Belarus tightens punishment for drunk drivers

Drivers who get behind the wheel while intoxicated may face harsher penalties. This is stated in the Law "On Amendments to the Codes on Criminal Liability", which was published on the National Legal Internet Portal on January 13.

In particular, for an accident caused by drunk driving, which resulted in death or grievous bodily harm, the driver of the vehicle may face three to eight years in prison. Today, the maximum term for this article is seven years.

In addition, penalties will be tightened for those who drive while intoxicated, as well as for drivers who repeatedly get behind the wheel while drunk within a year. Now, the right to drive a vehicle can be revoked for a maximum period of up to eight years; previously, it was five years.

The new norms come into force three months after the official publication of the law.