CONTROVERSY:Chiu Tai-san raised ire by saying the high proportion of motorcycle riders convicted suggested that most drunk drivers ‘were from the lower classes’
Taipei Times
Date: Oct 13, 2016
By: Jason Pan / Staff Reporter
The prevalence of drunk driving offenses came under the spotlight at the legislature yesterday,
with Minister of Justice Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) saying that most of such crimes are committed by repeat offenders, with the issue of such concern that the nation’s prisons are becoming overcrowded.
At a meeting of the legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, Chiu presented a report on the matter and recommended adjustments to correctional facilities.
At the meeting, the other main topic addressed was the abolition of capital punishment.
While discussing the issue with legislators, Chiu said: “The majority of drunk driving convictions are of repeat offenders; the situation is similar with illegal drug users. Their number is so high, prisons have become overcrowded. It is because the current punitive measures have had little deterrent effect on drunk driving offenders.” [FULL STORY]