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International News

Manila enacts tougher law against drunk driving

August 28, 2013 posted by Steve Brownstein

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has signed a new law imposing heavy penalties on drunk driving induced by alcohol or drugs with a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment of up to 12 years, according to a Malacanang Palace official.

Abigail Valte, the deputy presidential spokesman, pointed out the law aimed to ensure road safety and stop the alarming increase in the number of vehicular incidents as well as deaths and injuries resulting from drunk driving nationwide.

Valte explained the minimum penalty imposed was a three-month imprisonment and a fine of from $500 to $2,000 if the violation did not result in physical injuries.

But if the drunk driving resulted in death, Valte said the law imposes a penalty of a maximum $10,000 fine plus a jail term of up to 12 years.

Under the law, driving under the influence (DUI) is described as “overspeeding, weaving, lane straddling, sudden stops, swerving, poor co-ordination, evident smell of alcohol in a person’s breath or signs of use of dangerous drugs and other similar substances.”

In addition, she said the licence of the non-professional driver would be suspended for 12 months for the first conviction by the court. On second conviction, the licence would be permanently revoked, she added.

For professional drivers, their licences would be confiscated and permanently revoked for the first conviction, which shall be the basis to disqualify the driver from being granted any kind of licence hereafter, Valte warned.

The law mandates the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and deputised local traffic enforcers to conduct sobriety tests on drivers suspected of drunk driver.

It also requires traffic enforcers to use a breath analyser (breathalyser), a gadget to determine the blood alcohol concentration level of a person through testing of his/her breath.