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Ministry plans stricter alcohol limit for motorists

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications plans stricter standards and penalties to crack down on drunk driving.

Under new regulations, driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.03 percent -- or 0.15mg per liter in a breathalyzer test -- will constitute drunk driving. The current legal limit for blood-alcohol content is 0.05 percent, or 0.25mg per liter in a breathalyzer test.

The policy is scheduled to be implemented in June and will apply to drivers of all motor vehicles.

The decision was reached on Friday, when ministry officials met other government agencies.

The new standards will mean that drivers shouldn't assume that having a few beers before getting behind the wheel is okay, Department of Railways and Highways Deputy Director-General Chen Yen-po (陳彥伯) said.

Chen said the regulation change was in response to a rise in cases involving drunk driving in the past five years.

Under the new regulations, drunk driving will carry a heavier fine for certain categories of drivers, he said. Those who have held a driver's license for less than two years will be fined an additional NT$15,000; those without a license will be fined an additional NT$18,000. In addition, drivers of large-size motor vehicles carrying passengers or hazardous cargo will be fined an extra NT$25,000.

The ministry is also proposing to amend the Statute Governing the Punishment of Violation of Road Traffic Regulations (道路交通管理處罰條例) by raising the base fine for drunk driving from NT$60,000 to NT$90,000.

The amendment must be approved by the Legislative Yuan before taking effect.

The amendment would also set a penalty for drivers who refuse to undergo an alcohol test. In addition to a NT$90,000 fine, those who refuse an alcohol test will have their licenses revoked permanently.
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