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Mayor of Japan's Yokosuka drove uninsured vehicle wrong way on 1-way street
YOKOHAMA -- The mayor of the city of Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture announced on June 16 that he was issued a ticket while driving, and that a police investigation revealed his vehicle inspection and compulsory liability insurance had expired.
Katsuaki Kamiji, 71, made the announcement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
According to sources connected to the investigation, Kanagawa Prefectural Police intend to refer him to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Road Transport Vehicle Act and other laws.
In the online post, Kamiji said that at around 8 a.m. on June 14, he overlooked a one-way street sign on a road in the city's Funakoshi district while driving a personal vehicle. The police contacted him within that day and found that the vehicle inspection and liability insurance for the car he was driving had expired.
Kamiji launched his electoral bid for a third term as mayor the next day.
Kamiji, speaking with a Mainichi Shimbun reporter by phone on the evening of June 16, said, "I mistakenly entered the road and was stopped by the police. I didn't know the liability insurance had expired because the car is in my wife's name."
On X, Kamiji apologized in a post, stating, "I was grossly negligent and have no excuse. I deeply apologize for this conduct, which has seriously undermined the trust you have placed in me." He has further stated, "I will sincerely cooperate with police procedures and solemnly accept any punishment that may be taken."
(Japanese original by Chika Yokomi, Yokohama Bureau)
