Cabinet Approves Bill for Preventive License Revocation for Drug Use; Lifetime Ban for Causing Serious Injury or Death While Drug-Driving

(CNA, Taipei, June 18) To combat drug-driving, the Executive Yuan Council today passed a new wave of legal amendments, stipulating that those who drive under the influence of drugs or refuse drug testing will have their driver's licenses revoked and will be barred from reapplying for three years. The vehicle will also be confiscated, regardless of its owner. Additionally, those who cause serious injury or death while drug-driving will be permanently banned from obtaining a license.

The Executive Yuan Council today passed a draft amendment to several articles of the 'Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act,' which increases penalties for acts such as drug-driving and refusal to be tested. The draft will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation.

Executive Yuan spokesperson Li Hui-chih, at a press conference after the council meeting, relayed that Premier Cho Jung-tai stated the amendment aims to strengthen penalties for drug-driving violations, increase punishment for high-risk repeat offenders, and establish a preventive license revocation mechanism for drug users. He hopes the draft will complete the legislative process soon to perfect the overall joint defense mechanism against drug-driving.

Under current regulations, drug-driving results in a license suspension of 1 to 2 years. If it causes serious injury or death, the license is revoked with a lifetime ban, and the vehicle may be confiscated. The draft amendment changes this to an automatic license revocation for any drug-driving or refusal to test, with a three-year ban on reapplying, and mandatory confiscation of the vehicle regardless of ownership. For cases causing serious injury or death, the ban is for life.

The draft also establishes a preventive license revocation mechanism for drug users. Those whose licenses are revoked for drug use cannot reapply for two years. To reapply, they must undergo specified drug-driving prevention education, observation and rehabilitation, compulsory treatment, or drug-addiction therapy, and must have no record of drug use for six months after completion to be issued a license. Otherwise, driving without a license during the revocation period will incur an additional fine of NT$36,000, with no upper limit for subsequent offenses.

The draft also introduces shared responsibility for passengers. Passengers aged 18 or over in a vehicle with a drug-driver will be fined between NT$6,000 and NT$15,000.

Fines for drug-driving are also increased. The fine for a first-time offense on a motorcycle is NT$90,000, and NT$120,000 for a car. A second offense will incur an additional NT$90,000 on top of the previous fine. For three or more offenses, an additional NT$90,000 is added each time, with no upper limit. Fines for refusing to be tested are also raised. According to the draft, a first refusal will be fined NT$270,000, a second NT$450,000, and subsequent offenses will add NT$180,000 to the previous amount, with no upper limit, thereby increasing the cost for repeat offenders. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150618