Print

Mail

wiki links

National Police Administration seeks zero-tolerance policy for drunk drivers

"Ninety percent of those who filled out the questionnaire ... felt it was necessary for a stricter measure because there are still lots of drunk drivers on the roads."

Ho Kuo-jung, director of the National Police Administration's Traffic Division

Police are proposing a regulation that would see motorists with any alcohol in their system fined.

The National Police Administration (NPA) announced the planned amendment to the Road Traffic Management and Punishment Law (道路交通管理處罰條例) at a press conference yesterday.

The NPA said the proposal was based on the results of a recent survey.

According to NPA statistics, 356 people died of accidents caused by drunk driving in 2000, 435 in 2001, 443 last year and 331 for the period from January to September this year.

"Ninety percent of those who filled out the questionnaire affirmed our proposal and felt it was necessary for a stricter measure because there are still lots of drunk drivers on the roads endangering innocent people," said Ho Kuo-jung (何國榮), director of the NPA's Traffic Division.

Ho said that Japan was the inspiration for the proposal.

"The bottom line in Japan is 0.15mg per liter," Ho said. "Anyone who is tested above 0.15mg per liter will be arrested and fined. However, the strict law in Japan works out just fine and that is why we want to follow it."

Ho said he could not predict when the proposal would be implemented because the NPA must still submit the proposal to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications for approval. The ministry would then submit a bill to the Legislative Yuan for approval.

According to the proposal, drivers who test positive for alcohol would be fined NT$1,000 to NT$3,000.

Those who provide alcohol to motorists testing 0.25mg per liter and above would also faces fines of NT$12,000.

"The term alcohol provider refers to those who sell or provide alcoholic drinks to these drunk drivers. It could be a restaurant or a friend of the motorist," Ho said.

Passengers over the age of 18 of drunk drivers would also be subject to fines ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$12,000.

"Adult passengers are also responsible for letting a drunk driver operate the vehicle," Ho said.

Current regulations states that drivers who test between 0.25mg per liter and 0.55mg per liter will be fined NT$15,000 to NT$30,000.

The current law also allows police to temporarily confiscate the vehicles of motorists with breath test results above 0.55mg per liter.

The NPA said these regulations will stand.
This story has been viewed 2353 times.