Criminal Investigation Bureau: Drugged Driving Constitutes Public Endangerment, Urges Attention to Medical Instructions

(CNA, Reporter Huang Li-yun, Taipei, July 1st) Media reports indicate that a man in Taipei recently accused police of falsely detecting him as driving under the influence of drugs during a traffic stop while riding a motorcycle, later discovering it was likely a false positive due to taking a muscle relaxant. In response, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) stated today that drugged driving also falls under the category of public endangerment, and reminds the public to pay attention to their medical prescriptions.

At a press conference held by the CIB today, Deputy Captain of the Narcotics Investigation Division, Cheng Wei-hao, stated that the issue of "drugged driving" on the road is comparable to driving under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol. In recent years, some individuals experiencing sleep problems often take legal medications such as sedatives, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety drugs, painkillers, and muscle relaxants. However, the effects of these medications can cause drowsiness, lack of concentration, loss of motor control, or slowed reflexes, all of which can impair driving ability and increase the risk of traffic accidents.

Cheng Wei-hao explained that taking medication can also constitute an aspect of public endangerment. The offense pertains to the driver's inability to operate a vehicle safely. Before taking medication, individuals should heed their doctor's instructions regarding potential side effects that could impair driving safety and assess their own physical and mental state to determine if they can drive safely (e.g., if they are drowsy).

Regarding recent public complaints of being stopped by police and investigated for suspected public endangerment due to medication, Cheng Wei-hao stated that key indicators for suspected drug (or medication) driving include "abnormal driving behavior, abnormal physiological signs, suspicious evidence found in the vehicle, and attention to accident cases." These are pre-screening conditions set by the police before conducting further tests, and not indiscriminate stops of the public.

Furthermore, to thoroughly investigate whether a person is indeed suspected of driving while unable to operate a vehicle safely (public endangerment), the public will be asked to cooperate with a series of tests, such as walking a straight line and performing balance exercises, along with urine tests to clarify drug-related components.

Concurrently, current rapid saliva drug screening kits can preliminarily detect benzodiazepines (controlled substances with sedative effects). Police officers will combine on-site observations to strengthen the pre-screening selection mechanism, balancing law enforcement effectiveness with public rights.

Cheng Wei-hao mentioned that according to Article 185-3 of the Criminal Code, drivers who are unable to safely operate a motor vehicle due to the use of drugs, anesthetics, or other similar substances may be charged with public endangerment, facing imprisonment of up to 3 years. The penalties are even more severe if the incident results in death or serious injury.

In addition, Article 35 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act contains corresponding provisions, which include fines, suspension or revocation of the driver's license, and immediate impoundment of the vehicle. Court rulings indicate that even if a driver takes medication as prescribed, they can still be held legally responsible if the medication's effects impair their driving ability and they operate a vehicle.

Cheng Wei-hao urged the public to pay close attention to medical instructions when taking medication. Public endangerment includes driving under the influence of illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol. The police will continue to conduct investigations and hope the public will thoroughly understand the effects of their medications to avoid inadvertently falling into situations of drugged driving and causing public endangerment. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150701

Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom

Download CNA's "First Hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.