Wu Tsung-hsien Proposes Drug Record-Linked Driver's License Management; Lin Kuo-chang Promotes 'New Ocean Yilan'

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Chao-yu, Yilan 8th) Kuomintang Yilan County magistrate candidate Wu Tsung-hsien today called on the Executive Yuan to propose an early warning management system linking drug records with driver's licenses to intercept dangers early. Democratic Progressive Party Yilan County magistrate candidate Lin Kuo-chang proposed 'New Ocean Yilan,' aiming to construct Yilan's future through ecology, industry, and tourism.

Wu Tsung-hsien posted on Facebook that the number of drug-impaired driving cases referred for prosecution nationwide exceeded 8,500 last year, and has already surged past 6,700 in the first five months of this year, potentially reaching 16,000 for the entire year. Over the past five years, nearly 90% of finalized convictions for drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired driving resulted in sentences of less than six months, which could be commuted to a fine. He criticized the system for providing offenders an easy way out while failing to ensure a safe journey home for innocent victims and police officers.

Wu argued that the 14 measures proposed by the Executive Yuan, including lifetime license revocation for causing death or injury, are merely 'morgue policies' that patch holes after people have already died. He demanded that the Ministry of Justice propose a concrete plan for 'drug record-linked driver's license early warning management' within one month, actively linking the high-risk list of monitored drug offenders with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' highway monitoring system, to forcibly suspend the driver's licenses of drug users before they get behind the wheel.

Lin Kuo-chang posted on Facebook that today is the United Nations 'World Oceans Day,' and this year's theme, 'Reimagine,' echoes the 'New Ocean Yilan' policy thinking he proposed on May 11. He advocates transforming the ocean from a traditional fishing ground into a new economic engine, allowing young people to stay and develop in their hometown.

Lin stated that on the ecological front, the goal is to strengthen water quality control across the county, aiming to reduce the severe river pollution index to below 2, and increase the sewage sewer connection rate to 75%, adding 80,000 new household connections. On the industrial front, plans are to center on Su'ao to develop a 'Smart Bay' industrial cluster, introducing smart ocean technologies such as artificial intelligence and unmanned ships. On the tourism front, the future plan is to connect the five fishing villages of Toucheng to the coastline of Nan'ao, creating a 'Mountain-Sea Outdoor 3D Playground,' and promote an international blue highway between Su'ao and Ishigaki Island in Japan. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150608