Taiwan's legislature has approved amendments to the Criminal Code that significantly increase punishments for driving under the influence of narcotics. The new legislation separates drug-related driving offenses from alcohol-related ones, raising the maximum prison sentence to five years and increasing fines. For incidents resulting in fatalities, penalties are substantially harsher, with repeat offenders within a ten-year window now facing the possibility of the death penalty, life imprisonment, or a minimum of ten years in prison. Lawmakers from the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party championed these changes as a necessary deterrent against dangerous behavior on the road. While the Democratic Progressive Party supports stricter measures, some members expressed reservations regarding the application of capital punishment. These legal changes await presidential promulgation before becoming effective, following recent public attention on fatal drug-driving cases.
Source : Focus Taiwan
