Police Strengthen Safety Net Against Drug-Impaired Driving

Recent drug-impaired driving accidents in New Taipei City and Changhua County have drawn significant attention. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) stated today that in addition to strengthening drug enforcement, it is actively working with the Ministry of Transportation to incorporate drug-impaired driving into a regular driver's license management mechanism. The CIB aims to build a comprehensive safety net by continuously reviewing the system. The Drug Enforcement Center of the National Police Agency (NPA) stated that due to the high number of casualties from drug-impaired driving, the agency introduced 'saliva drug rapid test kits' at the end of last year, significantly changing the previous enforcement dilemma of relying solely on post-incident urine tests. Through the efforts of frontline officers, 4,725 cases were detected between January and April this year, nearly tripling the interception capacity. Furthermore, to block the harm caused by 'zombie vape cartridges' (etomidate-type drugs), police agencies nationwide have been actively tracing the sources. From January to April, 370 drug packaging sites were raided, with 148 kg of etomidate-related oil and powder seized, preventing 1.5 million drug cartridges from entering society. Beyond these enforcement actions, the CIB is working with the Ministry of Transportation to establish a source management mechanism before individuals get behind the wheel. For those caught using drugs who have not yet driven but pose a potential traffic safety risk, the CIB is evaluating amendments to the 'Road Traffic Safety Rules' to include them in a regular license management mechanism. Plans include requiring drug addicts to complete rehabilitation and provide proof or undergo professional assessment before they can renew or continue to hold a driver's license. The CIB stated that once the law is amended, the regular license management and the handling of unlicensed violations will be linked. Additionally, penalties for passengers in vehicles driven by drug-impaired drivers will be added to the 'Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act,' increasing the system's binding force. Premier Cho Jung-tai has also instructed a comprehensive review of drug-impaired driving crimes, including increasing penalties and strengthening drug enforcement. The NPA stated it will continue to combine prevention, medical rehabilitation, judicial treatment, and license management to build a more complete safety net.