measures to relocate the motor vehicle to a place other than the main roadway or adjoining lane.

Article 76(1)It is prohibited for any person to install a traffic light, a road sign or marking, or any similar structure or object on any road without due cause.

(2)It is prohibited for any person to install any structure or object that impairs the utility of traffic lights or road signs or markings on a road.

(3)It is prohibited for any person to place an object on a road in a manner that obstructs traffic, without due cause.

(4)It is prohibited for any person to:

Article 77(1)A person as referred to in one of the following items must obtain permission from the chief of the police station with jurisdiction over the place where the activity set forth in the relevant item would take place (hereinafter referred to as the "competent police station chief" in this Section; if the location of the activity would be under the jurisdiction of two or more chiefs of police under the management of the same public safety commission, the person must obtain permission from one of the competent police station chiefs; the same applies hereinafter in this Section):

(2)If a person has applied for the permission referred to in the preceding paragraph and the activity that the application is for is as referred to in one of the following items, the competent police station chief must permit the activity:

(3)On finding it to be necessary to do so, the competent police station chief who gives permission under paragraph (1) may attach to the permission the necessary conditions to prevent road hazards or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic, unless the activity to which the permission pertains falls under item (i) of the preceding paragraph.

(4)The competent police station chief may make changes or add to the conditions attached pursuant to the preceding paragraph, if it becomes particularly necessary to do so in order to prevent road hazards or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic.

(5)If a person that has obtained the permission under paragraph (1) violates a condition under the preceding two paragraphs or if it becomes particularly necessary to do so in order to prevent road hazards or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic, the competent police station chief may revoke the permission or suspend its validity.

(6)Before taking a measure under the preceding paragraph with regard to a person that has violated a condition under paragraph (3) or (4), the competent police station chief must first notify the person of the date, time, and place for giving an explanation and the reason that the measure would be taken, as well as providing the person with an opportunity to submit an explanation of the matter at issue and evidence in the person's favor; provided, however, that this does not apply if circumstances urgently compel that the competent police station chief do otherwise in order to prevent a traffic hazard.

(7)A person that has obtained permission pursuant to paragraph (1) must promptly remove the structure or take other measures to restore the road to its original state if the period of the permission is of limited duration and expires, or if the permission is revoked pursuant to paragraph (5).

Article 78(1)A person seeking the permission under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article must submit a written application to the competent police station chief, giving the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes.

(2)If the activity to which permission under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article pertains is subject to Article 32, paragraph (1) or (3) of the Road Act, the written application referred to in the preceding paragraph may be submitted via the administrator of the road in question. In such a case, the administrator of the road in question must promptly send the written application to the competent police station chief.

(3)The competent police station chief must issue a permit upon granting the permission under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(4)A person issued a permit under the preceding paragraph must file with the competent police station chief if a piece of information written on the permit changes, and have the chief enter the information following the change on the permit.

(5)A person issued a permit pursuant to paragraph (3) may apply to the competent police station chief for its reissuance if it is lost, damaged, or defaced.

(6)Cabinet Office Order provides for the format for written applications as referred to in paragraph (1), the format for permits as referred to in paragraph (3), and other necessary details of the procedures for permission referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

Article 79Before granting the permission under Article 77, paragraph (1), if the activity to which the permission pertains is subject to Article 32, paragraph (1) or (3) of the Road Act, the competent police station chief must first consult with the administrator of the road in question.

Article 80(1)Notwithstanding Article 77, paragraph (1), before undertaking construction or work to maintain, repair, or otherwise manage a road, it is sufficient for a road administrator under the Road Act to hold consultations with the competent police station chief.

(2)Cabinet Office Order/Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prescribes the necessary particulars regarding the consultations referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 81(1)The chief of a police station may order a person as referred to in one of the following items to remove, move, or repair the structure or object (hereinafter referred to in this Section as a "structure or object") that is involved in the referenced violation, discontinue the construction or work (hereinafter referred to in this Section as "construction or work") that is involved in the referenced violation, or take other necessary measures in connection with the structure or object or construction or work that is involved in the referenced violation, in order to prevent a road hazard or eliminate a traffic obstruction:

(2)If unable to ascertain the name and address of the person set forth in item (i), (ii), or (iii) of the preceding paragraph, and if therefore unable to order that person to take the measures under the preceding paragraph, the chief of the police station may personally take the measures. In such a case, if the chief of the police station removes a structure or object, the chief must store it as its custodian.

(3)Having come to store a structure or object pursuant to the second sentence of the preceding paragraph, the chief of a police station must issue public notice of the information that Cabinet Order prescribes or take other necessary measures that Cabinet Order prescribes to return the structure or object to the person in possession or owner of the structure or object or to any other person holding title to the structure or object (hereinafter referred to in this Article and Article 82 as the "person in possession, owner, or holder of title").

(4)If a structure or object stored pursuant to paragraph (2) is likely to be lost or damaged, or if such a structure or object remains unreturned three months after the date of public notice as under the preceding paragraph and the cost or effort required to store it is unreasonable compared to its value as appraised pursuant to Cabinet Order, the chief of the police station may sell the structure or object and store the proceeds of the sale as the custodian thereof, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(5)If there is no purchaser for a structure or object in a sale as under the preceding paragraph and the value of the structure or object as prescribed in that paragraph is very low, the chief of the police station may dispose of it.

(6)The proceeds of a sale undertaken pursuant to paragraph (4) may be allocated to cover the expenses required to conduct that sale.

(7)The expenses required for things such as the removal, moving, repair, retention, sale, and public notice in connection with a structure or object as prescribed in paragraphs (2) through (4) are borne by the person in possession, owner, or holder of title to whom the structure or object should be returned.

(8)The chief of the police station must set the amount, due date, and place for payment of the charges payable by the person in possession, owner, or holder of title pursuant to the preceding paragraph, and must issue a written order to that person to pay them.

(9)If a person ordered to make a payment pursuant to the preceding paragraph fails to do so before the due date, the chief of the police station must issue a written demand that fixes the due date for payment. In such a case, the chief of the police station may collect a fine for delinquency of up to the amount calculated as representing 14.5 percent per annum of the charges payable, and may collect a fee for the necessary costs of issuing the demand.

(10)If a person subject to a demand under the preceding paragraph fails to pay the charges, fines for delinquency, or fees referred to in the second sentence of that paragraph (hereinafter referred to in this Article as "charges, fines, or fees") by the fixed due date, the chief of the police station may collect the charges, fines, or fees based on the rules governing measures to collect local tax arrears. In such a case, the charges, fines, or fees follow national taxes and local taxes in order of priority as concerns statutory liens.

(11)Charges, fines, and fees paid and collected are the revenue of the prefecture where the police station is located.

(12)If a structure or object stored pursuant to paragraph (2) (or the proceed of its sale pursuant to paragraph (4); the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) remains unreturned six months after the date of the public notice prescribed in paragraph (3), ownership of the structure or object vests in the prefecture where the police station is located.

Article 81-2(1)If a load carried by a vehicle or streetcar that falls or is scattered onto a road (hereinafter referred to in this Article and Article 83 as a "spilled load") is likely to cause a traffic hazard on the road or a serious obstruction to traffic, the chief of a police station may order the person in possession or owner of the spilled load or any other person holding title to the spilled load (referred to as "person in possession, owner, or holder of title to the spilled load" in the following paragraph) to remove the spilled load or to take other necessary measures with the spilled load to prevent a road hazard or ensure that traffic runs smoothly.

(2)If unable to ascertain the name and address of the person in possession, owner, or holder of title to a spilled load in a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, and if therefore unable to order that person to take the measures under that paragraph, the chief of the police station may personally take those measures. In such a case, if the chief of the police station removes the spilled load, the chief must retain it as its custodian.

(3)The provisions of paragraphs (3) through (12) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to spilled loads subject to measures under the preceding paragraph.

Article 82(1)If a structure or object erected or placed on roadside land is likely to pose a road traffic hazard or a serious obstruction to traffic, the chief of a police station may order the person in possession, owner, or holder of title to the structure or object to remove it or take other necessary measures to prevent road traffic hazards or ensure that traffic runs smoothly.

(2)If unable to ascertain the name or address of the person in possession, owner, or holder of title to the structure or object in a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, and if therefore unable to take the measures under that paragraph, the chief of the police station may personally take the measures. In such a case, if the chief of the police station removes the structure or object, the chief must store it as its custodian.

(3)Article 81, paragraphs (3) through (12) apply mutatis mutandis to the retention prescribed in the second sentence of the preceding paragraph.

Article 83(1)If a structure or object erected or placed on a road or roadside land or a spilled load is likely to cause a serious toad traffic hazard or an obstruction to traffic, and if a police officer finds it to be urgently necessary to do so, that officer may remove, move, or take other stop-gap measures regarding the structure or object or the spilled load, but only so far as is necessary to prevent a road traffic hazard or eliminate a traffic obstruction.

(2)In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, having removed the structure or object or spilled load, a police officer must hand it over to the chief of the police station with jurisdiction over the place where the structure or object was erected or placed or where the spilled load was located. In such a case, the chief of the police station must store the structure or object or spilled load as its custodian.

(3)Article 81, paragraphs (3) through (12) apply mutatis mutandis to the storage prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Article 84(1)A person seeking to drive a motor vehicle or ride a motorized bicycle (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle or motorized bicycle") must obtain a driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "license" or "licensing") from a public safety commission in order to do so.

(2)A license is classified as either a class 1 driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "class 1 license"), a class 2 driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "class 2 license"), or a provisional driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "provisional license").

(3)Class 1 licenses are classified into 10 categories: large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "L-MVL"); mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "M-MVL"); semi-mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "SM-MVL"); standard motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "S-MVL"); special large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "SL-MVL"); large motorcycle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "L-ML"); standard motorcycle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "S-ML"); special small motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "SS-MVL"); motorized bicycle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "MBL"); and towing licenses.

(4)Class 2 licenses are classified into five categories: class 2 large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 L-MVL"); class 2 mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 M-MVL"); class 2 standard motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 S-MVL"); class 2 special large motor vehicle license (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 SL-MVL"); and class 2 towing licenses.

(5)Provisional licenses are classified into four categories: provisional large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional L-MVL"); provisional mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional M-MVL"); provisional semi-mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional SM-MVL"); and provisional standard motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional S-MVL").

Article 85(1)A person seeking to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle as set forth in the left-hand column of the following Table must obtain the corresponding class 1 license set forth in the right-hand column of that Table in order to do so:

(2)In addition to its being permissible for a person holding a class 1 license as set forth in the right-hand column of the Table following the preceding paragraph to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle of the category that the Table sets forth for that type of license, it is also permissible for such a person to drive motor vehicles and motorized bicycles of the types set forth in the right-hand column of the following Table, with the type of license set forth in the corresponding left-hand column of that Table:

(3)In addition to obtaining a license (other than a provisional license) for a motor vehicle equipped for towing, a person seeking to drive that motor vehicle equipped for towing in order to tow a heavy towable vehicle must obtain a towing license.

(4)A person holding a towing license who also holds an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, SL-MVL, class 2 L-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, class 2 S-MVL, or class 2 SL-MVL at the time in question may tow a heavy towable vehicle while driving a motor vehicle equipped for towing that the license permits the licensee to drive.

