Premier Cho Jung-tai: Lifetime License Revocation for Fatal Drug-Impaired Driving, Saliva Rapid Test Legislation Under Study

(Central News Agency, reporters Lai Yu-chen and Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, June 4) Amid frequent incidents of drug-impaired driving, Premier Cho Jung-tai announced a three-pronged strategy on Thursday: source deterrence, enhanced enforcement, and severe punishment. Drug-impaired drivers will have their licenses revoked and be barred from retaking the test for three years. Those causing serious injury or death, or a second offense, will face lifetime license revocation, and their vehicles will be confiscated. The government is also considering legislating saliva rapid tests to increase testing capacity.

The Executive Yuan meeting reviewed reports from the Ministry of Justice on drug and drug-impaired driving prevention, the Ministry of the Interior on enforcement status, the Ministry of Health and Welfare on tobacco hazard prevention law amendments, and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on severe punishment measures. Executive Yuan Spokesperson Lee Hui-chih relayed at a post-meeting press conference that Premier Cho announced the three-pronged strategy.

Regarding severe punishment, Premier Cho stated that the statutory penalty for drug-impaired driving will be increased, and the Ministry of Justice has been instructed to submit a draft amendment as soon as possible. Fines for repeat offenders will be cumulative, with no cap for a third offense. Passengers will also be held responsible, facing fines of NT$6,000 to NT$15,000. All vehicles involved in drug-impaired driving will be confiscated.

For enhanced enforcement, Premier Cho outlined three measures: first, immediately study legislating saliva rapid tests to increase testing capacity and speed up the process; second, promote saliva rapid tests alongside existing urine rapid tests to strengthen campus drug prevention; third, strengthen border seizures of e-cigarettes.

He emphasized the government's zero-tolerance policy towards drug-impaired driving, stating that related legal amendments will be submitted as quickly as possible to curb such incidents and achieve a drug-free home, drug-free campus, and a safe and healthy Taiwan. (Editor: Szu-chia Chi) 1150604