The National Police Administration (警政署) said yesterday that there was only one injury during its national crackdown on drunk drivers, which began on Friday night.
The administration said that the crackdown is part of a continuing effort to combat drunk driving and will be carried out randomly, but with a particular focus on the weekends and holidays.
The crackdown began at 8pm on Friday night and ended at 6am yesterday morning. According to administration statistics, there was only one injury involving a drunk driver during this period of time. However, 201 motorists were arrested and charged with offences against public safety.
Officers stopped 40,374 vehicles, including cars and scooters, asked 5,790 drivers and riders to take a breath test, and temporarily confiscated 57 cars and 65 scooters as their owners were too drunk to maneuver their vehicles.
A senior officer, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the crackdown is more than just talk, adding that police are after motorists who violate the law and want to keep the roads safe.
The officer said that these drunk drivers and riders are in violation of Article 185-3 of the Criminal Code (
"When we stop a car, a scooter or a motorcycle, if our officers smell alcohol, they will ask the driver or rider to take a breath test to see if she or he has drunk too much," he said.
"If the driver's or rider's breath test shows blood alcohol of more than 0.25 milligrams per liter, officers will issue her or him a ticket of NT$6,000. When it's more than 0.55 milligrams, officers will issue a ticket and also transfer the driver or rider to the prosecutors' office. The driver or rider will then be charged with violating public safety."
Diao Chien-sheng (
"Do not sit behind the wheel after you drink," Diao said. "Because if you do, you will be risking other innocent people's lives, which is a kind of selfish behavior."
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