(5)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an L-MVL who is under 21 years of age or who has not held an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, or SL-MVL for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a large motor vehicle, mid-sized motor vehicle, or semi-mid-sized motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(6)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an M-MVL (other than a person also holding an L-MVL) who is under 21 years of age or who has not held an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, or SL-MVL for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a mid-sized motor vehicle or semi-mid-sized motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(7)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an SM-MVL (other than a person also holding an L-MVL or M-MVL) who is as set forth in one of the following items to drive a motor vehicle as provided in the item:

(8)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an S-MVL (other than a person also holding an SM-MVL) who has not held a L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, or SL-MVL for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a standard motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(9)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an L-ML who has not held a L-ML or S-ML for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a large motorcycle or standard motorcycle that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(10)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an S-ML (other than a person also holding an L-ML) who has not held an L-ML or S-ML for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a standard motorcycle that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(11)Notwithstanding paragraph (2) or (4), if a motor vehicle that a person may drive pursuant to paragraph (2) is a motor vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle used for passenger services"), or if a heavy towable vehicle towed by a motor vehicle equipped for towing that a person may drive pursuant to paragraph (4) is a heavy towable vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services (hereinafter referred to as a "vehicle used for passenger services"), it is not permissible for a person holding a class 1 license to drive the motor vehicle used for passenger services or the motor vehicle towing the vehicle used for passenger services in order to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services.

(12)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an S-MVL, SM-MVL, M-MVL, or L-MVL to drive a motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver as prescribed in paragraph (6) of Article 2 of the Act on Regulation of Professional Designated Driving Services (Act No. 57 of 2001) (limited to standard motor vehicles; hereinafter referred to as a "standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver").

Article 86(1)A person seeking to drive a motor vehicle as set forth in the left-hand column of the following Table as a motor vehicle used for passenger services, to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services must obtain the corresponding class 2 license set forth in the right-hand column of that Table:

(2)In addition to its being permissible for a person holding a class 2 license set forth in the right-hand column of the Table following the preceding paragraph to drive, for the referenced purpose, a motor vehicle of the category that the Table sets forth for that type of license; it is also permissible for such a person to drive the motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that, pursuant to paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, it is permissible to drive for a person holding the class-1-license equivalent of the class 2 license that the relevant person holds (and it is also permissible for a person holding a class 2 L-MVL to drive, for the referenced purpose, a mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, or standard motor vehicle as a motor vehicle used for passenger services; and for a person holding a class 2 M-MVL to drive, for the referenced purpose, a standard motor vehicle as a motor vehicle used for passenger services).

(3)In addition to obtaining a license (other than a provisional license) for a motor vehicle equipped for towing, a person seeking to drive that motor vehicle to tow a vehicle used for passenger services in order to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services must obtain a class 2 towing license.

(4)In addition to its being permissible for a person holding a class 2 towing license who also holds an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, SL-MVL, class 2 L-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, class 2 S-MVL, or class 2 SL-MVL to drive any of the motor vehicles equipped for towing that the license permits the person to drive while towing a vehicle used for passenger services to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services, it is also permissible for that person to drive any of the motor vehicles equipped for towing that the license permits the person to drive while towing a heavy towable vehicle.

(5)A person seeking to drive a standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver must obtain a class 2 S-MVL.

(6)A person holding a class 2 M-MVL or a class 2 L-MVL may drive a standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver in addition to what is provided for in paragraph (2).

Article 87(1)A person who, without obtaining a class 1 or class 2 license permitting the person to drive a standard motor vehicle, seeks to drive such a motor vehicle for practice, for a driver's license test administered to test the person on the points set forth in Article 97, paragraph (1), item (ii), or for a skills evaluation to evaluate the person's motor vehicle driving skills at a designated driving school as prescribed in Article 99, paragraph (1) (referred to as a "test or evaluation" in the following paragraph) must obtain a provisional S-MVL; a person seeking to drive a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle for practice or for a test or evaluation without obtaining a class 1 or class 2 license permitting the person to drive it must obtain a provisional SM-MVL; a person seeking to drive a mid-sized motor vehicle for practice or for a test or evaluation without obtaining a class 1 or class 2 license permitting the person to drive it must obtain a provisional M-MVL; and a person seeking to drive a large motor vehicle for practice or for a test or evaluation without obtaining a class 1 or class 2 license permitting the person to drive it must obtain a provisional L-MVL.

(2)A person holding a provisional L-MVL may drive a large, mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, or standard motor vehicle; a person holding a provisional M-MVL may drive a mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, or standard motor vehicle; a person holding a provisional SM-MVL may drive a semi-mid-sized or standard motor vehicle; and a person holding a provisional S-MVL may drive a standard motor vehicle for practice or for a test or evaluation. In such a case, a person holding a provisional license and seeking to drive the motor vehicle for practice must do so under the guidance of a person who has held a class 1 license that permits that person to drive the motor vehicle for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) (other than one whose license is suspended at the time), a person holding a class 2 license that permits that person to drive the motor vehicle (other than one whose license is suspended at the time), or a person that Cabinet Order prescribes, who is riding next to the driver's seat on equipment meant to carry a person.

(3)A person holding a provisional license who seeks to drive a motor vehicle for practice must display a mark in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes on the front and rear of that vehicle, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding a provisional license to drive a motor vehicle used for passenger services to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services.

(5)Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding a provisional license to drive a standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver.

(6)The valid period of a provisional license is six months, counting from the date on which the person takes a provisional driver's license test administered to test the person on the points set forth in Article 97, paragraph (1), item (i) (referred to in Articles 90 and 92-2 as "fitness screening"); provided, however, that if a person holding a provisional L-MVL obtains an L-MVL or class 2 L-MVL; if a person holding a provisional M-MVL obtains a class 1 license or class 2 license that permits the person to drive a large or mid-sized motor vehicle; if a person holding a provisional SM-MVL obtains a class 1 or class 2 license that permits the person to drive a large, mid-sized, or semi-mid-sized motor vehicle; or if a person holding a provisional S-MVL obtains a class 1 or class 2 license that permits the person to drive a large, mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, or standard motor vehicle, and does so before the end of the valid period, the provisional license loses its validity.

Article 88(1)A class 1 or class 2 license is not granted to a person as referred to in one of the following items:

(2)A provisional L-MVL is not granted to a person under 21 years of age (or under 19 years of age, for persons that Cabinet Order prescribes); a provisional M-MVL is not granted to a person under 20 years of age (or under 19 years of age, for persons that Cabinet Order prescribes); and a provisional SM-MVL or S-MVL is not granted to a person under 18 years of age.

(3)A person currently holding a license may not obtain another license of the same type.

Article 89(1)A person seeking a license must submit a written license application in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes (if a person is issued a questionnaire under the following paragraph, that person must submit the written application and the questionnaire filled out with the necessary information) to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile (or, if a person is seeking a provisional license and undergoing instruction on how to drive a motor vehicle at a driving school that has made a filing under Article 98, paragraph (2), the domicile of the person or the locality of the driving school) and take a driver's license test administered by the public safety commission.

(2)A public safety commission as prescribed in the preceding paragraph may issue a questionnaire in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to a person seeking to submit a written license application under the paragraph, in order to ask the necessary questions to determine whether the person falls under any of the categories set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) through item (ii) of the following Article.

(3)If currently undergoing instruction on how to drive a motor vehicle at a driving school, a person who has submitted a written provisional license application to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the locality of the driving school (other than the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the locality of the person's domicile) pursuant to paragraph (1) and who holds a provisional license granted by the public safety commission may undergo an assessment administered by the public safety commission pursuant to Cabinet Office Order to assess whether the person has the necessary skills to drive a motor vehicle. In such a case, if the public safety commission finds that the person has the necessary motor vehicle driving skills, it must issue a certificate indicating this to that person, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

Article 90(1)A public safety commission must grant a license to a person who has passed the driver's license test referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (but only one who has undergone fitness screening in connection with that driver's license test less than one year previously, in the case of a class 1 or class 2 license; or less than three months previously in the case of a provisional license); provided, however, that, if the person is as referred to in one of the following items, the public safety commission may refrain from granting the person a license (other than a provisional license; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph through paragraph (12)), or may withhold a license from the person for a period not exceeding six months, in keeping with the criteria that Cabinet Order prescribes:

(2)Notwithstanding the main clause of the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission may refuse to grant a license, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, to a person as referred to in one of the following items:

(3)The proviso to paragraph (1) does not apply to a person falling under item (iv) of that paragraph to whom Article 102-2 applies (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 107-4-2; the same applies in Article 108-2, paragraph (1) and Article 108-3-2) unless the period prescribed in Article 102-2 passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article.

(4)Before denying or withholding a license pursuant to the proviso to paragraph (1), or before denying a license pursuant to paragraph (2), a public safety commission must first notify the person who has passed the driver's license test of the date, time, and place for giving an explanation and the reason that the measure would be taken, and provide the person with an opportunity to submit an explanation of the matter at issue and evidence in the person's favor.

(5)If, after a public safety commission grants a person a license, it becomes clear that the person fell under paragraph (1), item (iv), (v), or (vi) before having been granted the license, the commission may revoke that license or suspend it for a period of up to six months that it fixes, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(6)If, after a public safety commission grants a person a license, it becomes clear that the person fell under one of the items of paragraph (2) before having been granted the license, the commission may revoke that license.

(7)The provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) apply mutatis mutandis to measures taken pursuant to paragraph (5) and the preceding two paragraphs. In such a case, the phrases "the proviso to paragraph (1)" and "item (iv) of that paragraph" in paragraph (3) are deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (5)" and "paragraph (1), item (iv)", respectively, and the phrases "the proviso to paragraph (1)" and "paragraph (2)" in paragraph (4) are deemed to be replaced with "the following paragraph" and "paragraph (6)", respectively.

(8)If a public safety commission withholds a license pursuant to the proviso to paragraph (1) on the grounds that the person to whom the license would be granted falls under items (i), (ii), or (iii) of that paragraph, and if it finds that it is necessary to do so, it may order the person to undergo fitness screening on a date and at a place it designates or to submit a medical certificate that meets the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes by the deadline it designates.

(9)Having denied a person a license pursuant to the proviso to paragraph (1) (other than on the grounds that the person falls under item (iii) or (vii) of that paragraph) or revoked a license pursuant to paragraph (5), a public safety commission is to fix a period not exceeding five years, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, during which the person subject to those measures may not be granted a license.

(10)Having denied a person a license pursuant to paragraph (2) or revoked a license pursuant to paragraph (6), a public safety commission is to fix a period not exceeding 10 years, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, during which the person subject to those measures may not be granted a license.

(11)If, at the time a person's license is revoked or suspended pursuant to paragraph (5) or at the time a person's license is revoked pursuant to paragraph (6), the person's address is within the jurisdictional district of a public safety commission other than the one taking those measures, the public safety commission taking the measures must promptly notify the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile that it has done so.

(12)If a person whose license has been withheld pursuant to the proviso to paragraph (1) (but only if the license is withheld on the grounds that the person falls under any of items (iv) through (vi) of that paragraph) or suspended pursuant to paragraph (5) completes the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (iii), the public safety commission may shorten the withholding or suspension period within the scope that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(13)Notwithstanding the main text of paragraph (1), a public safety commission, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, may refuse to grant a provisional license to a person who has passed a provisional driver's license test if that person falls under paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii).

(14)The provisions of paragraph (4) apply mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission denies a person a provisional license pursuant to the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the phrase "the proviso to paragraph (1)" in paragraph (4) is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (13)".

Article 90-2(1)A person seeking a type of license set forth in one of the following items must undergo the training prescribed in the item; provided, however, that this does not apply to a person that Cabinet Order prescribes as not needing the training:

(2)If a person who has passed a driver's license test for one of the types of license set forth in the items under the preceding paragraph (other than a person that Cabinet Order prescribes as referred to in the proviso to that paragraph) has not undergone the training prescribed in the relevant item, the public safety commission may deny the person the license.

Article 91If a public safety commission finds it to be necessary to do so in order to prevent road hazards or otherwise ensure traffic safety, it may attach conditions to a license limiting the types of motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that the licensee may drive, attach other necessary conditions as regards the person's driving of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, or change those conditions, based on the licensee's physical condition or driving skills, but only so far as is necessary.

