Passengers to be penalized over drink driving in Taiwan

TAIPEI - Adult passengers will be penalized for riding in vehicles with a drunk driver in Taiwan, starting Monday, according to a revised regulation.

Passengers could face a fine between 600 new Taiwan dollars ($19.38) and 3,000 if their drivers are found drunk driving, the regulation stated.

Taiwan has also raised the fine for drunk drivers from a maximum of 90,000 new Taiwan dollars to 120,000, and added 90,000 to the fine each time drivers are caught repeating the violation.

Drivers who refuse to take a sobriety test will face even heavier penalties, according to the regulation.

The period for revoking driving licenses for drunk driving has been extended from one year to two years. Drivers who cause heavy injuries or deaths will have their license permanently revoked and their vehicle will be confiscated.

Those who ride bicycles, electric bicycles or tricycles while drunk will also be fined between 600 and 1,200 new Taiwan dollars, the regulation said.

Figures showed drunk drivers caused more than 3,000 deaths in Taiwan from 2014 to 2018, and during the same period, nearly 430,000 people were discovered to have consumed alcohol while driving.