The owner of the car posted a picture online of the boy taking a breathalyzer test The owner of the car posted a picture online of the boy taking a breathalyzer test (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police came under fire Saturday (April 4) for breathalyzing a five-year-old boy after he accidentally crashed his bicycle into a stationary car.

The owner of the white Tesla Model 3, which he had owned for just one month, posted a picture of the alcohol test online. After drawing criticism for the photo, he said he wanted to show how responsible the little boy was — as he had not run away but instead agreed to take the breathalyzer test, the Liberty Times reported.

Police in the Taichung City district of Wufeng initially defended their actions by saying all individuals involved in a traffic accident had to be checked for alcohol, even those “driving slow vehicles” such as a child’s bicycle. Later, they said that in the future, the officer at the scene of such an accident could be flexible in their decision if children are involved.

The owner of the car said he had reached an agreement with the boy’s parents, who live next door, about repairs to the car. Some netizens slammed the police for breathalyzing a child, while others said it would serve as an example to children that they should pay attention, even while riding a bicycle.