Public shaming rolled out as punishment for repeated drunk driving

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) The Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office announced on Thursday 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 Paragraph 3 and 5 of Article 35 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, individuals caught driving under the influence (DUI) and those who refuse to take a breathalyzer test for the second time within 10 years may have their name, photo, and violations made public by the competent authority.

According to Taipei Department of Transportation's website, 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 announced on Thursday targets drivers who have committed three or more DUI offenses within 10 years, the office said, indicating that this only pertains to offenders whose household registration is in Taipei.

In addition to publishing their information on the department's website, offenders will also have photos of their faces magnified sevenfold and placed on the bulletin board of Taipei's wards and police stations, it added.

The office again warned that drivers who are caught and found guilty of a DUI offense will be fined and have their driver's license suspended (1 year for motorcycles and two years for cars). 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 can be investigated for public endangerment under the Criminal Code.