Drug-Impaired Driving Frequent; Mayor Huang Wei-che: Legislators Who Cut Budget Should Be Condemned by All

(Central News Agency, Tainan, 27th) With drug-impaired driving occurring frequently, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che stated today during a city council interpellation that drug-impaired driving is more serious than drunk driving, but the central government's general budget is not helping. He added that legislators who opposed and cut the budget should be condemned by the public.

Independent city councilor Li Zonglin demanded during the general interpellation today that the city government actively crack down on drug-impaired driving and drugs, and that the central government should thoroughly cut off the source of drugs.

Huang stated that drug-impaired driving has long existed and is more serious than drunk driving. He noted that the city government is giving the green light, but the central government's budget is not helping. He criticized legislators for demanding good public safety on one hand while tying the city's hands on the other, saying it is like sending someone to the battlefield without bullets, as budgets for awareness and equipment have been cut.

Lin Guoqing, Director of the Tainan City Police Department, said that the minimum stock of screening reagents is maintained every week and will be replenished immediately if insufficient. The police also visit, warn, and track individuals suspected of drug-related activities.

According to statistics from the City Police Department, Tainan City apprehended 621 cases of drug-impaired driving from January 1 to May 22 this year. Mayor Huang requested at a public safety meeting that the police fully strengthen enforcement against drug-impaired driving, increase inspections, patrols, and stops in high-risk roads, times, and locations, and do their utmost to prevent the harm caused by drug-impaired driving.