Police issued 15,919 blue tickets — the traffic violation notices that carry a fine — to cyclists in the six months since the system began in April, the National Police Agency said on Thursday. Using a smartphone while riding, known in Japan as ながら運転 (nagara unten), accounted for the largest share of the violations.
The blue ticket system, introduced in April, applies to traffic violations by cyclists aged 16 and over. Rather than referring a case to prosecutors, police can notify the rider of an administrative fine.
The agency did not give a breakdown of the remaining violations by category in the summary released on Thursday.
Drink-riding cases in Miyazaki
Miyazaki prefectural police said 20 people had their driver's licenses suspended between April and October over drink-riding on bicycles, as the force stepped up enforcement. The figure covers the same months in which the national ticket count was compiled.
Under Japanese law, a driver's license can be suspended or revoked for traffic violations committed on a bicycle, even though no license is required to ride one.