Lawmakers Propose Stricter Penalties and Passenger Liability to Combat Drug-Impaired Driving

According to CNA, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers Chen Pei-yu, Wu Szu-yao, and Fan Yun held a press conference to address the frequent illegal driving incidents involving the second-category drug etomidate, commonly known as 'zombie vape cartridges.' The lawmakers urged the government to expedite legal amendments, including increasing penalties for drug-impaired driving, implementing stricter regulations, and enforcing liability for passengers in the same vehicle. Fan Yun stated that current laws, such as Article 185-3 of the Criminal Code, group drunk driving and drug-impaired driving together, and suggested that the Ministry of Justice should regulate them separately, increase penalties, and expand the confiscation of vehicles used in crimes. Dr. Weng De-yi, director of the Forensic Medicine Institute at National Taiwan University, noted that etomidate has a short half-life, making it difficult to detect with current thresholds. She suggested lowering the legal threshold and adopting more sensitive testing tools like liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The lawmakers also emphasized the need for AI-based tracking systems and enhanced public education.