Nantou prosecutors and police crack down on drug-impaired driving, court approves two pretrial detention requests in one day

(Central News Agency, Nantou County, June 9, Reporter Xiao Boyang) The Nantou District Prosecutors Office on June 6 filed for preventive detention with the court for two defendants, Mr. Xie and Mr. Lin, after they drove motor vehicles under the influence of drugs. Following interrogation, the prosecutors determined the actions violated the Criminal Code's offense of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, deemed the charges serious with a risk of re-offending, and both requests for detention were granted.

The Nantou District Prosecutors Office issued a press release today stating that Mr. Xie, after using methamphetamine and etomidate vape cartridges on June 5, was stopped by police while riding a scooter in Caotun Township. A saliva rapid test showed a positive reaction for drug use, and he was immediately arrested. A subsequent search led to the seizure of one etomidate vape cartridge.

The Nantou District Prosecutors Office said Mr. Lin, after using an etomidate vape cartridge on June 5, was involved in a traffic collision while driving in Zhushan Township. Police arriving at the scene administered a saliva rapid test, which showed a positive reaction for etomidate. He was arrested on the spot, and a search led to the seizure of two etomidate vape cartridges.

The Nantou District Prosecutors Office stated that after questioning Mr. Xie and Mr. Lin, the internal duty prosecutor determined the actions violated Article 185-3, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code (offense of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs). Due to the severity of the charges and the risk of repeated drug-impaired driving offenses, they requested detention, which the Nantou District Court approved for both defendants.

The Nantou District Prosecutors Office stated it will continue to follow the directives of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office's "Special Project Meeting on Strengthening Drug-Impaired Driving Enforcement," adopting a policy of "strong enforcement, strict prosecution, legal requests for detention, requests for heavier sentences from the court, and careful consideration of whether to allow fine payments in lieu of imprisonment," demonstrating its determination to combat drug-impaired driving crimes. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150609