Driving while drunk

Punishment for Drunk Driving

For drunk driving, the minimum penalty is set as imprisonment, as well as revocation of driving rights for 2 years. If the defendant has been held accountable for a similar crime less than a year ago, the possible punishment can be increased to 4 years. At the discretion of the court, considering special circumstances, a shorter term of rights deprivation may be assigned. In accordance with section 62(3) of the Traffic Rules, a driver can be held accountable for this violation if they were driving or operating a vehicle on a public road or in a public place while intoxicated, specifically:

• for drinking alcohol in the car;
• for the presence of dangerous (narcotic) substances or their analogs in the body;
• for exceeding the allowable blood alcohol concentration according to the established norm;
• for refusal to undergo examination.

Defining Intoxication

Defining intoxication can be complex as the law defines intoxication as having more than 290 micrograms of alcohol on exhale when checked with an alcohol detector. The amount of exhaled alcohol can vary greatly among different people and depends on various factors such as:

• weight
• amount of alcohol consumed
• physiological features of the body in breaking down alcohol

Permissible Alcohol Norm

Established by the Minister of Transport in conjunction with the Minister of Health and the Economic Committee of the Knesset, it is:

• in the analysis of exhaled vapors – not more than 240 mcg ethanol per 1 liter of exhaled air
• in blood analysis – not more than 0.5 permille (50 mg alcohol per 100 ml blood)

Exceptions

However, there are exceptions. The above requirements do not apply to the following persons:

• drivers who have received rights less than a year ago;
• drivers under 24 years old;
• drivers of commercial or working transport, the weight of which exceeds 3,500 kilograms;
• public transport drivers.

Individual Differences

It’s important to note that two people who have consumed the same amount of alcohol may show different results when tested for alcohol. This is related to the individual physiological characteristics of each person.

Why It’s Important to Consult an Attorney

That drunk driving is a serious violation of the law, which can lead to serious legal consequences. Thus, for a favorable resolution of the situation with a charge for driving while intoxicated, it is better to use the services of a criminal lawyer or a traffic accident lawyer. They will help you understand the complexities of the case and provide the necessary information about the current situation and possible consequences, as well as help you minimize the negative consequences associated with the charge. If you have any questions or need legal assistance, feel free to contact us, we are always ready to help, considering your safety and compliance with the law.