Taiwanese man fined NT$180,000, loses license for drinking after crash, not before test

A man in Taichung, Taiwan, faced severe penalties after a car accident, including a NT$180,000 fine and a revoked driver's license. The incident occurred when the man, identified as Mr. Chang, was riding his motorcycle and collided with another rider, Mr. Ye, while driving the wrong way. Chang fled the scene on foot and returned home.

When police arrived to administer a breathalyzer test, Chang claimed he had consumed red wine to calm his nerves after the shock of the accident. Despite his blood alcohol content not exceeding the legal limit, police issued the hefty fine and suspended his license under a specific traffic law: "drinking before a breathalyzer test after an accident."

Chang appealed the decision, arguing he was trying to avoid pedestrians and that Ye was speeding. He also stated he experienced a heart condition due to the shock and took medication, later drinking a small amount of red wine to ease his distress. He maintained he had no intention of evading or interfering with the police's alcohol test.

However, the Taichung High Administrative Court upheld the penalty. The court clarified that the law targets drivers who drink after an accident but before a test, regardless of the final blood alcohol reading. The court found Chang's violation of drinking before the test was clear, thus affirming the fine and license revocation. The ruling means that even if a driver's alcohol level is below the legal limit, consuming alcohol after an accident and before a police test can lead to significant penalties.