Off-duty policeman in Pingtung crashes scooter into ditch while drunk

A police officer involved in an illegal drunk driving case has recently drawn widespread public attention in Pingtung County. A police officer surnamed Chang, assigned to the Fangliao Precinct of the Pingtung County Police Bureau, ignored the law and personal safety by riding a motorcycle under the influence while off duty. While passing through the Jiahe section in Jiatong Township, he allegedly lost reaction capability and balance due to the effects of alcohol, causing him to crash along with his motorcycle into a roadside drainage ditch. The accident resulted in multiple abrasions and bruises on the officer's limbs. Although it did not cause a direct collision with other road users or major casualties, the act of driving under the influence by a law enforcement officer who knowingly broke the law immediately sparked intense discussion and concern within the grassroots police community and the general public.

In response to this internal disciplinary violation, the Fangliao Precinct of the Pingtung County Police Bureau launched an investigation immediately upon receiving the report and issued a public statement demonstrating its determination to rectify discipline. The Fangliao Precinct emphasized that regarding the illegal act of drunk driving by a police officer, the unit adopts a firm stance of "zero tolerance and no shielding." The case will be referred for investigation in accordance with the law alongside relevant administrative probes. According to current internal disciplinary regulations and relevant laws for police agencies, police officers involved in drunk driving must face criminal charges for public endangerment, while administrative penalties are equally severe. The maximum penalty can be two major demerits followed by direct dismissal, thereby safeguarding the honor of the police force and public credibility.

Police officers, as maintainers of national security and executors of the law, should naturally serve as law-abiding role models for all citizens. However, some grassroots officers continue to harbor a mentality of taking chances, choosing to ride motorcycles after consuming alcohol during their time off. The recurrent occurrence of such incidents not only heavily damages the professional image built by police agencies over the years, but also causes the general public to question the internal human rights and legal education as well as self-regulatory mechanisms within the police force. In recent years, central and local police bureaus have repeatedly reaffirmed the policy of "zero tolerance for drunk driving," strongly advocating through various internal meetings, promotional shorts, and pre-duty education to urge all officers not to break the law. Nevertheless, a very small number of officers still fail to implement self-restraint, leading to the continuous repetition of such regrettable incidents and disciplinary violations.

From the perspective of public safety, drunk driving has always been a major traffic violation severely condemned in Taiwanese society. Alcohol severely impairs a driver's central nervous system, leading to reduced visual acuity, a lack of concentration, and prolonged reaction times. Whether driving a car or riding a motorcycle, taking to the road under the influence is akin to placing an unexploded bomb on the streets, posing a fatal threat to the lives and property of oneself or innocent road users at any moment. When law enforcement officers themselves become perpetrators of drunk driving, they not only lose the legitimacy and persuasiveness to crack down on drunk driving, but also set a poor example for the general public. This is why police authorities at all levels invariably handle police drunk driving cases with the sternest attitude and the fastest speed, aiming to staunch the damage and restore public confidence.

As the entire case enters judicial proceedings and internal administrative investigations, this drunk driving and crash incident involving a police officer in Pingtung's Jiatong Township once again sounds the alarm for all civil servants. The cornerstone of a law-based society is built on everyone obeying the law, and law enforcement officers who hold public authority in particular should cherish their reputation and exercise caution in their words and deeds. In the future, besides completing the disciplinary procedures against the police officer surnamed Chang according to the law, relevant units face an inescapable and important issue regarding how to fundamentally strengthen psychological counseling, internal disciplinary supervision, and the implementation of a reformed drinking culture. Only by thoroughly eradicating the culture of taking chances can the positive image of the police as guardians of the people be truly reshaped.

(Source: Central News Agency)