Possible Max Fine of $NT3 Million for Drunk Driving 刑法酒駕相關修法草案 再犯最高可罰300萬

The Legislative Yuan is continuing its revision of the criminal law related to drunk driving. The Ministry of Justice said repeat offenders can be fined up to NT$3 million.

Serious drunk-driving incidents are continually being reported. Some legislators in the ruling and opposition parties believe that the criminal law for drunk driving is too light. The  Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee met on the 21st to continue discussions on amendments to the drunk driving law.

Johnny Chiang, Legislator (KMT): “A first offense and causing death to someone gets a sentence of almost less than 3 years. If you don't raise the base penalty, then you blame the judge for issuing a light sentence.”

Hung Mong-kai, Legislator (KMT): “Heavy punishment may not repay the victims or soothe their hearts. But, we can't condone people who drink and drive and continually do it over and over.”

There is a consensus among many legislators to increase the criminal liability for drunk driving. There is even a legislator's proposal for life imprisonment or the death penalty if a first time offender causes death.

Tsai Pi-chung, Deputy Minister of Justice, said that for first-time offenders who did not cause injury, the recommended sentence can be increased from less than two years to less than three years in prison.

Tsai Pi-chung, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Justice: “We can raise the statutory penalty to less than 3 years for first-time offenders who did not cause injury, then there is a fine of NT$300,000. MOJ fully supports this multi-pronged approach.”

The Ministry of Justice emphasized that both first-time and repeat offenders will be subject to additional fines. Among them, repeat offenders can be fined up to NT$3 million. The repeat offense period has also been revised from the current 5 years to 10 years. Tsai said that the MOJ will enforce the law vigorously and severely punish drunk driving. It is not an empty threat. 

 

重大酒駕事故頻傳，部分朝野立委認為，刑法涉及酒駕的刑責，訂得太輕，而立法院司法及法制委員會，21日續審酒駕相關修法草案，對於初犯刑責、再犯年限及刑責等面向，進行討論。

國民黨立委江啟臣表示:「初犯然後致人於死傷，（判刑）幾乎都不到3年，如果你不把基本刑度提高的話，那你要怪罪法官說，他就不把他判這個怎麼樣嚴重一點。」

國民黨立委洪孟楷指出:「重罰重懲也許沒有辦法還受難者，或者是說受難者家屬撫慰他們的心靈，可是我們也不能縱容酒駕的人，一而再、再而三的犯。」

提高酒駕刑責，多名立委有共識，只要初犯致人於死，甚至有立委提案，最重可判無期徒刑或死刑，只見拉高酒駕刑度的呼聲四起，法務部次長蔡碧仲則表示，針對初犯未肇事者，建議刑度從2年以下，提高到3年以下有期徒刑。

法務部次長蔡碧仲指出:「（初犯未肇事者）提高法定刑到3年以下，併科罰金這個30萬，多管齊下 本部絕對沒有講空話。」

重懲酒駕，法務部強調，無論初犯或再犯者，都增列併科罰金，其中，再犯者最高可罰300萬元，再犯年限也從現行5年，修正為10年內，蔡碧仲表示，法務部強力執法，嚴懲酒駕惡行，絕對沒有講空話。