The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has offered to toughen the criminal liability for drunk drivers involved in deadly car accidents.
“To amend Article 286 … we offer to increase the punishment … we also offer to make a change to this article of the code, which separately provides for the driver’s responsibility for traffic violations committed under the influence, and to set severe punishment,” Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov said. The minister was outlining legislative proposals developed by the Interior Ministry in the field of traffic safety during a special meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in Kyiv on Nov. 10.
According to him, the Interior Ministry proposes to establish responsibility for violating traffic rules for drivers who drive a vehicle under the influence: for inflicting bodily injuries of medium gravity, impose a sentence of up to three years with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of three to five years. Currently, the sanction provides for a punishment in the form of a fine from 200 to 500 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (1 minimum monthly wage – Hr 17) or correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest for up to six months, or restriction of freedom for up to three years with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for up to three years or without it.
In addition, said Avakov, the Interior Ministry proposes “for violation of traffic rules by persons who drive vehicles intoxicated that caused the death of a person or caused serious bodily harm, a penalty of imprisonment from seven to twelve years with deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle for a period of five to ten years.”
At present, this sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term from three to eight years with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for up to three years or without it.
