Legislator Calls for Separating Drug-Driving Penalties from Drunk-Driving; Ministry of Transportation to Meet with Ministry of Interior on 11th
Legislators have urged for drug-driving penalties to be separated from drunk-driving, citing the inherent criminality of drug use itself. Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai announced that the Ministry will meet with the Ministry of Interior on May 11 to discuss this separation and consider introducing joint liability penalties, following recent fatal drug-driving accidents.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 15:34
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 16:01 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 16:47 (45 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, May 6) Regarding legislators' calls today to separate penalties for drug-driving from those for drunk-driving, Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai stated that drug use itself is a crime, and if one drives under the influence of drugs and harms others, the penalties should differ from drunk-driving. The Ministry will meet with the Ministry of Interior on the 11th to discuss whether to separate them and to formulate joint liability penalties.
Recently, drug-driving accidents have been frequent, including a fatal crash on May 4 involving a Mr. Gao driving under the influence, resulting in two deaths and two injuries. Kuomintang Legislators Wan Mei-ling and Yang Chiung-ying today expressed concerns about drug-driving during questioning at the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee.
Wan Mei-ling pointed out that the number of drug-driving cases is rapidly increasing. The National Police Agency has announced inter-ministerial cooperation to promote amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Punishment Act, establishing joint liability for drug-driving to strengthen passengers' collective oversight responsibility.
Yang Chiung-ying believes that drug-driving is more terrifying than drunk-driving and urged for stricter criminal liabilities and penalties to protect the safety of the public as soon as possible.
Chen Shih-kai stated that the Ministry of Transportation will meet with the Ministry of Interior on the 11th to discuss both joint liability and criminal penalties.
Wan Mei-ling stated that while drinking itself is not a crime, drunk-driving is. However, drug use itself is a crime, and if one drives under the influence of drugs and causes an accident, she believes it is an aggravated offense, unforgivable, and that drunk-driving and drug-driving penalties should be separated.
Regarding Wan Mei-ling's concern about whether to consider increasing administrative penalties specifically for drug-driving, Chen Shih-kai stated that whether to separate the two or increase penalties will be discussed in the meeting with the Ministry of Interior.
Chen Shih-kai stated that drug use itself is a crime, and if one drives under the influence of drugs and harms others, "I believe the responsibility for this crime may need to be different from drunk-driving." (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, May 6) Regarding legislators' calls today to separate penalties for drug-driving from those for drunk-driving, Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai stated that drug use itself is a crime, and if one drives under the influence of drugs and harms others, the penalties should differ from drunk-driving. The Ministry will meet with the Ministry of Interior on the 11th to discuss whether to separate them and to formulate joint liability penalties.
Recently, drug-driving accidents have been frequent, including a fatal crash on May 4 involving a Mr. Gao driving under the influence, resulting in two deaths and two injuries. Kuomintang Legislators Wan Mei-ling and Yang Chiung-ying today expressed concerns about drug-driving during questioning at the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee.
Wan Mei-ling pointed out that the number of drug-driving cases is rapidly increasing. The National Police Agency has announced inter-ministerial cooperation to promote amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Punishment Act, establishing joint liability for drug-driving to strengthen passengers' collective oversight responsibility.
Yang Chiung-ying believes that drug-driving is more terrifying than drunk-driving and urged for stricter criminal liabilities and penalties to protect the safety of the public as soon as possible.
Chen Shih-kai stated that the Ministry of Transportation will meet with the Ministry of Interior on the 11th to discuss both joint liability and criminal penalties.
Wan Mei-ling stated that while drinking itself is not a crime, drunk-driving is. However, drug use itself is a crime, and if one drives under the influence of drugs and causes an accident, she believes it is an aggravated offense, unforgivable, and that drunk-driving and drug-driving penalties should be separated.
Regarding Wan Mei-ling's concern about whether to consider increasing administrative penalties specifically for drug-driving, Chen Shih-kai stated that whether to separate the two or increase penalties will be discussed in the meeting with the Ministry of Interior.
Chen Shih-kai stated that drug use itself is a crime, and if one drives under the influence of drugs and harms others, "I believe the responsibility for this crime may need to be different from drunk-driving." (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150506
Choosing to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.