Taipei: Drivers who cause death or serious injury while driving under the influence of drugs may soon face lifetime license revocation under proposed amendments aimed at intensifying penalties for drug-impaired driving, Premier Cho Jung-tai announced Thursday.
According to Focus Taiwan, Premier Cho disclosed during a Cabinet meeting that repeat offenders would also face permanent license revocation. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee stated that Cho has instructed the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to expedite the drafting of amendments that would impose stricter criminal penalties for drug-impaired driving.
The announcement follows a recent proposal by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), which introduced a series of more stringent administrative penalties. These include penalties for passengers riding with drug-impaired drivers and expanded license revocations. Under the MOTC’s proposal, the fine for refusing a drug test would rise from NT$180,000 (US$6,000) to NT$270,000, with repeat offenders facing increasing fines of NT$180,000 for each subsequent violation. Additionally, the fine for driving without a license after revocation for drug-impaired driving would increase to NT$36,000.
Furthermore, Cho mentioned that the Cabinet would deliberate on establishing a legal framework for rapid saliva testing of suspected drug-impaired drivers. These tests could complement existing urine tests in schools to bolster anti-drug efforts. He emphasized the need for enhanced border inspections targeting vapes and instructed the MOJ to convene a narcotics review committee to consider reclassifying etomidate from a Category 2 to a Category 1 narcotic. If reclassified, those convicted of manufacturing, transporting, or distributing etomidate could face the death penalty. Cho also noted that individuals found with vapes could be fined up to NT$100,000.
Deputy Justice Minister Huang Mou-hsin announced that the narcotics review committee is scheduled to meet on June 17. Deputy Health Minister Chuang Jen-hsiang reported that customs authorities have recorded 29 etomidate-related seizures since the drug was classified as a narcotic in August 2024, with nearly 200,000 vapes confiscated. The proposed amendments on drug-impaired driving penalties are anticipated to be submitted to the Legislature for review by the end of June.