Taipei City Police Department

Publishing Agency: Zhongzheng First Precinct, Taipei City Police Department

Contact Person: Chief Chun-Cheng Wang

Contact Information: 02-23319080

Recent incidents of traffic accidents caused by individuals driving under the influence of drugs (commonly known as drug-impaired driving) have drawn significant public attention and concern. Illicit drug use not only damages personal physical and mental health but also severely impairs a driver's reaction time, judgment, and focus. This drastically increases road hazards and the probability of traffic accidents, posing a grave threat to the lives and safety of other road users. In particular, certain emerging drugs can cause sensory distortion and cognitive impairment, making drug-impaired driving even more dangerous than drunk driving. To maintain traffic order and safeguard citizens within its jurisdiction, the Zhongzheng First Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department launched a comprehensive, localized roadblock operation codenamed "Ten-Sided Ambush" on the night of May 24. The operation intensified interceptions and enforcement against high-risk traffic violations such as suspected drug-impaired or drunk driving, demonstrating the police's firm resolve to combat drugs and prevent drug-impaired driving.

To effectively mitigate the dangers that drug-impaired driving poses to traffic safety and to continuously strengthen enforcement efforts, the National Police Agency has amended the "Operating Procedures for Cracking Down on Suspected Drug-Impaired Drivers." For drivers exhibiting signs of drug impairment, if they test positive on a rapid saliva drug screening or refuse to take the test, and officers judge from objective circumstances that the individual has reached a "state of being incapable of safe driving," officers can make an immediate on-the-spot arrest as a flagrant offender or quasi-flagrant offender under Article 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, without seeking prior approval from a prosecutor. Furthermore, the central government has amended provisions regarding preventive detention in the Code of Criminal Procedure. If the suspect is deemed likely to repeatedly commit the offense, the police may recommend that the prosecutor petition the court for preventive detention. Through the synchronized strengthening of enforcement frameworks and increased penalties by the executive and legislative branches, the government aims to enhance deterrence and minimize the threat of drug-impaired driving to public safety.

The Zhongzheng First Precinct reminds the public that driving after illicit drug use severely impairs judgment, responsiveness, and attentiveness, which easily leads to catastrophic traffic accidents and endangers the lives of both the drivers themselves and other road users. The police will continue to combine patrols, roadblocks, and various special operations to step up crackdowns on drug-impaired driving. All cases involving drug-impaired driving will be strictly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law without leniency. Citizens are urged not to take chances, so that we may collectively maintain a safe and friendly transportation environment.