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United Russia to suggest fine up to 100 thousand roubles for drunk driving

I believe a punishment should be tightened radically, the present 5,000 are out of question,- Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Andrei Vorobyov
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, September 24 (Itar-Tass) —— United Russia will suggest introducing a fine of up to 100,000 roubles for drunk driving, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Andrei Vorobyov, Head of United Russia, said on Monday.

“We shall prepare necessary addendums this week,” Vorobyov said.

“I believe a punishment should be tightened radically, the present 5,000 are out of question,” he said. “If we look at our neighbours, for example, Belarus, there the fine is about 2,500 dollars.”

“Thus we shall suggest a fine of at least 100,000 roubles for drunk driving.”

Besides, the faction would insist on bigger responsibility for repeated violation. If a person violated the law repeatedly, we shall suggest introducing criminal responsibility, like most countries have.”

“Presently, the Criminal Code /Article 264/ introduces a punishment only if drunk driving causes victims,” he said. “Thus, now, a drunk driver violating the law repeatedly may be punished to a maximum of ten days.”

“The judicial practice demonstrates that now 7.5 days is an average punishment for those who drive while drunk. This is beyond the limits,” he said. “Even if there are no victims, but a person was detained for drunk driving for several times, a criminal responsibility should be.”

On September 22, the police initiated criminal proceedings in connection with a road accident on Moscow’s Minskaya Street where a reckless drunk driver killed seven people, including four women, and injured three. A drunk driver of a Toyota car rammed into a public transport stop at a very high speed killing seven people and injuring three. Police detained the driver who was taken to hospital. The results of medical examination have confirmed that the man was drunk.

The police initiated criminal proceedings according to part one of Article 264 of the Russian Penal Code: an action committed by a person who was in a drunk state that led to the death of two or more people. The maximum punishment under this article is nine years of imprisonment and a ban to drive a car for a period of up to three years.