Article 92(1)Licensing is done by issuing a person a driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "license"). In such a case, if two or more types of licensing that fall under the categories of class 1 or class 2 licenses are granted to the same person on the same day, a license for one type of licensing is to be issued with information about the other type of licensing inscribed on it, instead of separate licenses being issued for each type of licensing.

(2)If a person who is already licensed is granted a different type of licensing, a license for the different type of licensing is to be issued to the person with information about the person's currently licensing inscribed on it, in exchange for the license that the person holds at the time.

Article 92-2A class 1 or class 2 license (other than one issued pursuant to Article 107, paragraph (2); the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) is valid until the day provided for in the right-hand column of the following Table for persons of the corresponding ages set forth in the middle column of that Table, for the corresponding categories set forth in the left-hand column of that Table:

Article 93(1)The following information (other than that which Cabinet Office Order prescribes, if recording under the following Article is undertaken) is to be included on a license:

(2)Beyond as provided in the preceding paragraph, if a public safety commission attaches conditions to a license or changes them pursuant to Article 91, it must include information about those conditions on the license.

(3)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for license formats, information that must be included on licenses, and other necessary particulars concerning licenses.

Article 93-2A public safety commission may record part of the information set forth in the items under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or information included or displayed pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of that Article electronically or magnetically (meaning by electronic means, magnetic means, or any other means that cannot be perceived by the human senses), pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

Article 94(1)If a piece of information set forth in one of the items of Article 93, paragraph (1) changes, the licensee must promptly file with the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile thereof (if the licensee's address has changed to a different jurisdiction, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the new domicile) and have it include (or record pursuant to the preceding Article) the current information on the license.

(2)If a license is lost, destroyed, defaced, or damaged, or if a record under the preceding Article is corrupted, the licensee may apply to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile thereof (for a provisional license, this means the domicile of the licensee or the locality of a driving school that has made a filing as under Article 98, paragraph (2) at which the licensee is undergoing instruction on how to drive a motor vehicle) for the reissuance of the license.

(3)Cabinet Office Order provides for the procedures for filing as under paragraph (1) and for the process of applying for the reissuance of a license as prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Article 95(1)When driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, a licensed driver must carry the license authorizing the driver to drive it.

(2)If asked by a police officer to present a license as under Article 67, paragraph (1) or (2) while operating a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, a licensee must present this.

Article 96(1)A person falling under one of the items of Article 88 may not take a driver's license test for a class 1 license; and a person as prescribed in paragraph (2) of that Article may not take a driver's license test for a provisional license.

(2)A person seeking to take a driver's license test for an L-MVL (other than persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must currently hold an S-MVL, SM-MVL, M-MVL, or SL-MVL, and must have held any one of those licenses for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended).

(3)A person seeking to take a driver's license test for an M-MVL (other than persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must currently hold an S-MVL, SM-MVL, or SL-MVL, and must have held any one of those licenses for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended).

(4)A person may not take a driver's license test for a towing license unless that person currently holds an S-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, L-MVL, SL-MVL, class 2 S-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, class 2 L-MVL, or class 2 SL-MVL.

(5)A person other than as referred to in one of the following items may not take a driver's license test for a class 2 license:

(6)A person whose license is under suspension pursuant to Article 90, paragraph (5), Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4), Article 103-2, paragraph (1), Article 104-2-3, paragraph (1), or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3) or (5) of that Article and persons that Cabinet Order prescribes as equivalent thereto are not included in the meaning of a person currently holding a license as prescribed in paragraphs (2) through (4) and in the items of the preceding paragraph.

Article 96-2A person seeking to take a driver's license test for an S-MVL, SM-MVL, M-MVL, or L-MVL, or for a class 2 S-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, or class 2 L-MVL (other than persons that Cabinet Order prescribes) must currently hold a provisional license (meaning a provisional L-MVL, for a person seeking to take a driver's license test for an L-MVL or class 2 L-MVL; a provisional L-MVL or provisional M-MVL, for a person seeking to take a driver's license test for an M-MVL or class 2 M-MVL; or a provisional L-MVL, provisional M-MVL, or provisional SM-MVL, for a person seeking to take a driver's license test for an SM-MVL) and must have practiced driving a motor vehicle on the road on at least five days within the past three months, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

Article 96-3(1)A person denied a license as under the proviso to Article 90, paragraph (1) or (2), a person whose license is revoked pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6) of that Article or Article 103, paragraph (1), (2), or (4), or a person who is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle for a period of over six months pursuant to Article 107-5, paragraph (1) or (2) or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 107-5, paragraph (9) (other than persons who have become subject to the measures in question on the grounds that they fall under Article 90, paragraph (1), item (i) through (iii) or item (vii), Article 103, paragraph (1), (i) through (iv), or Article 107-5, paragraph (1), item (i); referred to as a "person denied or stripped of driving privileges" in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (ii)) must have completed training as set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (ii) within the previous one year's time (this does not include training undergone before the person became subject to the measures in question) in order to take a driver's license test (other than one for a provisional license; the same applies in the following paragraph); provided, however, that this does not apply to a person who obtains a license (other than a provisional license) after becoming subject to the relevant measures.

(2)The preceding paragraph applies mutatis mutandis to a person who has not had a license revoked as under Article 90, paragraph (5) or (6) or Article 103, paragraph (1), (2) or (4) and has not been prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle for a period of over six months pursuant to Article 107-5, paragraph (1) or (2) or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 107-5, paragraph (9) (other than on the grounds that the person falls under one of Article 103, paragraph (1), items (i) through (iv) or Article 107-5, paragraph (1), item (i)) but who seeks to take a driver's license test because the person's license has ceased to be valid or because the person has ceased to hold an international driving permit or foreign driver's license (referred to as a "person who has lost driving privileges" in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (ii)). In such a case, in the preceding paragraph the phrase "training undergone before the person became subject to the measures in question" is deemed to be replaced with "training undergone before the license ceased to be valid or before the person ceased to hold an international driving permit or foreign driver's license" and the phrase "after becoming subject to the relevant measures" is deemed to be replaced with "after the license ceased to be valid or after the person ceased to hold an international driving permit or foreign driver's license".

Article 97(1)Driver's license tests are administered to test persons on the points set forth in the following items for each type of license (this means covering the points set forth in items (i) and (iii), in the case of a driver's license test for an SS-MVL or MBL, and the points set forth in items (i) and (ii), in the case of a driver's license test for a towing license):

(2)The part of a driver's license test for an S-MVL, SM-MVL, M-MVL, L-MVL, class 2 S-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, or class 2 L-MVL covering the point set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph is to be administered on the road; provided, however, that this does not apply to any portion of a driver's license test that Cabinet Office Order prescribes as likely to hinder road traffic.

(3)The part of the driver's license test covering the point set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii) is administered within the scope of the rules of the road prepared by the National Public Safety Commission pursuant to Article 108-28, paragraph (4).

(4)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding three paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the procedures for implementing driver's license tests, the way they are implemented, and other necessary particulars concerning them.

Article 97-2(1)A person as referred to in one of the following items is exempt from taking the part of the driver's license test that is prescribed in that item:

(2)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, if a person seeking a license holds a license to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle from an administrative agency or authorized organization in a country or region outside Japan, a public safety commission may exempt the person, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, from taking part of a driver's license test, after confirming that there is nothing to prevent that person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that the license the person is seeking would be for.

(3)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs, if a public safety commission, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, finds that there is nothing to prevent that person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, it may exempt the person from taking part of the driver's license test.

Article 97-3(1)If a person has taken or begun to take a driver's license test by wrongful means, a public safety commission may stop the driver's license test or reverse its decision that the person has passed.

(2)A public safety commission that reverses its decision that a person has passed a driver's license test pursuant to the preceding paragraph must immediately notify that person. In such a case, the license that the driver's license test was for ceases to be valid on the date on which the person receives the notice.

(3)A public safety commission may prohibit a person subject to the measures under paragraph (1) from taking driver's license tests for a period of one year or less that it fixes, based on the circumstances.

Article 98(1)A person operating or managing a driving school (meaning a facility that provides instruction on motor vehicle driving skills and knowledge to persons seeking licenses; the same applies hereinafter) must endeavor to maintain and improve the standards of motor vehicle driving instruction provided at the driving school.

(2)A person operating or managing a driving school may file the following information with the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the location of the driving school, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order:

(3)A public safety commission must give the necessary guidance or advice to a person operating or managing a driving school that has made a filing as under the preceding paragraph, in keeping with the style of instruction at the driving school, in order to ensure that motor vehicle driving instruction meets the proper standards.

(4)If it finds it to be necessary, a public safety commission that has given the guidance or advice referred to in the preceding paragraph may request that the Japan Safe Driving Center give the necessary consideration to training employees in charge of instruction in motor vehicle driving skills or knowledge at the driving school in connection with the guidance or advice, and to other measures for improving the quality of those employees.

(5)Pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, a public safety commission may ask a person operating or managing a driving school that has made a filing as under paragraph (2) to report as necessary or submit the necessary materials, but only so far as is necessary to give the guidance or advice referred to in paragraph (3).

Article 99(1)A public safety commission may designate, as a designated driving school, a driving school that has made a filing as under paragraph (2) of the preceding Article; that provides instruction in motor vehicle driving skills and knowledge to persons seeking certain types of licenses (limited to those that Cabinet Order prescribes); and that conforms to the following criteria for employees, installations, and the like with respect to instruction, at the application of the person operating or managing the driving school:

(2)A public safety commission must not grant a designation under the preceding paragraph to a driving school that has filed an application as referred to in that paragraph if it has had its designation revoked pursuant to Article 100 and it has been less than three years since the date of revocation.

Article 99-2(1)A person managing a designated driving school must appoint a skills evaluator to conduct skills evaluations.

(2)A person who has not been issued a skills evaluator certificate as referred to in paragraph (4) may not become a skills evaluator.

(3)To apply the Penal Code and other penal provisions, skills evaluators are deemed to be employees engaged in public service pursuant to laws and regulations.

(4)A public safety commission issues a skills evaluator certificate to a person falling under both of the following items:

(5)A public safety commission, pursuant to Rules of the National Public Safety Commissions, may order a person who has been issued a skills evaluator certificate as referred to in the preceding paragraph to return that certificate if it finds that one of the following items applies:

(6)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs, Rules of the National Public Safety Commission provide for the necessary particulars in connection with skills evaluator certificates as referred to in paragraph (4).

Article 99-3(1)The person managing a designated driving school must appoint an instructor to provide instruction in motor vehicle driving skills and knowledge.

(2)A person who has not been issued an instructor certificate as referred to in paragraph (4) may not become an instructor.

(3)A person managing a designated driving school must not allow a person other than an instructor to provide instruction in motor vehicle driving skills or knowledge.

(4)A public safety commission issues an instructor certificate to a person falling under both of the following items:

(5)The provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to instructor certificates. In such a case, the term "skills evaluator" in paragraph (5), item (iii) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "instructor".

Article 99-4If a person managing a designated driving school is notified by a public safety commission that it will conduct training as set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (ix) for the employees of the designated driving school, that person must have the employees undergo that training.

Article 99-5(1)A person managing a designated driving school must have a skills evaluator conduct a skills evaluation, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, for each type of license as prescribed in Article 99, paragraph (1) for persons who have completed instruction in motor vehicle driving skills and knowledge.

(2)A person managing a designated driving school must not allow a skills evaluator to administer a skills evaluation for a person who has not completed the instruction prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

(3)A person managing a designated driving school must not allow a person other than a skills evaluator to administer a skills evaluation.

(4)A skills evaluator must certify that a person who has passed a skills evaluation, has passed a skills evaluation.

