Cop pulls gun over scooter helmet violation

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A motor scooter rider in central Taiwan was held at gunpoint during a traffic stop for not wearing a safety helmet, local media said on Thursday.

After a police car whistled to the scooter to pull over, the officer in Taichung county pulled a gun on the 54-year-old rider surnamed Lin, who was wearing a hat but not a helmet, and ordered her not to move, Taiwan's Liberty Times said.

A spokesman for the Taiping police station in Taichung county said a gun was pulled because the rider had tried to get away.

"If you don't pull over, this can happen," said station spokesman You Chi-ming. "The officer's action was not extreme."

(Reporting by Ralph Jennings; Editing by Nick Macfie)