Chiayi:Taipei A family of tourists who set up a tent next to the Alishan Railway tracks over the weekend is facing fines, local authorities announced on Monday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the incident was reported after a train driver spotted the tent near Erwanping Station around noon on Saturday. The driver notified railway staff, who documented the violation, requested the family to vacate the area, and alerted the police.

The Chiayi County Police Bureau's Zhuqi Precinct identified the tent owner as a man surnamed Kao. Kao had taken his family to the mountains for a weekend trip and had booked accommodation at the Alishan Youth Activity Center. However, upon arriving before the check-in time, he decided to pitch a tent temporarily for his children to rest.

The railway office emphasized that the tent's timely discovery helped avert a potential accident. The precinct reported the violation to the Railway Bureau for the imposition of a fine, in accordance with Articles 57 and 70 of the Railway Act. Trespassing in restricted zones near train tracks is not only illegal but also endangers the safety of individuals and railway operations. Violators can be fined between NT$10,000 (US$306.94) and NT$50,000.