A repeat drunk driver in Miaoli has been given a heavy prison sentence after killing a man outside his own home, a rare hard line from Taiwan's courts on repeat offenders.

• A woman with a prior drunk-driving conviction drank beer at home, then drove and lost control on a bend in Zaoqiao Township.
• Her speeding car hit a man standing in his doorway, then struck a nearby house and a scooter; the man died of head injuries.
• The Miaoli District Court handed down eight years for causing death while driving drunk.
• She stayed at the scene and admitted driving, but refused a breath test until police moved to force a blood draw — so the court denied her any leniency.
• She was tested at well over Taiwan's legal alcohol limit.

Outlook: The sentence signals courts are getting tougher on repeat drunk drivers, though appeals in such cases are common.