The draft law tightens penalties for a number of traffic violations and gives the patrol police expanded powers. This is motivated by the high death rate on the roads and very frequent cases of driving under the influence.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Gerashchenko reported that in 2020, 168,107 accidents occurred in Ukraine, in which 3,541 people died and 31,974 were injured.
Over the past year, more than 120 thousand drivers were deprived of their licenses for drunk driving. However, 9,400 of them were caught again drunk behind the wheel (obviously already without a license), and 7,904 were caught even twice.
The problem is that more than one and a half thousand such motorists avoided responsibility. Of these, 1,097 – due to the transfer of the case to the labor collective or public organization, and 556 – due to the “insignificance” of the violation.
Draft law No. 2695 cancels such indulgences, and also prohibits exemption from criminal liability for traffic violations while intoxicated (Article 286 of the Criminal Code) in connection with repentance, reconciliation with victims, or being placed on bail.
They also plan to increase penalties for traffic violations:
1. For driving a vehicle while intoxicated – a fine of 17,000 hryvnias and deprivation of the right to drive for one year;
- for a repeated violation within a year – 34,000 hryvnias and deprivation of the right to drive for three years with paid seizure of the vehicle (or administrative arrest for 10 days);
- for a third violation within a year – 51,000 hryvnias and deprivation of the right to drive for 10 years with confiscation of the car (or administrative arrest for 15 days);
- for consumption of alcohol or drugs by a person after an accident involving them – 34,000 hryvnias or administrative arrest for 15 days with deprivation of the right to drive for 3 years;
2. For driving a vehicle by a person who has not obtained the right – 3,400 hryvnias;
- for a repeated violation within a year – 40,800 hryvnias with deprivation of the right to drive for 5-7 years (possibly also paid seizure of the vehicle);
3. For driving a vehicle by a person deprived of the right – 20,400 hryvnias.
- for a repeated violation within a year – 40,800 hryvnias with deprivation of the right to drive for 5-7 years (possibly also paid seizure of the vehicle).
- if a person deprived of the right to drive a vehicle commits an offense for which they are also deprived of the right, then the terms of deprivation of the right are summed up.
4. Violation of traffic rules while intoxicated, resulting in the death of the victim – imprisonment for a term of 5 to 10 years with subsequent deprivation of the right to drive for 5-10 years;
- in the case of the death of several people – imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years with deprivation of the right to drive for 7-10 years;
In addition, the National Police is proposed to be allowed to stop vehicles in order to check drivers for alcohol or drugs (following the example of the “Sober Monday” campaigns in Poland). Also, cops will be allowed to attach photo and video equipment to their uniforms or service vehicles.
