The MPs adopted in the first reading a bill that introduces harsher penalties for persons who drive under the influence of alcohol. When the given provisions take effect, the drivers caught under the influence will be immediately striped of license for a period of six months if it is the first deviation of the kind and for up to three years if it is not the first violation of the kind. The period will be decided by court within three days and the person in the period will not be able to drive based on a temporary license, IPN reports.
The bill provides that the driver who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or other substances is obliged to take the alcotest and the medical examination and to give blood at the request of the ascertaining agent. The vehicle of the person who is prevented from driving is taken to a special parking place or to the closest police station if this cannot be handed over to the owner or the representative of this.
Under other changes, the driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is penalized with a fine of 17,500 to 25,000 lei or 40 to 60 hours of community services, in both of the cases with ban on driving for a period of six months to a year.
The persons caught driving inebriated after they were banned from driving by court decision will be obligated to attend an anti-alcohol and anti-drug probation program that will be decided by the probation counselor.
The bill is to be adopted in the final reading.