(5)Once a skills evaluator has certified that a person has passed a skills evaluation as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the designated driving school may issue a certificate of graduation (meaning a certificate showing that the person has completed instruction at the designated driving school; the same applies hereinafter) or a certificate of completion (meaning a certificate showing that the person has achieved a level of skills and knowledge that would allow the person to drive with a provisional license, as a result of receiving instruction at a designated driving school; the same applies hereinafter) to that person in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes,, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order. In such a case, the certificate of graduation or completion must be accompanied by a certificate prepared by the skills evaluator showing that the person whose certificate of graduation or completion it is has passed a skills evaluation, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

Article 99-6(1)A public safety commission may ask a person operating or managing a designated driving school to report or submit materials on the business activities of the designated driving school or have a police official enter the designated driving school to inspect documents and other items or to question relevant persons, but only so far as is necessary to enforce this Section.

(2)Police officials conducting on-site inspections pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry identification and present it at the request of a relevant person.

(3)The authority for an on-site inspection under paragraph (1) must not be construed as authorizing a criminal investigation.

Article 99-7(1)If a public safety commission finds that a designated driving school no longer conforms to any of the criteria set forth in the items of Article 99, paragraph (1), it may order the person operating or managing the designated driving school to take the necessary measures to ensure that it conforms to that criteria.

(2)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission may issue orders that are necessary, from a supervisory perspective, with regard to the business activities of a designated driving school, to the person operating or managing the designated driving school, but only so far as is necessary to enforce this Section.

Article 100(1)If a person managing a designated driving school violates Article 99-3, paragraph (3), Article 99-4, or Article 99-5, paragraph (2) or (3); if a designated driving school issues a certificate of graduation or completion in violation of Article 99-5, paragraph (5); or if a person operating or managing a designated driving school violates an order under the preceding Article, the public safety commission may revoke the designation of the designated driving school, or may prohibit it from issuing certificates of graduation or completion based on the instruction it provides for a period of up to six months that it fixes.

(2)If a designated driving school subject to measures that prohibit it from issuing certificates of graduation or completion pursuant to the preceding paragraph issues a certificate of graduation or completion in violation of those measures, the public safety commission may revoke its designation or may extend the period during which it is prohibited from issuing certificates of graduation or completion by up to six months.

Article 100-2(1)A person holding an S-MVL, SM-MVL, S-ML, L-ML, or MBL who, during the period (not counting any period during which the person's license is suspended) running from the date on which the person is licensed until the date that marks the passage of one year, in total, that the person has been licensed (hereinafter referred to as the "period during which the person is a novice driver"), engages in conduct that violates this Act, an order under this Act, or a measure under this Act when driving a vehicle that the person is licensed to drive with that license, and the violation falls under the criteria that Cabinet Order prescribes with respect to the person's license (hereinafter such a person is referred to as "target novice driver"), a public safety commission is to administer testing to check whether the target novice driver has the ability to safely drive vehicles the person is licensed to drive with that license (hereinafter referred to as "retesting"); provided, however, that this does not apply to the following persons:

(2)Once the period during which a target novice driver is a novice driver driving under the license in question has passed, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the driver's domicile at the end of that period retests the driver for the necessary skills and knowledge (limited to the necessary knowledge, if it is an MBL) to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, for each type of license.

(3)Article 97, paragraphs (2) through (4) apply mutatis mutandis to retesting administered by public safety commissions.

(4)Before administering retesting pursuant to paragraph (1), a public safety commission must notify the target novice driver in writing that it will administer the retesting, giving the reasons for the retesting and other necessary information, promptly after the end of the period during which the person is a novice driver driving under the license in question, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(5)Having been notified of retesting by a public safety commission (meaning having been notified as under the preceding paragraph; the same applies hereinafter), a target novice driver must submit the written application for retesting that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to the public safety commission and undergo retesting by the time that it has been a total of one month since the day following the date on which the person is so notified (other than any period during which the person has a compelling circumstance that Cabinet Order prescribes for not undergoing the retesting). Article 92-2, paragraph (4) applies mutatis mutandis in such a case.

Article 100-3(1)If a public safety commission seeks to administer retesting but the target novice driver has changed addresses and resides within the jurisdictional district of a different public safety commission, it must promptly send a testing transfer notice as Cabinet Office Order prescribes to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the target novice driver's new domicile.

(2)A public safety commission that has been sent a testing transfer notice as referred to in the preceding paragraph is to retest the target novice driver subject to the testing transfer notice. This being the case, a public safety commission sending a testing transfer notice as referred to in the preceding paragraph may not retest the target novice driver.

(3)The provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article and paragraph (1) of this Article apply mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission administers retesting pursuant to the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the phrase "after the end of the period during which the person is a novice driver driving under the license in question" in paragraph (4) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "after having been sent a testing transfer notice".

(4)If a public safety commission seeks to implement retesting pursuant to paragraph (2) and the public safety commission sending the testing transfer notice under paragraph (1) has notified the target novice driver subject to the testing transfer notice of the retesting, the public safety commission seeking to implement the retesting pursuant to paragraph (2) is deemed to have notified the driver of the retesting.

Article 101(1)A person seeking to renew a license (hereinafter referred to as a "license renewal") must submit a written application for renewal in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes (if a person is issued a questionnaire under paragraph (4), that person must submit the written application for renewal and the questionnaire filled out with the necessary information; the same applies in paragraph (5) and Article 101-2-2, paragraphs (1) through (3)) to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile, during the period that runs from one month before the person's most recent birthday prior to the last day of the license's validity up until the last day of the license's validity (hereinafter referred to as the "renewal period").

(2)To apply the preceding paragraph if the birthday of a person seeking license renewal pursuant to that paragraph falls on February 29, in non-leap years, the person's birthday is deemed to fall on February 28.

(3)A public safety commission is to send a person currently holding a license a document specifying the renewal period and other necessary information to ensure the smooth implementation of administrative functions connected with applications for license renewals (if the person falls within the definition of a driver with an exemplary record (other than a person that Cabinet Office Order prescribes whose license is subject to a condition that has been attached pursuant to Article 91, or a person considered a driver with an exemplary record based on the application of Note (iv) of the Table following Article 92-2, paragraph (1)) as of the renewal date, an indication of this is to be included).

(4)A public safety commission as prescribed in paragraph (1) (or an intermediate public safety commission as prescribed in Article 101-2-2, paragraph (1), if an application for renewal under paragraph (1) is made through an intermediate public safety commission) may issue a questionnaire in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to a person submitting an application for renewal pursuant to paragraph (1), in order to ask the necessary questions to determine whether the person falls under any of the categories set forth in Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (i)-2 or (iii).

(5)Upon receiving a written application for renewal pursuant to paragraph (1), a public safety commission must promptly administer the necessary fitness screening as regards the applicant's driving of motor vehicles or motorized bicycles (hereinafter referred to as "fitness screening").

(6)If a public safety commission finds that there is nothing to prevent a person seeking to renew a license from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, judging from the results of fitness screening as under the preceding paragraph or the contents of a document as prescribed in Article 101-2-2, paragraph (3) (or, if fitness screening is administered pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article, the contents of the document and the results of the fitness screening), the public safety commission must renew the license.

(7)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the necessary particulars concerning applying for license renewal and fitness screening.

Article 101-2(1)A person who is expected to have difficulty undergoing fitness screening within the renewal period due to overseas travel or any other compelling circumstance that Cabinet Order prescribes may apply to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile thereof for a license renewal before the beginning of the renewal period. In such a case, the person must submit a written application for renewal based on special rules in a format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes (if a person is issued a questionnaire under the following paragraph, that person must submit the written application for renewal based on special rules and the questionnaire filled out with the necessary information) to the public safety commission.

(2)A public safety commission as prescribed in the preceding paragraph may issue a questionnaire in the form that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to a person submitting a written application for renewal based on special rules pursuant to the second sentence of that paragraph, in order to ask the necessary questions to determine whether the person falls under any of the categories set forth in Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (i)-2 or (iii).

(3)When an application under paragraph (1) has been filed, the public safety commission must promptly administer a fitness screening for the applicant.

(4)On finding that there is nothing to prevent a person seeking to renew a license from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, judging from the results of a fitness screening under the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must promptly renew the license.

(5)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the necessary particulars concerning applying for license renewal and fitness screenings before the beginning of the renewal period.

Article 101-2-2(1)A person seeking license renewal who qualifies as a driver with an exemplary record as of the renewal date (but only one who has been sent a document indicating that person to qualify as a driver with an exemplary record as of the renewal date pursuant to Article 101, paragraph (3)) may submit a written application for renewal pursuant to paragraph (1) of that Article through a public safety commission other than the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile thereof (hereinafter referred to in this Article and the following Article as an "intermediate public safety commission") if that person applies for a license renewal by the most recent birthday of that person before the expiration date of the license.

(2)An intermediate public safety commission accepts a written application for renewal pursuant to the preceding paragraph must promptly administer fitness screening for the applicant.

(3)An intermediate public safety commission must send the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile of the applicant a document giving the results of the fitness screening under the preceding paragraph, together with the written application for renewal it accepted pursuant to paragraph (1). In such a case, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile of the applicant is not to conduct the fitness screening under paragraph (5) of Article 101.

(4)If a person seeking to renew a license has undergone training as set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xi) that is implemented by an intermediate public safety commission pursuant to paragraph (1) of the following Article, the intermediate public safety commission is to notify the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile of this.

(5)If a public safety commission cannot determine solely from the contents of a document it has been sent pursuant to paragraph (3) whether there is anything to prevent a person seeking to renew a license from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, it is to administer fitness screening for that person. In such a case, the public safety commission must notify the person of the necessity to undergo fitness screening.

Article 101-3(1)A person seeking a license renewal must undergo the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xi) that is implemented by the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile (or by the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile or an intermediate public safety commission, in a case as referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article; the same applies in paragraph (1) and (2) of the following Article); provided, however, that this does not apply to a person who has undergone the training set forth in Article 101-2, paragraph (1), item (xii) within six months before the final day in the renewal period (or by the application date, for a person seeking to apply for license renewal as under Article 101-2, paragraph (1); the same applies in paragraphs (1) and (2) of the following Article and Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xii)), nor does it apply to any other person that Cabinet Order prescribes as not needing to undergo the training set forth in item (xi) of that paragraph.

(2)Notwithstanding Article 101, paragraph (6) or Article 101-2, paragraph (4), if a person (other than one that Cabinet Order prescribes as referred to in the proviso to the preceding paragraph) whom a public safety commission finds there to be nothing to prevent from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle based on the results of a fitness screening under Article 101, paragraph (5) or Article 101-2, paragraph (3), or based on the contents of a document as prescribed in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article (or, if fitness screening is administered pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article, the contents of the document and the results of the fitness screening) does not undergo the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xi), the public safety commission may refuse to renew the license.

Article 101-4(1)A person seeking a license renewal who will be 70 years of age or older as of final day of the renewal period must undergo the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xii) that is implemented by the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile, within six months before the final day of the renewal period; provided, however, that this does not apply to a person that Cabinet Order prescribes as not needing that training.

(2)Other than when as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, a person seeking a license renewal who is 75 years of age or older as of the final day of the renewal period must undergo a cognitive assessment administered by the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile within six months before the final day in the renewal period. In such a case, the public safety commission must implement the training referred to in that paragraph for that person based on the results of the cognitive assessment.

(3)A public safety commission must send a person as set forth in one of the following items a document giving the information referred to in the relevant item:

Article 101-5Pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, a public safety commission may ask a licensee to report as needed, upon finding this to be necessary in order to investigate whether the licensee falls under one of the categories set forth in Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (i)-2 or (iii) .

