China News, April 10, 1998, p. 3
POLICE DISARM CAB DRIVERS
Douglas Habecker, Taichung
Taichung police have targeted taxi drivers in a new effort to confiscate weapons which, according to public complaints, are being used to violently resolve traffic disputes. Taichung police have decided to take action following numerous complaints that traffic accidents involving taxis usually resulted in violence after residents were attacked by the taxi drivers. As a result, Taichung police officials have formed special groups to run checks targeted on the city's 40 taxi companies and 54 locations where taxis queue to pick up passengers. To date, police say they have apprehended 17 drivers for possessing baseball bats, metal bars, wooden sticks and other weapons.