Taiwan is trying to become more serious about drunk driving laws. Especially as Chinese New Year approaches. I hear you can be fined 90,000 NT for a first offense. And Taiwan is adopting a zero-tolerance policy. That means that if you have anything you may have a drunk driving fine.
Personally, I think they should consider a lesser fine and some jail time instead. Where I come from you can get a fine of anywhere from 800-5,000 US dollars. You may also spend one-to five years in jail. Some places will require you to go to lessons on the evils of drunk driving. You will hear stories from victims and family of victims of drunk driving accidents. I don’t think this would work here though as people aren’t concerned with the welfare of others when they are on the road.
I wonder what other people think .
For repeat offenders, I favor jail time. For first time offenders, I prefer confiscation of driving license for a 6 months or so.
These fines are ridiculous. I’ve spoken with enough people about this in Taiwan to say it’s well known that there are people with enough money in Taiwan who don’t give a shit about speeding fines and drunk driving fines. It’s considered a fee for being able to drive like you want.
I’d also like to see a point system on minor offenses. Enough points and you lose your driving license for a year or so.
Drunk driving is a serious offense. But there’s a point where increasing penalties further ends up netting more innocents, and does nothing to reduce the number of guilties out there. The point of diminishing returns has been passed. There are other, more productive ways to stop dunk drivers.
Can we have an option for better enforcement of the laws that are already there? And a test that requires teaching people how to actually drive? I’ve been a passenger here with lots of sober drivers that alarm me more than drunken friends did back in my teens.
And to be honest I’d rather see a lot more emphasis on ticketing people for dangerous driving pure and simple, with a “bonus” if they’re drunk.
Drunk driving is of course a problem here - as it is everywhere - but it’s what’s acceptable as sober driving that really horrifies me.
Much as I hate drunk drivers, I have a very big issue with zero-tolerance policies. This means you could get done for drink driving after having a dessert that contains a minimal amount of alcohol, right?
[quote=“lostinasia”]Can we have an option for better enforcement of the laws that are already there? And a test that requires teaching people how to actually drive? I’ve been a passenger here with lots of sober drivers that alarm me more than drunken friends did back in my teens.
And to be honest I’d rather see a lot more emphasis on ticketing people for dangerous driving pure and simple, with a “bonus” if they’re drunk.
Drunk driving is of course a problem here - as it is everywhere - but it’s what’s acceptable as sober driving that really horrifies me.[/quote]
Exactly!
At the very least get people driving on the correct side of the road. I’m so sick of playing chicken with the local brain donors every time I drive somewhere.
Taiwan seems to be trying to be Singapore, but as others have mentioned, without the fun. To that I would add due process, rule of law and lack of corruption.
Fuck, I am not even allowed one measly beer with dinner any more. I have been told even one puts you over the limit.
As one poster mentioned, a better way would be to teach the locals to drive properly in the first place.
A second driving test that can lower your insurance cost was mentioned in an earlier thread. I think that was an excellent idea. Given that this test would be a test you’d actually have to do on a real road.
Drunk driving laws should be realistic. Al laws should be realistic. Like Irishstu says, if someone has had those liqueur filled chocolates, they can be arrested?? Especially if they’ve had 3 of them?? Aaaargh.
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