Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the road traffic penalty act on third reading, sharply toughening penalties so that drivers who drive under the influence of drugs or refuse a drug test have their licenses revoked and their vehicles seized.
The amendments provide that driving after taking narcotics or psychoactive substances, or refusing a police drug test, results in revocation of the driver's license and forfeiture of the vehicle.
광고 문의 · 300×250What changes
Long criticized as being punished more lightly than drunk driving, drug driving now faces the strong sanctions of license revocation and vehicle seizure. Refusing a test is punished the same as a violation, aiming to make enforcement effective.
Authorities see drug driving as prone to serious accidents because it dulls judgment and reaction times, and hope for deterrence. Detailed procedures and testing methods are expected to be set out in follow-up regulations.
Open questions
The accuracy of drug testing and due-process safeguards, and how to handle a seized vehicle that is not owned by the driver, are cited as issues to refine during implementation. The balance between tough penalties and rights protection is key.
The Sinophone Bridge Times reports traffic-safety policy plainly, measured against the goal of protecting life rather than a contest over the severity of punishment.
