Unique and strange punishments for drunk drivers around the world

Around the world, drunk drivers not only have to pay administrative fines or go to jail, but they also face much harsher penalties such as hard labor, being named in newspapers or the death penalty.

Belarus

In the case of a first-time violation, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the prescribed limit of 0.04 milligrams per liter of breath will be fined $70-400 and have their driver's license revoked for three years. If they re-offend, they may face jail time.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic and some countries in Eastern Europe such as Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, the law of “no alcohol in the blood” has been applied. In other words, when driving, drivers are not allowed to use any alcoholic substances such as beer or wine. If they violate, they will have to pay a fine of 200 – 470 euros.

Croatia

Previously, Croatia was also one of the countries that enforced the “no alcohol in the blood” law, but under pressure from the tourism industry, the government had to change the law. Accordingly, Croatia has issued a regulation that legal drivers must have a blood alcohol concentration of less than 40 ml.

However, if the driver violates traffic laws or causes an accident, he may face the penalty imposed under the “no alcohol in the blood” law, but the fine is quite small at only 70 euros.

Virtue

According to the European traffic law system, the alcohol concentration in the body of traffic participants is only allowed to be below 0.5 milligrams/1 liter of breath. This regulation is applied to most Western European countries. However, for drivers carrying children under 2 years old or under 21 years old and taxi drivers, the law stipulates that they are not allowed to drink alcohol.

In Germany, penalties for drink driving increase with the number of offences. The first offence results in a fine of 500 euros, the second is 1,000 euros and the third is 3,000 euros.

Older brother

August 1967 was the first time the British government approved a law regulating the alcohol concentration in the body of traffic participants. After 10 years of implementation, British experts said that this regulation helped 6,000 people avoid the tragedy of becoming victims of traffic accidents.

The current legal limit for alcohol in the UK is 0.8 milligrams per litre of breath. However, the UK has become the most stringent country in Europe by imposing a fine of 7,200 euros on those who break the law.

France

In France, if a driver has a blood alcohol level of 0.8 milligrams per liter of breath, he will have to appear in court and pay a fine of 135 euros. If he exceeds 0.8 milligrams per liter of breath, he will have to pay an administrative fine of 4,500 euros and 30,000 euros if he causes a traffic accident.

In case the driver causes a serious accident, he will have to pay a fine of 150,000 euros and spend 10 years in prison. In addition, all motorcyclists must carry a blood alcohol meter. For car drivers, when leaving the restaurant, they must check their blood alcohol level before getting in the car to leave. If the driver is found not to have checked his alcohol level, he will be fined.

America

In the United States, traffic regulations are stricter than in many other countries. If a driver is caught driving, he or she could face up to six months or a year in jail or have his or her license revoked. For drivers over 21, the blood alcohol limit is 0.8 milligrams per liter of breath. First-time offenders will be fined $300 and banned from driving for six months.

If the police find a driver who commits a second offense within a 10-year period, he will be fined $5,000 and a third $10,000. If the driver causes a fatal accident, he will be sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, this regulation varies from state to state.

Singapore

The blood alcohol level for drivers in Singapore is set at 0.08 milligrams per liter of breath. If you drive while drunk, you will be fined S$5,000 plus 6 months in prison. If you repeat the offence, you will be fined up to S$1 million and imprisoned for 1 year, banned from driving and caned. The caning is only applicable to male offenders under 50 years of age.

China

For drunk drivers who cause fatal traffic accidents, Chinese law can sentence them to death. If a motorcyclist is caught drunk, he is still considered guilty and faces a sentence of 1-6 months in prison, or even a 3-year driving ban.

Thailand

Thai law stipulates that drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of less than 0.05 milligrams per liter of breath are allowed. And those who violate the law and cause fatal traffic accidents can be sentenced to death by the court.

Japan

In the land of the rising sun, with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.03 milligrams per liter of breath, drivers may have to pay a large fine and be banned from driving for a long period of time.

In case the driver causing the accident intentionally flees the scene, he will be banned from driving for 10 years.

Even the person riding in the car with the drunk driver is subject to punishment. If the driver is drunk and his passenger is an adult, the person will be fined $3,000 for covering up the crime. The driver will be fined at least $8,700 or serve five years in prison.

In addition, drunk drivers will have their licenses revoked for life if they cause an accident that kills more than one pedestrian.

Even bartenders are not allowed to sell alcohol to customers if they know they will be driving. If they do, the bar will lose its license.

Unique and strange punishments:

Malaysia

When a driver is caught drinking and driving, he will be sentenced to prison. If he is married, his wife will also be imprisoned.

Australia

The name of the drunk driver will be published in the local newspaper under the headline: “He was drunk and went to jail.”

South Africa

Drunk drivers face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Türkiye

Police will take the drunk driver about 30 kilometers out of town and force him to walk back to the same location while a police convoy drives alongside to monitor.

Finland and Sweden

According to the regulations of these two countries, drunk drivers are of course subject to a year of hard labor.

Costa Rica

Police have the right to confiscate license plates in cases of drunk driving.

Mexico and Canada

Mexican and Canadian customs officers have the right to deny entry to a citizen if he or she has a history of drunk driving.

The content is made through reference to information sources from THELAW.TV, a legal consulting information channel founded by lawyer Brian Albert, headquartered in the US, and the website Thisiscolossal.com

According to Infonet