Police in Latvia support making drunk driving a criminal offence

Latvian State Police supports making drunk driving a criminal offence, as confirmed by the police.
State Police Traffic Safety Department Chief Juris Jančevskis explains that currently the biggest problem is drivers who drive their cars while inebriated – above 1.5 permille. Analysis of violations involving drunk drivers reveals that most of the drunk drivers were severely drunk when they were caught.
«These drunk drivers present the biggest risk of road traffic accidents. This has been the case for a long time, unfortunately. The situation with drunk drivers remains unchanged for many years,» says Jančevskis.
One of the ways to help solve this problem is imposing criminal liability for drunk driving starting from a specific level of alcohol concentration in the blood.
Situations when drivers sit behind a wheel while drunk represent intentional actions. People who do that likely do not even consider the consequences of their actions.
Such intentionally reckless behaviour should carry sufficient responsibility, said Jančevskis.
He also reminded that State Police had previously turned to the Saeima with a proposal to make drunk driving while (1.5 permille) a criminal offence, but no support was gathered.