Starting with September 7, the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or without a license will increase considerably. Thus, if a person is caught driving in an advanced state of intoxication, this risks a fine of up to 125,000 lei or even imprisonment of up to 3 years, in both cases with ban on driving. The refusal to take a breathalyzer or drug test and the avoidance of a medical examination to establish the degree of drunkenness will be punished with fines of up to 150,000 lei or imprisonment for a term of 1 to 4 years, in both cases with ban on driving, IPN reports.

The new legal provisions also refer to blood alcohol levels. Specifically, alcohol concentrations for drunkenness are increased. Thus, the state of alcoholic intoxication with a minimum degree will be from 0.3 g/l to 0.7 g/l in blood or from 0.15 mg/l to 0.35 mg/l in exhaled air. Until now, these values were from 0.3 g/l to 0.5 g/l in blood or from 0.15 mg/l to 0.30 mg/l in exhaled air.

An advanced state of intoxication will be considered when alcohol concentration of 0.7 g/l in blood or 0.35 mg/l in exhaled air is exceeded. Until September 7, advanced degree was considered alcohol concentration higher than 0.5 g/l in blood or 0.30 mg/l in exhaled air.

At the same time, legal liability for driving a vehicle in a state of alcoholic or drug intoxication is toughened. Thus, if drivers have a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.3 g/l or alcohol vapor in exhaled air exceeding 0.15 mg/l, they will be punished with a fine of 35,000 to 50,000 lei or with 10 to 15 days of arrest, in both cases with ban on driving for a period of 6 months to 3 years.

Consciously allowing an intoxicated person to drive the vehicle will be punished with a fine of 35,000 to 50,000 lei or with 10 to 15 days of arrest, in both cases with ban on driving for a period of 6 months to 3 years.

If the concentration of alcohol in blood exceeds 0.7 g/l or alcohol vapor in exhaled air exceeds 0.35 mg/l or if they are intoxicated by narcotic substances, the drivers risk a fine of 75,000 to 125,000 lei or imprisonment of 1 to 3 years,  in both cases with ban on driving.

Consciously allowing a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to drive the vehicle and this caused an accident will be punished with a fine of 75,000 to 125,000 lei or with imprisonment from 1 to 3 years, in both cases with the ban on driving.

The use of alcohol or drugs by a driver involved in a road accident will be punishable by a fine of 100,000 to 150,000 lei or by imprisonment of 1 to 4 years, in both cases with ban on driving. If the person does not have a driving license or is banned from driving, this will be punished with a fine of 125,000 to 150,000 lei or imprisonment of 2 to 5 years.