Driving after drinking two beers is crime under new Czech law

Prague- Driving after drinking two or three Czech beers, which is the equivalent of 0.8 per mille of alcohol in one's blood, is a crime under a new traffic law taking effect as of July, traffic police head Zdenek Bambas told journalists today.

Until now, drinking behind the wheel was qualified merely as an offence unless a driver was caught drunk several times or caused a serious accident.

"Now it will always be a crime, even if it happens for the first time, without any accident or injuries," Bambas said.

Bambas today admitted that the new traffic law has several flaws, such as that it deals exclusively with drivers, even though some of the offences listed may be committed also by cyclists. He also said that unauthorised use of the beacon was punished in a too mild way in comparison to other offences with the new point system.

"I don't want to comment on the law as the deputies passed it. Police will respect it," Bambas said. He added he believes that the new point system will be amended sooner or later.

Author: ČTK.

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=196701