New Traffic Regulations Passed in Third Reading! Nationwide Implementation of 'Heavy Penalties of 1.5 Million NTD, Vehicle Seizure, and License Revocation', Latest Rules at a Glance

To combat the threat of drug driving and ensure road traffic safety, the Legislative Yuan today passed in a third reading the 'Amendment to the Road Traffic Management Penalty Act'. The amendment significantly increases the penalties for drug driving and refusal to undergo drug testing. After the amendment, anyone caught driving under the influence for the first time will be subject to the maximum penalty, with a fine of 150,000 NTD for driving a car and 120,000 NTD for driving a motorcycle; if driving a bicycle or other slow-moving vehicle under the influence, a fine of 2,400 to 12,000 NTD will be imposed and driving will be prohibited on the spot, with a fine of 24,000 NTD for slow-moving vehicles that refuse testing or inspection. How are repeat offenders for drug driving fined? The third reading text designs a very severe penalty mechanism for frequent violators. As long as a drug driving behavior occurs again within 5 years, an additional 90,000 NTD will be added to the previous penalty amount, and the total penalty amount is unlimited. For drivers attempting to evade testing, the first refusal to undergo drug testing will be fined 270,000 NTD, the second refusal will be increased to 450,000 NTD, and from the third time onwards, an additional 180,000 NTD will be fined each time based on the previous penalty amount, also adopting an unlimited cumulative penalty, aiming to achieve a deterrent effect through extremely high economic costs. What changes have been made to the driver's license revocation regulations? Serious injury, death, or repeat offenders will be permanently disqualified from obtaining a license. Previous regulations only revoked the driver's license for 1-2 years for drug driving, and only those who caused serious injury or death would have their driver's license revoked and their vehicle confiscated. After the amendment, the regulations have been significantly adjusted. Anyone caught driving under the influence or refusing to undergo drug testing will have their driver's license revoked and will not be eligible to retake the test for 3 years. If it is a repeat offender for drug driving, or if drug driving causes serious injury or death to others, the penalty will be upgraded to revocation of the driver's license and permanent disqualification from obtaining a license again. In addition, the text also implements strict regulations on the vehicle seizure mechanism. As long as the driver is caught driving under the influence, refusing to undergo drug testing, or driving on the road during the period when the driver's license is revoked, regardless of who the owner of the vehicle is, the law enforcement agency will seize the vehicle in accordance with the law. What are the thresholds for reapplying for a license? Must complete treatment and observation for at least one year. The amended text also clearly limits the retesting thresholds for those who have had their driver's license revoked for drug driving. If the driver does not complete the designated procedures such as drug driving prevention education, observation and deterrence, compulsory treatment, drug addiction treatment, or drug harm lectures as required, they will not be eligible to apply for a driver's license. Even if they subsequently reapply and pass the test in accordance with the relevant regulations, they will still need to go through a one-year observation period after obtaining the license to ensure that they have the ability to drive safely.