“It’s Uncle Santa!” 'Rudolka' made his nephew happy... When he does this, he gets 'punishment'
To celebrate the end of the year, 'Rudolka', a car decorated like Rudolph, is spotted on the road. While there is a positive response from citizens, there are also criticisms that it may be subject to crackdowns. Experts expressed their opinion that legal punishment could be imposed if license plates are covered or decorations fall off, resulting in an accident. According to the distribution industry on the 27th, decorations to decorate vehicles for the end of the year are being sold at online shopping malls. In particular, deer antlers and red nose ornaments inspired by Rudolph are popular every year. Vehicles using this decoration are also called Rudolka, a combination of Rudolph and Car. On social media, citizens brag about Rudolka or post posts saying they witnessed it. Citizen A said, “I dressed up as Santa and transformed into Rudolph to deliver a Christmas gift to my nephew.” Citizen B also said, “Even though there is no snow in Cheongdo, this year it is Rudolka to create a Christmas atmosphere.” The end of the year is a time when purchases of vehicle decorations increase rapidly. Mr. C, an official at an ornament sales company, said, "I know we sell the most in the country," and added, "The two weeks from December 10th to just before Christmas are the peak time. At times, we sell more than 1,800 items a day." Some are concerned about the possibility of being subject to crackdowns or being illegal. Related inquiries are also posted in car enthusiast cafes and blogs. To address concerns, some sales websites attached an explanation that they had received a response directly from the National Police Agency that it was not illegal. Mr. C said, “There are cases where we had customers who were cracked down on by local governments around the year before last, so we resolved the issue ourselves.” According to the National Police Agency, installing Rudolka decorations themselves is not a problem. However, if it △ blocks the view of the window too much, △ blurs the view to the extent that the lights interfere with the driving of other vehicles, △ decorations are not properly fixed, or △ covers the license plate of the vehicle, it may be subject to crackdown. Promotional images posted on some dealer websites show decorations covering the license plate, but if you do so, you may be subject to crackdowns. The Road Traffic Act stipulates that you must not drive a vehicle with a device that interferes with the function of traffic enforcement equipment or any other device that may interfere with safe driving or does not meet the standards. In addition to the license plate, decorations that block the driver's view of the side mirror and windshield may also constitute a violation of the Road Traffic Act. An official from the National Police Agency explained, "Generally, illegal attachments are subject to a fine of 20,000 won, but if they interfere with the function of traffic control equipment by blocking the license plate, you may be subject to imprisonment for up to 6 months, a fine of up to 2 million won, or detention." In some cases, decorations that emit LED lights may be considered installation of lighting devices that are not approved under the Automobile Management Act, so it is necessary to carefully consider whether they can be operated while driving. Experts agree that special attention should be paid to cases where structures fall and cause damage to other vehicles, especially when driving at high speeds. This is because it can immediately lead to civil and criminal disadvantages. Jeong Hong-cheol, a lawyer at Daeryun Law Firm's Drunk Traffic Accident Group, said, "A falling object is considered a falling object on the road, and if the windshield of the rear car breaks or an accident occurs as a result, the driver of the vehicle with the attachment is likely to be 100% responsible for negligence." Kim Kyeong-hwan, a lawyer at Withrow Law Firm, also said, "If (the attachment) is recognized as cargo, it could fall under a 'falling object accident', which is one of the 12 gross negligence cases, and could easily lead to punishment." Reporter Park Jin-ho (zzino@mt.co.kr)[View full article]
“It’s Uncle Santa!” 'Rudolka' who made his nephew happy... If he does this, he will be 'punished' (Shortcut)