Taiwan officials to review micro-mobility laws amid drunk driving loophole concerns

Taiwanese legislators are calling for stricter regulations on micro-mobility vehicles, such as electric scooters, following concerns that they are being used as a loophole by individuals with suspended licenses due to drunk or drug driving. Legislator Yang Chiong-ying highlighted that while penalties for motorcycles are high, the relatively low fines for micro-mobility vehicles fail to act as a deterrent. Data from the Tainan Police Department showed that 12% of micro-mobility violations between January and July were related to driving under the influence.

In response, Premier Cho Jung-tai and Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai stated that penalties for driving these vehicles while under the influence should be significantly increased. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has committed to reviewing the Road Traffic Management and Punishment Act and aims to propose countermeasures within three months. Efforts are also underway to manage illegal vehicle modifications that allow these scooters to exceed their legal speed limits.

Separately, several legal and enforcement actions were reported across Taiwan. In Yilan, a village chief candidate was investigated for alleged vote-buying involving the distribution of supplies. In Taichung, a land administration official was indicted for illegally accessing personal data 133 times to settle a private debt. In Changhua, a township representative chairman was indicted for allegedly misappropriating public vehicles and fraudulent claims for travel expenses. Additionally, in Kaohsiung, a man was detained after a traffic stop revealed a suspended license and a positive test for ketamine.