TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Legislative Yuan on Tuesday passed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, raising fines for smoking while driving and for scooter riders using mobile phones while riding to NT$1,200 (US$38).

The Legislature’s Transportation Committee on Dec. 4 reviewed and passed the amendments in an initial review, per CNA. The bill later cleared its third reading without objection during a plenary session Tuesday.

Under the previous law, scooter riders who used handheld mobile phones or similar devices while riding faced a NT$1,000 fine. The amended provisions raise the penalty to NT$1,200.

Existing regulations imposed a NT$600 fine on drivers who held, smoked or lit cigarettes while driving in a manner that affected road safety. The revised law raises the fine to NT$1,200.

To address rising traffic injuries and fatalities, the amendments also introduce harsher penalties in areas frequently used by vulnerable road users, such as around schools and hospitals. Car drivers who fail to slow down in these marked zones and cause injury or death and are subject to criminal liability may face sentences increased by up to one-half.

The amendments also respond to growing enforcement challenges related to alcohol- or drug-impaired driving. Delays in urine test reports have at times prevented police from issuing citations within the legally prescribed two-month period.

Such delays have hindered license suspensions and created regulatory loopholes and public safety risks. Under the revised law, the filing deadline for alcohol- or drug-impaired driving cases will be calculated from the date test results are reported to police.

In cases where accidents result in injury or death and responsibility is unclear, the deadline will begin once an appraisal is completed. If no appraisal is conducted and further analysis is required, citations may not be issued after three months.