Drug-Impaired Driving Incidents Rise; Premier Cho Jung-tai Orders Study on Increasing Penalties

Recent incidents of drug-impaired driving in Taiwan have sparked social concern. Premier Cho Jung-tai said in an interview today that increasing penalties is a common demand from the public. He has asked the Ministry of Justice and other ministries to study how to increase various penalties under the principle of equity, and will also strengthen control from the source, including drug regulation. During the Legislative Yuan's general interpellation session, Cho responded to media inquiries regarding the recent drug-impaired driving incidents and public calls for legal amendments. Cho said he, like all citizens, is very pained by the increasing frequency of drug-impaired driving. He has asked the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Police Agency, and relevant ministries to discuss the matter and requested local governments to work together to strengthen the inspection of offenders. The government will also strengthen management from the source, including drug control. Cho stated that increasing penalties should be a common demand of the public. The Executive Yuan has asked the Ministry of Justice and all ministries to study how to increase various penalties under the principle of equity, and to impose strict legal requirements on offenders and related parties to further achieve a deterrent effect. Cho pointed out that from source management to the inspection of behavior, and various penalties after crimes, a more rigorous review will be conducted comprehensively. When asked by the media about calls to investigate whether the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation received overseas funds, Cho said that everything will be handled in accordance with the law.