Article 101-6(1)If a medical doctor finds that a person whom the doctor has examined falls under one of the categories set forth in Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (i)-2 or (iii) and learns that the person has a license or holds an international driving permit or foreign driver's license as referred to in Article 107-2 (this excludes a person whose period of stay counting from the date of landing in Japan (meaning landing as prescribed in Article 107-2) is over one year in total), the doctor may report the results of the person's examination to a public safety commission.

(2)In a case as provided in the preceding paragraph, if the medical doctor asks a public safety commission to confirm whether a person examined thereby has a license, the public safety commission must respond to the inquiry.

(3)The provisions of the Penal Code dealing with criminal breach of confidence and other legal provisions on the duty of confidentiality must not be construed as preventing a person from submitting a report under paragraph (1).

(4)Having received a report under paragraph (1) regarding a person living outside the boundaries of the prefecture over which it has jurisdiction, a public safety commission must report the content of that report to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile of the person.

Article 101-7(1)If a person 75 years of age or older (but only one who currently has a license) engages in conduct involving the driving of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that Cabinet Order prescribes as readily occurring when cognitive function has declined, and in doing so violates this Act, an order under this Act, or a measure under this Act, unless that person underwent a cognitive assessment pursuant to Article 97-2, paragraph (1), item (iii) or (v), Article 101-4, paragraph (2), or paragraph (3) of this Act within the three months before the day on which the person engaged in that conduct, or unless it is a case that Cabinet Office Order prescribes as one in which the person need not undergo a special cognitive assessment, the public safety commission must specially administer a cognitive assessment for the person.

(2)When seeking to administer a cognitive assessment pursuant to the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must notify the person subject to the cognitive assessment in writing that it will administer a cognitive assessment, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(3)A person notified as under the preceding paragraph must undergo a cognitive assessment by the time that it has been a total of one month since the day following the date on which the person is so notified (other than any period during which the person has a compelling circumstance that Cabinet Order prescribes for not undergoing the assessment).

(4)If a person undergoing a cognitive assessment pursuant to the preceding paragraph meets the criteria that Cabinet Office Order prescribes, in view of the results of the assessment that the person has undergone, the results of the most recent cognitive assessment that the person underwent before the date of the cognitive assessment in question, and other circumstances, as a person whose decline in cognitive function could affect the person's driving of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, the person must undergo the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xii) based on the results of a cognitive assessment that the person undergoes pursuant to that paragraph.

(5)When seeking to administer training as set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xii) pursuant to the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must notify the person subject to the training in writing that it will administer that training, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(6)A person notified as under the preceding paragraph must undergo the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xii) by the time that it has been a total of one month since the day following the date on which the person is so notified (other than any period during which the person has a compelling circumstance that Cabinet Order prescribes for not undergoing the training).

Article 102(1)If a person undergoing a cognitive assessment pursuant to Article 97-2, paragraph (1), item (iii) or (v) who meets the criteria that Cabinet Office Order prescribes as one whose cognitive assessment results show signs of what could be dementia (hereinafter referred to as a "target person" in this Article), submits a written application for a license as referred to in Article 89, paragraph (1), unless the person comes to fall under one of the following items after undergoing the cognitive assessment, the public safety commission must either conduct a special fitness screening to determine whether Article 90, paragraph (1), item (i)-2 applies to the person or order the person to submit a medical certificate satisfying the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes by the deadline that it specifies:

(2)If a person undergoing a cognitive assessment pursuant to Article 101-4, paragraph (2) is found to be a target person, unless that person falls under one of the following items, the public safety commission is to either conduct a provisional fitness screening to assess whether the person has come to fall under Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i)-2 or order the person to submit a medical certificate satisfying the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes by the deadline that it specifies:

(3)If a person undergoing a cognitive assessment pursuant to paragraph (3) of the preceding Article is found to be a target person, unless the person comes to fall under one of the items of paragraph (1) after undergoing the cognitive assessment, the public safety commission is to either conduct a provisional fitness screening to assess whether the person falls under Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i)-2 or order the person to submit a medical certificate satisfying the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes by the deadline that it specifies.

(4)Beyond as prescribed in the preceding three paragraphs, a public safety commission may specially administer a fitness screening for a person who has passed a driver's license test if that person is as referred to in Article 90, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii); or for a licensee if there is reason to suspect that the licensee has come to fall under Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (ii), or (iii). In such a case, the public safety commission must take into consideration the information contained in the questionnaire submitted pursuant to Article 89, paragraph (1), Article 101, paragraph (1), or Article 101-2, paragraph (1), the content of the report under Article 101-5, and other circumstances.

(5)Beyond as prescribed in paragraph (1) through the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission may specially administer a fitness screening for a licensee pursuant to Cabinet Order, if it finds this to be necessary in order to prevent road hazards or otherwise ensure the safety and fluidity of traffic.

(6)Before administering a fitness screening pursuant to paragraph (1) through the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must first notify the person who will undergo that screening of the date and place and other necessary particulars of the screening.

(7)A person who has been notified pursuant to the preceding paragraph must appear at the place and on the date of which the person has been notified and undergo a fitness screening; provided, however, that this does not apply if a person who has been notified of a fitness screening under paragraph (4) submits a medical certificate that meets the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes by the date of which the person has been notified.

(8)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the necessary particulars concerning fitness screenings under paragraphs (1) through (5).

Article 102-2A licensee who has engaged in conduct involving the driving of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that meets the criteria that Cabinet Order prescribes, and in doing so violates this Act, an order under this Act, or a measure under this Act (limited to minor violations that Cabinet Order prescribes; hereinafter referred to as a "minor violation"), and who has been notified as under Article 108-3-2, must undergo the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (xiii) by the time that it has been a total of one month since the day following the date on which the person is so notified (other than any period during which the person has a compelling circumstance that Cabinet Order prescribes for not undergoing the training).

Article 103(1)If a person holding a license (other than a provisional license; the same applies hereinafter until Article 106) comes to fall under one of the following items, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile at the time that the person comes to fall under that item may revoke the person's license or suspend it for a period of up to six months that it fixes, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes; provided, however, that if the preceding Article applies to a person falling under item (v), the relevant measures may not be taken unless the period referred to in that Article passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article:

(2)If a licensee comes to fall under one of the following items, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the licensee's domicile at the time the licensee comes to fall under that item may revoke the license:

(3)If a public safety commission seeks to revoke a license or suspend it for 90 days or more pursuant to paragraph (1) (or for a period of up to 90 days that the public safety commission fixes, if any) or to revoke a license pursuant to the preceding paragraph, but the person subject to those measures has changed addresses and resides in the jurisdictional district of a different public safety commission, it must promptly send a transfer of measures notice as Cabinet Office Order prescribes to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's new domicile, unless a hearing of opinions as referred to in Article 104, paragraph (1) or a hearing regarding those measures has been completed for the matter at issue.

(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and paragraph (2), once a transfer of measures notice as referred to in the preceding paragraph is sent to the relevant public safety commission, that commission may either revoke the person's license or suspend it for a period of up to six months that it fixes if the person falls under one of the items of paragraph (1) (if the person falls under item (v) of that paragraph and the preceding Article applies, such measures may only be taken if the period referred to in that Article passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article), in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in that paragraph, or may revoke person's license if the person falls under one of the items of paragraph (2); but the public safety commission sending the transfer of measures notice may neither revoke nor suspend the person's license in connection with the matter at issue.

(5)Paragraph (3) applies mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to revoke or suspend a license pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

(6)On finding it to be necessary to do so when suspending a license pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) on the grounds that the licensee falls under one of items (i) through (iv) of paragraph (1), a public safety commission may order the licensee to undergo fitness screening on a date and at a place it designates or to submit a medical certificate that meets the requirements that Cabinet Office Order prescribes by the deadline that it specifies.

(7)If a public safety commission revokes a license pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) on the grounds that the licensee falls under one of the items of paragraph (1) (other than item (iv)), it is to designate a period of one to five years, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, during which the licensee subject to that measure may not obtain a license.

(8)If a public safety commission revokes a license pursuant to paragraph (2) or (4) on the grounds that the licensee falls under one of the items of paragraph (2), it is to designate a period of three to 10 years, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, during which the licensee subject to that measure may not obtain a license.

(9)If, at the time a person's license is revoked or suspended pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (4), the person's address is within the jurisdictional district of a public safety commission other than the one taking the measures in question, the public safety commission taking the measures must promptly notify the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile that it has done so.

(10)If a person whose license is suspended pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) (other than on the grounds that the person falls under one of paragraph (1), items (i) through (iv)) completes the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (iii), the public safety commission may shorten the period of the license suspension, to the extent that Cabinet Order prescribes.

Article 103-2(1)If a licensee comes to fall under one of the following items when driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, the competent police station chief for the place where the licensee caused the traffic accident in question may suspend the licensee's license for up to 30 days, starting from the date of the traffic accident (hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "provisional suspension"):

(2)Having provisionally suspended a person's license, the chief of a police station must provide the person subject to that measure with an opportunity for explanation within five days, counting from the date on which the measure was taken.

(3)A person who is under a provisional suspension must turn over the license to the chief of the police station who has taken that measure.

(4)The chief of a police station who has provisionally suspended a person's license must promptly send a provisional suspension notice as Cabinet Office Order prescribes and the license submitted pursuant to the preceding paragraph to the public safety commission that had jurisdiction over the domicile of the person subject to those measures at the time that the person came to fall under the relevant item of paragraph (1).

(5)A public safety commission that has been sent a provisional suspension notice and license as referred to in the preceding paragraph must also send the provisional suspension notice and license that it has been sent if it sends a transfer of measures notice pursuant to paragraph (3) of the preceding Article (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article) in connection with the matter at issue.

(6)A provisional suspension ceases to be in effect if the public safety commission that has been sent the provisional suspension notice and license pursuant to paragraph (4) or the preceding paragraph takes the measures under paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of the preceding Article in connection with the matter at issue during the term of the provisional suspension.

(7)If the license of a person under a provisional suspension is suspended pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) of the preceding Article in connection with the matter at issue, the period during which the license was provisionally suspended is counted as part of the total period during which the license is suspended.

Article 104(1)A public safety commission must hold an opinions hearing of opinions before revoking a license or suspending it for 90 days or more (or for a period of up to 90 days that the public safety commission fixes, if any; the same applies in paragraph (1) of the following Article) pursuant to Article 103, paragraph (1), item (v); before revoking a license pursuant to Article 103, paragraph (2), items (i) through (iv); or if it has been sent a transfer of measures notice (but only in connection with what is provided in paragraph (1), item (v) or paragraph (2), item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of that Article) as referred to in paragraph (3) of that Article (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article). In such a case, at least one week before the date of the hearing of opinions, the public safety commission must notify the person who would be subject to those measures of the grounds for taking them and of the date and place for the hearing, as well as issuing public notice of that date and place.

(2)In a hearing of opinions, the person who would be subject to the measures in question or that person's agent may state an opinion on the matter at issue and submit evidence in the person's favor.

(3)On finding it to be necessary to do so when holding a hearing of opinions, a public safety commission may request the appearance of witnesses who have expert knowledge about road traffic or persons connected with the matter at issue to hear their opinions or circumstances.

(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the person who would be subject to the measures in question or that person's agent fails to appear at a hearing of opinions without a legitimate reason, or if the person who would be subject to those measures cannot be notified as referred to in that paragraph because the person's whereabouts are unknown and remain unknown even after 30 days have passed following the date on which the public notice under the second sentence of that paragraph is issued, the public safety commission may revoke or suspend the person's license (but only in connection with what is provided in Article 103, paragraph (1), item (v)) as under paragraph (1) or (4) of that Article or revoke the person's license (but only in connection with what is provided in paragraph (2), item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of that Article) as under paragraph (2) or (4) of that Article, without holding a hearing of opinions.

