front page > latest news
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Published 2008.07.17
The Municipal Police would like to remind you that several amendments have been made to articles 186 and 187 of the Italian Highway Code, concerning 'driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs' by the introduction of Law no. 92 of 23 May 2008 on 'Urgent measures concerning public safety'.
With reference to art. 186, 'Driving under the influence of alcohol', those caught driving with:
-
a level of between 0.8 and 1.5 g/l of alcohol in their blood will be fined between 800 and 3200 euros, and sentenced to up to 6 months in prison, with suspension of their driving licence from 6 to 12 months,
-
those with over 1.5 g/l of alcohol in their blood will be fined between 1500 and 6000 euros and sentenced to between 3 and 12 months in prison, with suspension of their driving licence from 1 to 2 years. The vehicle will also be confiscated, unless it belongs to a third party, with vehicles being confiscated in all circumstances in which the driver causes a road accident.
-
If the driver refuses to be breathalysed, the incident will then be classed as a crime and no longer be subject to administrative sanctions only, with the application of the most serious punishment among those listed. With regard to art. 187, “Driving under the influence of drugs”, the sanction now goes from 1500 to 6000 euros, with a sentence of between 3 and 12 months in prison and licence suspension from 6 to 12 months. Also in this case, the vehicle will be confiscated, unless it belongs to a third party. Refusal to be breathalysed will result in the application of criminal as opposed to simply administrative sanctions.
-
The sanctions applicable to those who fail to provide aid in the event of an accident or who abandon the scene of the accident have also been made harsher.