By KHT Staff. AI illustration images.
TAIPEI — Taiwan is considering legal changes that could lead to driver’s license revocation or suspension for people found to have used illegal drugs, including marijuana consumed overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (交通部) said Wednesday, according to Focus Taiwan/CNA.
The proposal is part of planned amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) aimed at strengthening penalties for drug-impaired driving and preventing repeat offenses.
Under the proposed revisions, people found to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics could have their driver’s licenses revoked even if they were not caught driving at the time. Those found to have used Category 3 or Category 4 drugs could face license suspension.
Marijuana is listed as a Category 2 narcotic under Taiwan’s Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例). Although cannabis is legal for recreational or medical use in some countries, in Taiwan, it’s a reasonably serious offense to possess, use, cultivate, and or transport the plant.
The proposal has raised questions about travelers who legally use cannabis overseas and later return to Taiwan while traces of the drug are still detectable.
Ministry official Tsao Chin-wei (趙晉緯) said people in Taiwan remain subject to Taiwanese law, regardless of whether the drug use took place in a jurisdiction where cannabis is legal, CNA reported.
However, Tsao said the administrative penalties would depend on police confirmation and reporting through an interagency notification system. If police determine that the drug use occurred entirely outside Taiwan’s jurisdiction and do not file a report through that system, the ministry would not process a license suspension or revocation.
The amendments would also toughen penalties for people caught driving after drug use. Current license suspensions of one to two years would be replaced by license revocation, along with a three-year ban on applying for a new license.
Fines for drug-impaired driving would rise to NT$120,000 for car drivers and NT$90,000 for motorcyclists. Current fines are NT$30,000 for car drivers and NT$15,000 for motorcyclists.
Passengers aged 18 or older who knowingly ride with a drug-impaired driver could also face fines of up to NT$15,000.
The ministry is also reviewing whether vehicles involved in drug-impaired driving cases could be confiscated.
The transportation ministry is expected to send the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan (行政院) later this month before they are reviewed by the Legislature (立法院). Officials are aiming for the changes to take effect by the end of 2026, CNA reported.