(5)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraphs, Cabinet Order provides for the necessary particulars regarding the implementation of hearings of opinion.

Article 104-2(1)Irrespective of the category of proceedings for hearing statements of opinion under Article 13, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act, a public safety commission seeking to suspend a license for 90 days or more pursuant to Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4) (other than in connection with what is provided in paragraph (1), item (v) of that Article) must hold a hearing.

(2)To hold a hearing as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a hearing on the revocation of a license under Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4) (but only in connection with what is provided in the items of paragraph (1) of that Article (other than item (v))), or a hearing on the revocation of a license under paragraph (2) or (4) of that Article (but only in connection with what is provided in paragraph (2), item (v) of that Article), a public safety commission must notify the relevant person as referred to in Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act and issue public notice of the date and place of the hearing, at least one week prior to the date of the hearing.

(3)If a person is notified as referred to in the preceding paragraph in the way that Article 15, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act prescribes, the reasonable period of time that is to be set aside before the hearing date pursuant to paragraph (1) of that Article must not be less than two weeks.

(4)The proceedings on the hearing date referred to in paragraph (2) must be open to the public.

(5)On finding it to be necessary to do so on the date of a hearing as referred to in paragraph (2), the person presiding over the hearing may request the appearance of witnesses with expert knowledge about road traffic or persons connected with the matter at issue to hear their opinions or circumstances.

Article 104-2-2(1)A public safety commission administering retesting must revoke the license of the person undergoing retesting if it finds that the person does not currently have the level of ability necessary to safely drive the vehicles that the person is licensed to drive with the license in question.

(2)If a person notified of retesting violates Article 100-2, paragraph (5) in failing to undergo retesting, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over that person's domicile must revoke that person's license.

(3)If a public safety commission seeks to revoke a license pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph but the person subject to that measure has changed addresses and resides in the jurisdictional district of a different public safety commission, it must promptly send a transfer of measures notice as prescribed by Cabinet Office Order to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's new domicile, unless a hearing of opinions regarding that measure as referred to in Article 104 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (6) has been completed.

(4)A public safety commission that has been sent a transfer of measures notice as referred to in the preceding paragraph must revoke a person's license if it finds the person to be in violation of Article 100-2, paragraph (5) in failing to undergo retesting. Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the public safety commission sending the transfer of measures notice may not revoke the person's license in such a case.

(5)The provisions of paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to revoke a license pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

(6)Article 104 (excluding paragraph (3)) applies mutatis mutandis when a license is revoked pursuant to paragraph (2) or (4).

(7)If, at the time a person's license is revoked pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (4), the person's address is within the jurisdictional district of a public safety commission other than the one taking those measures, the public safety commission taking the measures must promptly notify the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile that it has done so.

Article 104-2-3(1)If a public safety commission conducts a fitness screening pursuant to Article 102, paragraph (1) through (4) or issues an order under paragraph (1) through (3) of that Article and the person required to undergo the fitness screening (limited to a person holding a license) or the person who it has been decided is required to submit a medical certificate as per that order (limited to a person holding a license) causes a traffic accident when driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, and, in view of the circumstances of the accident, the person is suspected to fall under one of Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (i)-2, or (iii) or in a situation that Cabinet Order prescribes as equivalent to this, the public safety commission may suspend the person's license for a period of up to three months that it fixes. In such a case, that measure must be lifted promptly if it becomes clear that the person subject to it does not fall under any of the aforementioned provisions.

(2)Having suspended a person's license pursuant to the first sentence of preceding paragraph, a public safety commission must provide the person subject to that measure with an opportunity for explanation within five days, counting from the date on which the measure was taken.

(3)On finding a person who has been notified as under Article 101-7, paragraph (2) (limited to a person holding a license) to be in violation of paragraph (3) of that Article in failing to undergo the cognitive assessment of which the person has been notified; on finding a person who has been notified as under paragraph (5) of that Article (limited to a person holding a license) to be in violation of paragraph (6) of that Article in failing to undergo the training of which the person has been notified; on finding a person subject to an order under Article 102, paragraph (1) through (3) to have violated that order (or on finding a person whose license has been suspended as under the first sentence of paragraph (1) to have failed to comply with that order by the end of the period of suspension); or in finding a person who has been notified as under paragraph (6) of that Article (limited to a person holding a license) to be in violation of paragraph (7) of that Article in failing to undergo the fitness screening of which the person has been notified (or on finding a person whose license has been suspended as under the first sentence of paragraph (1) not to have undergone the fitness screening by the end of the period of suspension), the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile as of the day that marks the completion of the period of one month in total provided for in Article 101-7, paragraph (3) or (6), as of the day that marks the deadline provided for in Article 102, paragraph (1) through (3), or as of the date of which the person has been notified as referred to in paragraph (7) of that Article may either revoke the person's license or suspend it for a period of up to six months that it fixes, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes; provided, however, that this does not apply if there are compelling circumstances for the person's failure to undergo the cognitive assessment, undergo the training, comply with the order, or undergo the fitness screening.

(4)The suspension of a license under the preceding paragraph ceases to be in effect if the person undergoes the referenced cognitive assessment, undergoes the referenced training, complies with the referenced order, or undergoes the referenced fitness screening.

(5)Article 103, paragraphs (3), (4), and (9) apply mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to revoke a license or suspend it for 90 days or more (or for a period of up to 90 days that the public safety commission fixes, if any; the same applies in paragraph (7)) pursuant to paragraph (3). In such a case, the phrase "unless a hearing of opinions as referred to in Article 104, paragraph (1) or a hearing" in Article 103, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "unless a hearing"; the phrase "if the person falls under one of the items of paragraph (1) (if the person falls under item (v) of that paragraph and the preceding Article applies, such measures may only be taken if the period referred to in that Article passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article), in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in that paragraph" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "on finding the person to be in violation of Article 101-7, paragraph (3) in failing to undergo the cognitive assessment of which the person has been notified; on finding the person to be in violation of paragraph (6) of that Article in failing to undergo the training of which the person has been notified; on finding the person to have violated an order under Article 102, paragraph (1) through (3); or on finding the person to be in violation of paragraph (7) of that Article in failing to undergo the fitness screening of which the person has been notified, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in Article 104-2-3, paragraph (3)"; the phrase ", or may revoke person's license if the person falls under one of the items of paragraph (2)" in that paragraph is deemed to be deleted; the phrase "Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and paragraph (2)" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Notwithstanding paragraph (1)"; and the phrase "pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (4)" in paragraph (9) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "pursuant to Article 104-2-3, paragraph (3) or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 104-2-3, paragraph (5)".

(6)Paragraph (4) applies mutatis mutandis if a license is suspended pursuant to Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

(7)Article 104-2 (other than paragraph (5)) applies mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to revoke a license or suspend it for 90 days or more pursuant to paragraph (3) or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5).

(8)Article 103, paragraph (3) applies mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to revoke or suspend a license pursuant to paragraph (4) of that Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5). In such a case, the phrase "unless a hearing of opinions as referred to in Article 104, paragraph (1) or a hearing" in paragraph (3) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "unless a hearing".

Article 104-3(1)Pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, the revocation or suspension of a license under Article 103, paragraph (1), (2), or (4), Article 104-2-2, paragraph (1), (2), or (4), paragraph (1) or (3) of the preceding Article, or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of the preceding Article is to be carried out through the issuance of a document giving the details of and reasons for the revocation or suspension to the person subject to the revocation or suspension.

(2)If a public safety commission has been unable to issue a document as under the preceding paragraph because the person's whereabouts are unknown or for any other reason, and a police officer learns the whereabouts of the person, the police officer may order the person to appear so as to be issued the document, specifying a date, time, and place for the person to appear, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(3)A police officer issuing a person an order under the preceding paragraph may demand, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, that the person submit the revoked or suspended license subject to the order, and then store it as the custodian thereof. When doing so, the police officer must issue the person a deposit certificate.

(4)Pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, a police officer who has issued a person an order under paragraph (2) must promptly provide notify the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile (or to both the public safety commission revoking or suspending the person's license as prescribed in paragraph (1) and the public safety commission with jurisdiction over that person's domicile, if applicable) of the name and address of the person subject to the order, the date, time, and place that the officer has ordered the person to appear, and other necessary information. If acting as custodian of a license pursuant to the preceding paragraph in such a case, the police officer must send the license to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile.

(5)A public safety commission that has been sent a license as under the preceding paragraph must immediately return it if requested by the person submitting it pursuant to paragraph (3) once the period of suspension expires.

(6)To apply Article 95, the deposit certificate referred to in paragraph (3) is deemed to be a license.

(7)A deposit certificate as referred to in paragraph (3) is valid from the time of its issuance until the date and time specified to its recipient pursuant to paragraph (2) (or until the person's appearance at the designated place before that date and time pursuant to that paragraph, if applicable).

(8)A person who has been issued a deposit certificate pursuant to paragraph (3) must immediately return it to a police officer at the expiration of the valid period.

(9)Cabinet Office Order provides for the information that is specified on a deposit certificate as referred to in paragraph (3) and other necessary particulars regarding deposit certificates as referred to in that paragraph.

Article 104-4(1)A licensee may apply to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile thereof for the revocation of a license. Notwithstanding Article 89, paragraph (1) and Article 90-2, paragraph (1), in such a case, the licensee may also request to be issued another type of license when the license subject to the application is revoked (but only the type of license that Cabinet Order prescribes for each type of license revoked).

(2)A public safety commission to which a person has applied under the preceding paragraph must revoke the license subject to the application, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(3)A public safety commission revoking a license pursuant to the preceding paragraph may grant the license that a person has requested as referred to in paragraph (1) to the person making that request once the person returns the revoked license to it as under Article 107, paragraph (1), item (i).

(4)A person is deemed to have been issued a license that is granted pursuant to the preceding paragraph on the date that the person was issued the license that was revoked pursuant to paragraph (2).

(5)A person who has had a license revoked pursuant to paragraph (2) (other than a person issued a license pursuant to paragraph (3)) may apply to the public safety commission that revoked the license to be issued a document showing the person's motor vehicle or motorized bicycle driving record for the five years before the date of revocation and whether the person was categorized as a driver with an exemplary record, a driver with a satisfactory record, or a driver with a violation or a short record as prescribed in the left-hand column of the Table following Article 92-2, paragraph (1) (referred to as a "driving record certificate" in the following paragraph).

(6)A public safety commission to which a person has applied under the preceding paragraph must issue a driving record certificate pursuant to Cabinet Order. This being the case, driving record certificates must not be confusingly similar in appearance to licenses.

(7)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the necessary particulars regarding the revocation of licenses under paragraph (2).

Article 105A license ceases to be valid if the licensee fails to renew it.

Article 106A public safety commission must report the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to the National Public Safety Commission on granting a license pursuant to the main clause of Article 90, paragraph (1) or Article 104-4, paragraph (3); on attaching or changing a condition attached to a license pursuant to Article 91; on receiving a filing as under Article 94, paragraph (1); on reissuing a license under paragraph (2) of that Article; on renewing a license pursuant to Article 101, paragraph (6) or Article 101-2, paragraph (4); on notifying a person as under Article 102, paragraph (6); on taking a measure under the proviso to paragraph (1), Article 90, paragraph (2), (5), (6), (9), (10), or (12), Article 97-3, paragraph (3), Article 103, paragraph (1), (2), (4), (7), (8), or (10), Article 104-2-2, paragraph (1), (2), or (4), Article 104-2-3, paragraph (1) or (3), Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article, paragraph (3), or Article 104-4, paragraph (2); or on issuing an order under Article 90, paragraph (8) or Article 102 paragraph (1) through paragraph (3) or Article 103, paragraph (6); as well as when the chief of the police station takes a measure under Article 103-2, paragraph (1); when the driver of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle engages in conduct involving the driving of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that violates this Act, an order under this Act, or a measure under this Act (but only in a case that Cabinet Office Order prescribes), aids or abets a material violation, or causes an off-road death or injury (but only in a case that Cabinet Office Order prescribes); when a driver undergoes a cognitive assessment; when a driver is retested as under Article 100-2, paragraph (1); when a driver undergoes the training set forth in Article 108-2, paragraph (1), item (ii), (x) or (xiii); or when any other event that Cabinet Office Order prescribes occurs in connection with the driver of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle which involves the driving of a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle. This having been done, the National Public Safety Commission must notify each public safety commission of the information reported to it in order to ensure propriety in their licensing-related functions.

