Slow Vehicle Drunk Driving Cases Surge 64%; National Police Agency Plans to Recommend Law Amendment for Prevention
Statistics from Taiwan's National Police Agency show a 64.85% increase in drunk driving on "slow vehicles" (like e-bikes and bicycles) last year. To close the legal loophole, the police will recommend increasing the fines for refusing breathalyzers on these vehicles.
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- 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 14:04
- 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 15:00 (56 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 16:13 (1h 13m after Collected)
According to statistics from the National Police Agency, there were 56,303 drunk driving violations recorded last year. Of these, automobiles accounted for 28%, motorcycles for 51%, and slow vehicles (including bicycles, electric-assist bicycles, and micro electric two-wheelers) accounted for 21%. Cases of "refusing inspection and breathalyzer tests" accounted for 15%. A total of 30,846 people were referred to prosecutors, of which 11% were female and 89% were male.
The aforementioned number of drunk driving violations increased by 696 cases (+1.25%) compared to the previous year, the 113th year of the Republic. Among them, automobile violations were 15,664 cases (27.82%), a decrease of 1,288 cases (-7.60%); motorcycle violations were 28,510 cases (50.64%), a decrease of 2,770 cases (-8.86%); however, slow vehicle violations were 12,095 cases (21.48%), an increase of 4,758 cases (+64.85%) compared to the previous year.
The number of drunk driving and refusal cases for automobiles and motorcycles both hit their lowest points in the past three years, but the drunk driving and refusal cases for slow vehicles reached their highest in the past three years.
In addition, the number of slow vehicle drunk driving cases last year was 12,095, an increase of 64.85% compared to 7,337 cases in the 113th year; the number of slow vehicle inspection and breathalyzer refusal cases last year was 4,046, an increase of 39.9% compared to 2,746 cases in the 113th year.
The National Police Agency stated that looking at statistics over the past five years, the number of drunk driving crackdowns, drunk driving accidents, and resulting casualties has shown a downward trend year by year, clearly indicating that the prevention of drunk driving has been effective.
At the same time, since March of the 108th year, Article 35 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act was amended to increase the penalty for automobile and motorcycle drivers refusing breathalyzers from the original 90,000 NTD to 180,000 NTD. It also added provisions increasing the penalty for slow vehicle drivers refusing breathalyzers from 1,200 NTD to 2,400 NTD. This was further raised in April of the 111th year to a 4,800 NTD fine, along with an immediate prohibition from driving.
The National Police Agency said that although laws have been amended year by year to double fines to deter drunk driving, some drivers still hold an opportunistic mentality and choose slow vehicles as their means of transportation.
The National Police Agency stated that since August of the 113th year, it has mandated all police agencies to plan special drunk driving crackdowns during high-incidence periods and in key areas (around restaurants, KTVs, night entertainment venues, major arterial roads, etc.) and to strictly implement offensive duties such as regular patrols across all time periods, strengthening enforcement efforts targeting slow vehicles. As a result, 12,095 cases were cracked down last year, an increase of 4,758 cases compared to the same period in the 113th year.
To strengthen the prevention of slow vehicle drunk driving violations, the National Police Agency stated that it will appropriately advise the Ministry of Transportation to amend the law to properly adjust the penalty scale for slow vehicle test refusals, thereby closing the gap with automobile and motorcycle refusal fines, reducing the public's motivation to evade testing, and safeguarding traffic safety. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150419
The aforementioned number of drunk driving violations increased by 696 cases (+1.25%) compared to the previous year, the 113th year of the Republic. Among them, automobile violations were 15,664 cases (27.82%), a decrease of 1,288 cases (-7.60%); motorcycle violations were 28,510 cases (50.64%), a decrease of 2,770 cases (-8.86%); however, slow vehicle violations were 12,095 cases (21.48%), an increase of 4,758 cases (+64.85%) compared to the previous year.
The number of drunk driving and refusal cases for automobiles and motorcycles both hit their lowest points in the past three years, but the drunk driving and refusal cases for slow vehicles reached their highest in the past three years.
In addition, the number of slow vehicle drunk driving cases last year was 12,095, an increase of 64.85% compared to 7,337 cases in the 113th year; the number of slow vehicle inspection and breathalyzer refusal cases last year was 4,046, an increase of 39.9% compared to 2,746 cases in the 113th year.
The National Police Agency stated that looking at statistics over the past five years, the number of drunk driving crackdowns, drunk driving accidents, and resulting casualties has shown a downward trend year by year, clearly indicating that the prevention of drunk driving has been effective.
At the same time, since March of the 108th year, Article 35 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act was amended to increase the penalty for automobile and motorcycle drivers refusing breathalyzers from the original 90,000 NTD to 180,000 NTD. It also added provisions increasing the penalty for slow vehicle drivers refusing breathalyzers from 1,200 NTD to 2,400 NTD. This was further raised in April of the 111th year to a 4,800 NTD fine, along with an immediate prohibition from driving.
The National Police Agency said that although laws have been amended year by year to double fines to deter drunk driving, some drivers still hold an opportunistic mentality and choose slow vehicles as their means of transportation.
The National Police Agency stated that since August of the 113th year, it has mandated all police agencies to plan special drunk driving crackdowns during high-incidence periods and in key areas (around restaurants, KTVs, night entertainment venues, major arterial roads, etc.) and to strictly implement offensive duties such as regular patrols across all time periods, strengthening enforcement efforts targeting slow vehicles. As a result, 12,095 cases were cracked down last year, an increase of 4,758 cases compared to the same period in the 113th year.
To strengthen the prevention of slow vehicle drunk driving violations, the National Police Agency stated that it will appropriately advise the Ministry of Transportation to amend the law to properly adjust the penalty scale for slow vehicle test refusals, thereby closing the gap with automobile and motorcycle refusal fines, reducing the public's motivation to evade testing, and safeguarding traffic safety. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150419