Taoyuan, Taiwan, June 14 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reminded local police of the importance of fairness and justification when issuing traffic tickets and ordered them to pay heed to mounting public complaints about the way traffic fines are issued.
Chen issued the directive while attending a Central Police University commencement ceremony.
This was the second consecutive year that Chen has attended the university's graduation ceremony and the president said his presence demonstrates the importance he attaches to police work and administration.
Chen took advantage of the occasion to express his views on recent debate and public outrage over police ticketing practices.
Chen said he had already directed local government chiefs to address the sharp increase in traffic tickets. "I have urged them not to overlook public grievances over harsh traffic penalties," he said, adding that he hopes local police will keep in mind the principles of impartiality and justification while enforcing traffic rules.
While there is room for improvement in traffic ticketing practices, Chen went on, police should however be credited for the substantial drop in traffic fatalities in the past three years.
Noting that police work is becoming ever more sophisticated and dangerous, Chen said the government has crafted a new package of measures to overhaul police ranks and offer police personnel better protection. "The package will be implemented in two stages, " Chen said, adding that a more reasonable, fair and just police personnel system will be established under the program.
Chen further said the passage of a new bill in the just-concluded legislative session governing the exercise of police power is not aimed at restricting police power but rather at offering better protection to both police and the public. "The new law marks a step forward in our democratic and human rights developments," Chen said.
He encouraged police officers to serve not only as law enforcement officers "but also as human rights advocates." "Police work is not just a profession. It is an enterprise in pursuit of justice and rule of law," Chen added.