Taiwan's legislature allows death penalty for repeat drug-impaired drivers who kill

Drug-impaired driving now carries up to five years in prison and a fine of up to NT$500,000, both outlets reported. Causing a death brings at least seven years and a fine of up to NT$7 million, while a repeat offense that causes a death within 10 years carries the death penalty, life imprisonment or at least 10 years, with a fine of up to NT$10 million.

The amendments passed with the backing of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which hold a majority in the legislature, Focus Taiwan and Taiwan News reported. Taiwan News and the United Daily News reported that several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers did not vote. The changes take effect once promulgated by the president.

Why it matters: The vote came the same day a Keelung court sentenced a driver to seven years and eight months in prison for a fatal drug-impaired crash, a sentence the victim's daughter publicly questioned, both outlets reported.