Article 106-2(1)If a person holding a provisional license comes to fall under one of the items of Article 103, paragraph (1) (other than items (iv) and (viii)) or one of the items of paragraph (2), the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile at the time that the person comes to fall under the item in question may revoke the provisional license, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes.

(2)On finding a person who has been notified as under Article 101-7, paragraph (2) (limited to a person holding a provisional license) to be in violation of paragraph (3) of that Article in failing to undergo the cognitive assessment of which the person has been notified; on finding a person who has been notified as under paragraph (5) of that Article (limited to a person holding a provisional license) to be in violation of paragraph (6) of that Article in failing to undergo the training of which the person has been notified; on finding a person subject to an order under Article 102, paragraph (1) through (3) (limited to a person holding a provisional license) to have violated the order; or on finding a person who has been notified as under paragraph (6) of that Article (limited to a person holding a provisional license) to be in violation of paragraph (7) of that Article in failing to undergo the fitness screening of which the person has been notified, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile as of the day that marks the completion of the period of one month in total provided for in Article 101-7, paragraph (3) or (6), as of the day that marks the deadline provided for in Article 102, paragraph (1) through (3), or as of the date of which the person has been notified as referred to in paragraph (7) of that Article may revoke the person's provisional license, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes; provided, however, that this does not apply if there are compelling circumstances for the person's failure to undergo the cognitive assessment, undergo the training, comply with the order, or undergo the fitness screening.

Article 107(1)Having come to fall under one of the following items, a licensee must promptly return the license thereof (or the license found or recovered, in a case as under item (iii)) to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the licensee's domicile:

(2)If a person whose licensing is revoked pursuant to Article 104-2-2, paragraph (1), (2), or (4) or Article 104-4, paragraph (2) holds any other type of licensing, and that person returns a license pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the public safety commission must issue that person a license for the other type of licensing.

(3)A licensee must promptly submit the license thereof to the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the domicile thereof if that license is suspended pursuant to Article 90, paragraph (5), Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4), Article 104-2-3, paragraph (1) or (3), or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article.

(4)A public safety commission to which a license is submitted pursuant to the preceding paragraph or sent pursuant to Article 103-2, paragraph (4) or (5) must immediately return it at the request of the person submitting it, once the period of suspension expires or upon cancellation of the suspension.

Article 107-2Notwithstanding Article 64, paragraph (1), a person holding a driving permit as referred to in Article 24, paragraph (1) of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (hereinafter referred to as the "the Convention") (other than a F Driving Permit as referred to in Article 107-7, paragraph (1)) in the format established by Annex 9 or 10 of the Convention (hereinafter referred to in this Article as an "International Driving Permit"), or holding a driver's license from an administrative agency or competent authority in a country or region other than Japan (but only a country or region not issuing International Driving Permits, which Cabinet Order prescribes as one with a system of driver licensing that is found to have equivalent standards to that of Japan in terms of preventing road hazards and otherwise ensuring the safety and fluidity of traffic) which licenses a person (other than a person falling under Article 88, paragraph (1), item (ii) through (iv)) to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle (this is limited to a driver's license that is accompanied by a Japanese translation prepared by a person that Cabinet Order prescribes; hereinafter referred to in this Article as a "foreign driver's license") may drive the motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that it has been decided the person may drive with that International Driving Permit or foreign driver's license (hereinafter referred to as an "International Driving Permit or license") during the one-year period beginning on the date of the person's landing in Japan (this excludes if a person who has been registered in a residential ledger based on the Residential Ledgers Act (Act No. 81 of 1967), and who departs from Japan after becoming subject to a confirmation of departure under Article 60, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951), departs from Japan with re-entry permission as under Article 26, paragraph (1) of that Act (this includes if a person is deemed, pursuant to Article 26-2, paragraph (1) of that Act, to have re-entry permission as under Article 26, paragraph (1) of that Act (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 23, paragraph (2) of the Act on Special Measures for Immigration Control as regards Persons Losing Japanese Nationality Based on the Treaty of Peace with Japan (Act No. 71 of 1991)), or departs from Japan after being issued a refugee travel document under Article 61-2-12, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, then lands in Japan again within three months after the date of departure; the same applies in Article 117-2-2, item (i)); provided, however, that this does not apply if the person drives a motor vehicle used for passenger services or drives a motor vehicle equipped for towing while towing a vehicle used for passenger services in order to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services or drives a standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver.

Article 107-3When driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle, a person with an International Driving Permit or license must carry the permit or license authorizing the person to drive it. The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 95 apply mutatis mutandis in such a case.

Article 107-3-2Pursuant to Cabinet Office Order, a public safety commission may ask a person with an International Driving Permit or license report as needed, upon finding this to be necessary in order to investigate whether the person satisfies the licensing requirements for that International Driving Permit or license (but only if it finds this to be necessary in order to investigate whether the person falls under Article 103, paragraph (1), item (i), (i)-2, or (iii)).

Article 107-4(1)A public safety commission may administer a special fitness screening for a person with an International Driving Permit or license if there is reason to suspect that the person no longer meets the licensing requirements for that permit or license (this is limited to if there is reason to suspect that the person has come to fall under one of Article 103, paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii)). In such a case, the public safety commission must consider the content of the report under the preceding Article and other circumstances, as well as notifying the person in advance of the date and place and other necessary particulars of the fitness screening.

(2)A person notified as under the second sentence of the preceding paragraph must appear at the place and on the date of which the person has been notified and undergo a fitness screening.

(3)On finding it to be necessary to do so in order to prevent road hazards or ensure traffic safety, a public safety commission may order a person who has undergone a fitness screening as referred to in paragraph (1) to take the necessary measures when driving, in keeping with the person's physical condition.

(4)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding three paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the necessary particulars regarding fitness screenings under paragraph (1).

Article 107-4-2Article 102-2 applies mutatis mutandis if a person with an International Driving Permit or license commits a minor violation meeting the criteria that Cabinet Order prescribes which is referred to in that Article.

Article 107-5(1)If a person with an International Driving Permit or license comes to fall under one of the following items, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile at the time that the person comes to fall under the item may prohibit the person, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, from driving motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that the permit or license is for, for a period of up to five years that it fixes; provided, however, that if Article 102-2 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding Article applies to a person falling under item (ii), it may not take that measure unless the period referred to in Article 102-2 passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article, as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding Article:

(2)If a person with an International Driving Permit or license comes to fall under one of the following items, the public safety commission with jurisdiction over the person's domicile at the time that the person comes to fall under the item may prohibit the person, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes, from driving motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that the permit or license is for, for a period of at least three and up to 10 years that it fixes:

(3)Article 103, paragraph (10) applies mutatis mutandis to a person who is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (4) of that Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9). In such a case, the phrase "the period of the license suspension" in paragraph (10) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the period during which the person is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle".

(4)Article 104 applies mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to prohibit a person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle for 90 days or more (or for a period of up to 90 days that the public safety commission fixes, if any; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) pursuant to paragraph (1), item (ii) or the items of paragraph (2) on the grounds that the person falls under paragraph (1), item (ii) or the items of paragraph (2), or if a public safety commission has been sent a transfer of measures notice (but only one in connection with what is provided in paragraph (1), item (ii) or the items of paragraph (2)) as referred to in Article 103, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph); and Article 104-2 applies mutatis mutandis if a public safety commission seeks to prohibit a person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle for 90 days or more pursuant to paragraph (1) on the grounds that the person falls under item (i) of that paragraph, or if a public safety commission has been sent a transfer of measures notice (but only in connection with what is provided in paragraph (1), item (i)) as referred to in Article 103, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9). In such a case, the phrase "may revoke or suspend the person's license (but only in connection with what is provided in Article 103, paragraph (1), item (v)) as under paragraph (1) or (4) of that Article or revoke the person's license (but only in connection with what is provided in paragraph (2), item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of that Article) as under paragraph (2) or (4) of that Article, without holding a hearing of opinions" in Article 104, paragraph (4) is deemed to be replaced with "may prohibit the person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle as under Article 107-5, paragraph (1) or (2) or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 107-5, paragraph (9) (this is limited to a prohibition in connection with what is provided in paragraph (1), item (ii) or the items of Article 107-5, paragraph (2)), without holding a hearing of opinions" and the phrase "To hold a hearing as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a hearing on the revocation of a license under Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4) (but only in connection with what is provided in the items of paragraph (1) of that Article (other than item (v))), or a hearing on the revocation of a license under paragraph (2) or (4) of that Article (but only in connection with what is provided in paragraph (2), item (v) of that Article)" in paragraph (2) of Article 104-2 is deemed to be replaced with "To hold a hearing as referred to in the preceding paragraph".

(5)A person with an International Driving Permit or license must promptly submit it to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the person's domicile if the person is prohibited from driving motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) or paragraph (4) of Article 103 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9).

(6)A public safety commission to which an International Driving Permit or license is submitted pursuant to the preceding paragraph or sent pursuant to paragraph (4) or (5) of Article 103-2 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (10) must immediately return it at the request of the person submitting it once the period for the measures in question is over or when the person departs from Japan, whichever comes first.

(7)A person who is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), paragraph (4) of Article 103 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9), or paragraph (1) of Article 103-2 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (10) must promptly submit the International Driving Permit or license thereof to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the person's domicile if, after departing from Japan, the person lands in Japan again during the term of those measures. The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis in such a case.

(8)If a public safety commission prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) or paragraph (4) of Article 103 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the following paragraph, or shortens the period pursuant to paragraph (10) of that Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3), it must inscribe the particulars of those measures on the International Driving Permit or license of the person subject to them, pursuant to Cabinet Office Order.

(9)Paragraphs (3) through (5) and paragraph (9) of Article 103 apply mutatis mutandis if a person is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2). In such a case, the phrase "that commission may either revoke the person's license or suspend it for a period of up to six months that it fixes if the person falls under one of the items of paragraph (1) (if the person falls under item (v) of that paragraph and the preceding Article applies, such measures may only be taken if the period referred to in that Article passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article), in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in that paragraph, or may revoke person's license if the person falls under one of the items of paragraph (2)" in paragraph (4) of Article 103 is deemed to be replaced with " that commission may prohibit that person from driving motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that the International Driving Permit or license is for, fixing a period of up to five years for the same, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in that paragraph, if the person falls under one of the items of Article 75, paragraph (1) (if the person falls under item (ii) of that paragraph and the preceding Article applies mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 107-4-2, this may only be done if the period referred to in the preceding Article passes without the person undergoing the training prescribed in that Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 107-4-2); and may prohibit that person from driving motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that the International Driving Permit or license is for, fixing a period of three to ten years for the same, in accordance with the standards that Cabinet Order prescribes which are referred to in that paragraph, if the person falls under one of the items of Article 107-5, paragraph (2)".

