National Police Administration Deputy Director-General Hung Sheng-kun yesterday admitted there was a problem with a recent order which called for the suspension of anti-gang operations and drunk-driving roadblocks, saying that the order would be suspended and that regular police raids would continue.
"Operations against gangsters and drunk drivers will continue. It is our fault that we did not make that clear on the order a few days ago," Hung said.
The administration on Feb. 24 ordered police officers to temporarily suspend their regular raids, including against gangsters, as well as drunk-driver check points, until after the presidential election on March 20.
The administration had reasoned they would need to call on the country's 80,000 police officers to maintain order during the campaign period. Police also have to work with prosecutors and special agents from the Ministry of Justice to crack down on vote-buying.
Hung said that drunk-driving operations were still a priority for the police because of the number of offenders still on the streets.
"We arrested nearly 20,000 drunk drivers in the past three months. During that period, 179 people were injured or killed by drunk drivers," Hung said.
Taipei City's Traffic Corps Commanding Officer, Huang Chia-lu (黃嘉祿), said that people should steer clear of suspected drunk drivers and, if possible, pull over and report the driver's plate number to police.
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