The number of overdue fuel charge cases referred to branches of the Administrative Enforcement Agency (AEA), Ministry of Justice (MOJ), from local motor vehicles offices of the Directorate General of Highways (DGH), Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC), has escalated in recent years, up to 1,263,054 cases in 2017 alone. To let justice be served and exercise public authority, all 13 AEA branches across Taiwan synchronously implemented the Operation Overdue Fuel Charge Recovery on January 16, 2018 to recover all overdue fuel charges, with focus on the top 50 delinquent payers by cumulative amount.

In this operation, apart from recovering a total of NT$25,581,322, AEA branches have seized vehicles including 93 cars and 2 motorcycles, 246 lots of real estate, and other movables including bulldozers, computer equipment, and wood sculptures from delinquent payers, with a fruitful result. Should delinquent payers still refuse to pay the overdue fuel charge, AEA will auction their seized vehicles, real property, and movables to offset the outstanding amount. The top delinquent payer with a total outstanding amount of up to NT$1,284,022 is a cement product wholesaler and its affiliates. After investigating their money flow, the AEA Taipei Branch requested the responsible person to give an onsite explanation. Realizing the severity of the consequences, that cement wholesaler immediately applied for an installment plan, opened a NT$650,000 check for the first installment and agreed to pay the rest in the following two months.

AEA urges delinquent payers of fuel charges to pay the outstanding amount as quickly as possible to avoid compulsory execution. This means that they will be restricted from leaving the country or be taken into custody if they ignore the recovery action. AEA branches will continue to recover outstanding fuel charges to exercise the state obligations and demonstrate the government’s determination in law enforcement.