Drunk Driving Father and Son Owe Fees, Taipei Branch Seizes Property, Promptly Settles Debt

Taipei, June 22 (CNA) The Taipei Branch of the Executive Directorate General of the Ministry of Justice announced today that a debtor surnamed Li, who had outstanding fines for drunk driving and other fees since 2018, promptly settled his debts in full after his property in Wanhua District was seized. He also voluntarily "paid his son's debts" and agreed to be referred for alcohol addiction treatment.

The Taipei Branch of the Executive Directorate General of the Ministry of Justice issued a press release stating that to uphold the "zero tolerance for drunk driving" policy and safeguard traffic justice and the safety of road users, it has recently intensified its enforcement of a "traffic special project" targeting vehicle-related taxes, fees, and fines.

According to the press release, Mr. Li was fined NT$60,000 in April 2018 for drunk driving. Additionally, he had accumulated arrears in vehicle inspection fees and motorcycle fuel usage fees over the years, totaling approximately NT$67,000. As these were overdue, the case was transferred to the Taipei Branch for enforcement. Enforcement officers found that Mr. Li had no bank deposits, and his two personal cars were old and had their licenses revoked, making them uncollectible. The case had reached a stalemate.

The Taipei Branch stated that after in-depth investigation of Mr. Li's assets, it was discovered that he owned a property in Wanhua District. A request was immediately sent to the Land Administration Office to register a seizure of the property. Mr. Li did not reside there and was unaware that his property had been seized until the bank notified him that the fire and earthquake insurance for the property needed to be renewed, informing him of the seizure. Mr. Li then realized the seriousness of the situation and rushed to the Taipei Branch in June of this year, where he paid all outstanding debts in full on the spot.

The Taipei Branch stated that during interviews, enforcement officers discovered that Mr. Li's son had also been subject to enforcement for drunk driving violations and had failed to make payments as scheduled after arranging an installment plan. To resolve the issue completely and lift the property seizure, Mr. Li immediately pledged to pay his son's debts and agreed to pay NT$10,000 per month, ensuring full payment by the end of the year. Furthermore, Mr. Li agreed to be referred by the Taipei Branch to an alcohol addiction treatment institution for assessment and treatment.

The Taipei Branch sternly urges the public not to take chances with drunk driving, as it severely threatens public life and property safety. The Taipei Branch will continue to employ strong enforcement measures, such as seizing deposits, wages, and even real estate, in accordance with the law for malicious non-payment cases involving drunk driving and drug driving, to uphold social justice and safeguard road safety. Citizens facing financial difficulties should proactively contact the branch and apply for installment payments, rather than regretting it only after their property has been forcibly executed. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 0622

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