(10)Article 103-2 applies mutatis mutandis if a person with an International Driving Permit or license comes to fall under one of the items of paragraph (1) of that Article. In such a case, in that Article, the phrase "suspend the licensee's license" is deemed to be replaced with "prohibit the person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle", the phrase "If the license of a person under a provisional suspension is suspended" is deemed to be replaced with "If a person under a provisional prohibition is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle", the phrase "the license is suspended" is deemed to be replaced with "the person is prohibited from driving it", the term "provisional suspension" is deemed to be replaced with "provisional prohibition", the phrase "provisionally suspended a person's license" is deemed to be replaced with "provisionally prohibited a person from driving", the phrase "the license was provisionally suspended" is deemed to be replaced with "the person was provisionally prohibited from driving", the term "license" is deemed to be replaced with "International Driving Permit or license", and the term "provisional suspension notice" is deemed to be replaced with "provisional prohibition notice"; the phrase "paragraph (3) of the preceding Article" in paragraph (5) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (3) of the preceding Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9) of Article 107-5"; the phrase "paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of the preceding Article" in paragraph (6) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (1) or (2) of Article 107-5 or paragraph (4) of the preceding Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9) of Article 107-5"; and the phrase "paragraph (1) or (4) of the preceding Article" in paragraph (7) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (1) or (2) of Article 107-5 or paragraph (4) of the preceding Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9) of Article 107-5".

(11)Article 104-3 applies mutatis mutandis if a person is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) or paragraph (4) of Article 103 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9). In such a case, the term "license" in Article 104-3 is deemed to be replaced with "International Driving Permit or license," the phrase "once the period of suspension expires" in paragraph (5) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "once the period during which the person is prohibited from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle that the International Driving Permit or license is for expires, or once the person departs from Japan", and the phrase "Article 95" in paragraph (6) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the first sentence of Article 107-3 and paragraph (2) of Article 95 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the second sentence of Article 107-3".

Article 107-6A public safety commission must report the information that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to the National Public Safety Commission when notifying a person as under the second sentence of Article 107-4, paragraph (1); when prohibiting a person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of the preceding Article or Article 103, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (9) of the preceding Article or shortening the period pursuant to Article 103, paragraph (10), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (3) of the preceding Article; or if the chief of a police station prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle pursuant to Article 103-2, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (10) of the preceding Article. In such a case, the National Public Safety Commission must notify each public safety commission of the information reported to it in order to ensure propriety in their licensing-related functions.

Article 107-7(1)A person who has a license (other than an SS-MVL, MBL, or provisional license) (other than a person whose license is under a suspension pursuant to Article 90, paragraph (5), Article 103, paragraph (1) or (4), Article 103-2, paragraph (1), Article 104-2-3, paragraph (1) or (3), or Article 103, paragraph (4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 104-2-3, paragraph (5)) may be issued a driver's license as referred to in Article 24, paragraph (1) of the Convention, for motor vehicles and motorized bicycles as prescribed in Annex 10 to the Convention that are in keeping with the motor vehicles and motorized bicycles that the license permits the person to drive and in accordance with the categories that Cabinet Office Order prescribes, this driver's license being issued by a public safety commission (hereinafter referred to as a "Foreign Driving Permit").

(2)A person seeking a Foreign Driving Permit must submit an application for issuance in the format that Cabinet Office Order prescribes, together with a document evidencing that the person will visit a foreign country, to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the person's domicile.

(3)Upon the filing of an application as referred to in the preceding paragraph, a public safety commission is to specify the types of motor vehicles and motorized bicycles, that the person may drive and issue a Foreign Driving Permit inscribed with an indication of these.

(4)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding three paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order provides for the format of Foreign International Driving Permits and other necessary information regarding their issuance.

Article 107-8A Foreign Driving Permit is valid for a period of one year, beginning on the date of issuance.

Article 107-9(1)A Foreign Driving Permit ceases to be valid if the license on which it is based ceases to be valid or is revoked.

(2)If the license on which a Foreign Driving Permit is based is suspended, the permit is suspended during the period of suspension of the license.

Article 107-10(1)A person with a Foreign Driving Permit must promptly return it to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the person's domicile once it expires or if it ceases to be valid (or once the person returns to Japan, if that person is in a region outside Japan when the permit expires or ceases to be valid).

(2)A person with a Foreign Driving Permit must promptly submit it to the public safety commission having jurisdiction over the person's domicile if it is suspended (or once the person returns to Japan, if that person is in a region outside Japan when it is suspended and returns to Japan during the period of suspension period).

(3)A public safety commission to which a Foreign Driving Permit is submitted pursuant to the preceding paragraph must immediately return it at the request of the person submitting it once the period of suspension expires.

Article 108(1)A public safety commission, pursuant to Cabinet Order, may ask a corporation that Cabinet Office Order prescribes to handle all or part of the administrative processes involved in licensing as prescribed in this Chapter (other than administrative processes involved in denying and withholding licenses, adding and changing license conditions, deciding the results of driver's license tests and fitness screenings, revoking and suspending licenses, and other processes that Cabinet Order prescribes; referred to as "licensing processes" in the following paragraph).

(2)It is prohibited for a current or former officer or employee of a corporation that has been asked to handle licensing processes pursuant to the preceding paragraph to divulge confidential information learned in connection with the licensing processes that it handles.

Article 125(1)In this Chapter, the term "violation" means conduct constituting an offense as referred to in the preceding Chapter which is set forth in the left-hand column of Appended Table 2 and which the driver of a vehicle or streetcar (other than a light road vehicle that is not a heavy towable vehicle; the same applies in the following paragraph) has engaged in; Cabinet Order provides for the different categories thereof.

(2)In this Chapter, the term "violator" means a person other than as referred to in one of the following items who commits a violation:

(3)In this Chapter, the term "penalty" means an amount of money that a violator is required to pay to the State when seeking to apply this Chapter; Cabinet Order provides for the amounts of penalties associated with different categories of violation, within the scope of what is prescribed in Appended Table 2.

Article 126(1)Except in one of the following cases, when finding a person to be a violator, a police officer must promptly notify that person in writing via a document, of the essential facts constituting the violation, the category of violation, and the date and place for the person to appear in order to be issued a notice of findings as under the first sentence of paragraph (1) of the following Article; provided, however, this does not apply to notifying the person of the date and place to appear if the police officer finds it unnecessary for the person to appear:

(2)The document referred to in the preceding paragraph must include the necessary information to allow the person to understand the procedures provided for in this Chapter.

(3)Having notified a person as under paragraph (1), a police officer must report this to the chief of the prefectural police having jurisdiction over the place where the violation of which the officer has notified the person was committed; provided, however, that, having notified a person found to have committed a violation in an area outside the jurisdiction of the prefectural police to which the police officer belongs based on Article 60-2 or Article 66, paragraph (2) of the Police Act, the police officer must report having so notified the person to the chief of the prefectural police to which the officer belongs.

(4)On finding a person to be a violator who has committed an offense as prescribed in Article 119-2 or Article 119-3, paragraph (1), items (i) through item (iv), or paragraph (2), a traffic patrol officer as prescribed in Article 114-4, paragraph (1) is to notify the person in accordance with paragraph (1) and after doing so, to report in accordance with the preceding paragraph.

Article 127(1)Following receipt of a report as referred to in paragraph (3) or (4) of the preceding Article, on finding that the person who has been issued the reported notice to appear has committed a violation belonging to the category of which the person has been notified, the chief of the prefectural police is to issue written notice to that person clearly indicating the reasons for the finding and notifying the person to pay the penalty for that category of violation. In doing so, unless the person has appeared on the date and at the place indicated in the notice to appear or has made a provisional payment under Article 129, paragraph (1), the chief of the prefectural police is to also notify the person to pay the necessary costs for sending the written notice of findings.

(2)Following receipt of a report as referred to in paragraph (3) or (4) of the preceding Article, on finding that the person who has been issued the reported notice to appear has not committed a violation belonging to the category of which the person has been notified, the chief of the prefectural police is to promptly issue written notice to that person clearly indicating the reasons for the finding. In such a case, if the chief of the prefectural police finds that the person issued the reported notice to appear has committed a violation belonging to a category other than that of which the person has been notified, the chief is to issue written notice to that person clearly indicating the reasons for the finding and notifying the person to pay the penalty for that category of violation.

(3)Notice of findings under paragraph (1) is to be issued on or promptly after the date that follows the final day in the period provided for in Article 129, paragraph (1).

Article 128(1)The penalty of which a person is notified as under paragraph (1) or the second sentence of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article (or the penalty and the necessary costs for sending the written notice of findings, for a person notified as under the second sentence of paragraph (1) of that Article; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) must be paid to the national government within 10 days, counting from the day after that on which the person is so notified (or, if the person is unable to pay the penalty within that period due compelling circumstances that Cabinet Order prescribes, within 10 days counting from the day after that on which the circumstances cease to exist) pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(2)A person paying a penalty pursuant to the preceding paragraph is not subject to prosecution, nor is that person subject to being brought before the family court for trial, in connection with a case involving the conduct constituting the reasons for the finding of which the person has been notified.

Article 129(1)A person who has been notified to appear as under Article 126, paragraph (1) or paragraph (4) may provisionally pay an amount equivalent to the penalty for the category to which the violation of which the person has been notified belongs within seven days, counting from the day after that on which the person is so notified, pursuant to Cabinet Order; provided, however, that this does not apply after receipt of a notice of findings as under the first sentence of Article 127, paragraph (2).

(2)A person who has made a provisional payment under the preceding paragraph may be issued a notice of findings as under the first sentence of Article 127, paragraph (1) by public notice, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

(3)If a person who has made a provisional payment under paragraph (1) is issued a notice of findings as under the first sentence of Article 127, paragraph (1) in connection with the notice to appear in respect of which the person has made the provisional payment, that person is deemed to be a person who has paid the penalty detailed in the notice of findings pursuant to paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, and the person's provisional payment of an amount equivalent to that penalty is deemed to be the payment of the penalty under that paragraph.

(4)Having issued a notice of findings as under the first sentence of Article 127, paragraph (2) to a person who has made a provisional payment under paragraph (1), the chief of the prefectural police must promptly return an amount of money equivalent to the provisional payment to that person.

Article 129-2If the last day of a period as provided in Article 128, paragraph (1), or in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article falls on a Sunday or any other day that Cabinet Order prescribes, the following day is deemed to be the last day of the period in question.

Article 130A violator is not subject to prosecution, nor is a violator subject to being brought before the family court for trial, in connection with a case involving the violation in question unless it is after the violator has been issued a notice of findings pursuant to Article 127, paragraph (1) or the second sentence of paragraph (2), notifying the violator to pay the penalty for the category to which the violation belongs, and after the period provided for in Article 128, paragraph (1) has ended; provided, however, that this does not apply if:

Article 130-2(1)On finding it to be appropriate to do so after having begun a trial in a case that involves a notice of findings as prescribed in the main clause of the preceding Article, the family court may issue instructions for the payment of a penalty, specifying a due date for the same. Notwithstanding Article 125, paragraph (3), in such a case, the amount of the penalty is the amount that the family court fixes, within the scope of what is prescribed in Appended Table 2.

(2)Notice of instructions under the preceding paragraph is to be issued in writing, and the document in which that notice is issued must state the due date and the amount of the penalty that has been fixed pursuant to that paragraph.

(3)Article 128 applies mutatis mutandis to the payment of a penalty subject to instructions under paragraph (1). In such a case, the phrase "within 10 days, counting from the day after that on which the person is so notified" in paragraph (1) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "by the due date fixed pursuant to Article 130-2, paragraph (1)".

Article 131Administrative processes falling within the authority of the chief of the Hokkaido police pursuant to this Chapter may be delegated to the chief of area headquarters, pursuant to Cabinet Order.

Article 132Beyond what is prescribed in this Chapter, Cabinet Order provides for the information required to be given in a document as prescribed in Article 126, paragraph (1), or Article 127, paragraph (1) or (2), and for other necessary particulars concerning the implementation of this Chapter.