What happens to drunk drivers in your country?

[Alelanza]

So they have recently tightened up road laws in my country, Costa Rica, and I'm curious to know how it is in your respective places of origin/where you currently live. As of a few days ago, here if you are caught with say the equivalent of 2-6 beers (take or give, as you know this varies a lot amongst individual organisms) you would in the worst case scenario go to jail 8 years, lose your car (state absorbs it) and receive an ~$800 US dollar fine. Best case scenario a few years of community service and maybe lose the car too or lose the driver's license for 2 years. In essence you are taken to jail straight away upon being stopped and by next day a judge would dictate what's to happen to you after weighing the condition you were in while drunk driving. Of course once taken in you get a blood test after the initial breath test.
So there you have it, on the one hand letting you know in case anyone's planning to visit (a few tourists have been part of the first wave of detainees) and also interested in comparing this new law to existing ones across the globe

[5vz-fe]

Depending on your body mass, 2 pints usually get you to the Canadian limit. If I drive, I usually limit myself to 1 just to be safe.

I think the first offense is criminal record, fine and license suspension. Pretty sure any offenses after that will result in jail time.

I think it is only fair to jail ppl that put others life at risk.

[pagani]

We let them walk home
lol

[fabro_s]

Something like 3 to 6 beers you get a 200 dollar fine and the police get your car, you need another 100 dollars to get it back.

6 to say like 10 beers you get a 900 dollar fine, 8 hours of jail and the police takes your car.

Wasted means a 2000 dollar fine, 30 hours of jail cops get your car and you have your licence taken away for 1 year.

[RC45]

"What happes to drunk drivers that kill someone, your country?" is the real question. And "What happens to repeat drunk drivers that go on to kill someone, your country?".

I believe the legal blood alcohol limit should be 0.0%.

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by RC45 "What happes to drunk drivers that kill someone, your country?" is the real question. And "What happens to repeat drunk drivers that go on to kill someone, your country?". I believe the legal blood alcohol limit should be 0.0%.

Hear hear.

And for the people in the USA, it's more of what happens to drunk drivers in your state.

In California,

If you are 21 years of age or older, took a blood or breath test, or (if applicable) a urine test, and the results showed 0.08% BAC or more: A first offense will result in a 4-month suspension. A second or subsequent offense within 10 years will result in a 1-year suspension. If you were 21 years of older at the time of arrest and you refused or failed to complete a blood or breath test, or (if applicable) a urine test: A first offense will result in a 1-year suspension. A second offense within 10 years will result in a 2-year revocation. A third or subsequent offense within 10 years will result in a 3-year revocation. If you were under 21 years of age at the time of being detained or arrested and you refused or failed to complete a PAS test or other chemical test: A first offense will result in a 1-year suspension. A second offense within 10 years will result in a 2-year revocation. A third or subsequent offense within 10 years will result in a 3-year revocation. Your driver license will be returned to you at the end of the suspension or revocation, provided you pay (on or after January 1, 2003) a $125 reissue fee to the DMV and you file proof of financial responsibility. The reissue fee remains at $100 if you were under age 21 and were suspended under the Zero Tolerance Law pursuant to Vehicle Code §§23136, 13353.1, 13388, 13392. If it is determined that there is not a basis for the suspension or revocation, your driver license will be issued or returned to you.

But it really doesn't keep drunk people off the roads.

[simona]

If they are over the limit, they should be shot on site. That will discourage anyone plus it will weed out the dumbasses in the population.

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by simona If they are over the limit, they should be shot on site. That will discourage anyone plus it will weed out the dumbasses in the population.

Where are you from again?

[haro]

In the start sorry for my english. I'm from latvia and in latvia for drunk car driver it's hell and heaven in the same time. If you get busted and you have been drunk, you get some penalty points, collect 16 penalty points and lose your driving licence for2 years and car is confiscated till you pay 200 LS fine (its about 400 dollars). If you get 2 points for driving drunk, you go to jail from 24h to 1 month (its related how drunk you are). Now in latvia is more than 100000 people waiting to go to jail. Its just stupid. their is no place in jail for real kriminals who kills and robber other peoples, but their is place for drivers who drink to much.

[e46drew]

I hear that in some places that;
-first- you are casterated
-second- you get a brzilian wax
-third- you are draged behind a police car through the streets
-fourth- you get drawn and quartred
and last but not least
------ you may get a ticket

[Alelanza]

Wow, so it seems that relatively speaking we're going pretty hardcore then. Well like someone else said, jail space will be an issue. So far it seems several non repeat drunk drivers have gotten a deal of not going to jail provided they give the car to the state and do community service. Seems like a good balance to me.

[Mattk]

In my state, the legal limit is 0.05, which is not very high. Low range drink driving is not that bad and will get you a fine and possible suspension of licence. High range drink driving is a criminal offence comes with a fine and a compulsory two-year suspension of your licence. You probably won't be imprisoned in NSW unless you break your suspension twice, but that is another issue altogether. If you hurt someone whilst drunk, that is also another issue altogether.

[numbat91]

Here in Argentina they get your car and send you home.It is what i would say flexible.
P.D:Except in Buenos Aires the capital city whre there is a fresh scoring system where they take out points from the license and you have to pay a fine

[10000rpmlover]

I don't think drunk drivers should be punished

ok now bear with my philosophy on this, we as a species have attained the highest platteau as a lifeform on this planet, therefore we no longer hunt to survive, we no longer have to fear our offspring being eaten by lions and other wild beasts, we have medicines, science and can treat a lot of nature designed illneses

WHAT HAS ALL OF THAT DONE? well we are above natural selection and most idiots get to grow up, most inept and inadequate morons procreate and perpetuate the circle of idiocy, so they drive drunk, commit attrocities, buy 4 bangers, vote for a socialist governement and believe in scientology....

I say let nature run its course, matter of fact help it out by having the cops provide safe places for the morons to go crash their cars against a 6 foot deep steel wall, have the cops guide the drunks to facilities where they can happily go jump onto the third rail of a train system, we need natural selection or in a couple more generations we will be so stupid that damn chimps will emerge as the dominant species, I am so appalled at the fact that most kids cannot even write their own name by the time they are in 4th grade that I feel ashamed to say they are human

it is downright necessary to wipe out the dumb arse genes from the human genome

[Mattk]

^Unfortunately, your logic fails when you consider that drunk drivers often cause accidents involving other vehicles, meaning innocents get injured and their cars get smashed.