The Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office on Thursday announced a new measure to curb drunk driving by posting magnified photos of the faces of repeat offenders on public bulletin boards.
It is hoped that publicly shaming offenders could serve as a deterrent to those tempted to drink and drive, the office said in a news release.
Based on paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 35 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), people caught driving under the influence (DUI) and those who refuse to take a breath alcohol test for the second time within 10 years may have their name, photo and violations made public by the competent authority.
Photo copy by Chueh Ching-lun, Taipei Times
According to Taipei Department of Transportation’s Web site, which has been publishing the information on DUI offenders every two weeks since May 9, 2023, a total of 1,435 people committed DUI offenses at least twice within 10 years.
The latest measure targets drivers who have committed three or more DUI offenses within 10 years, the office said, adding that this only pertains to offenders whose household registration is in Taipei.
In addition to publishing their information on the department’s Web site, offenders would have photos of their faces magnified sevenfold and placed on the bulletin board of Taipei’s wards and police stations, it added.
Drivers who are caught and found guilty of a DUI offense would be fined and have their driver’s license suspended (one year for motorcycles and two years for cars), the office said.
They also risk having their vehicle impounded on the spot as well as their license plates confiscated for two years.
Meanwhile, anyone found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.25 milligrams per liter or higher on a breathalyzer test could be investigated for public endangerment under the Criminal Code.
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