Government and Policy

New law to punish harder on drunk drivers

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-22 21:36

BEIJING - Drunk drivers in China will face a revocation of their driver's licenses, according to an amendment to the the Road Traffic Safety Law, which was approved Friday by China's top legislature.

Related readings:  China mulls harsher penalties on drunk driving  Drunk drivers may face driving licenses revocation

Following the revocation, they will have to wait five years to recover the licenses, under the amendment.

The amendment also stipulates that the driver's license will be revoked permanently if the drunk driving causes an accident serious enough to constitute a crime.

Those who drive after drinking alcohol, but not intoxicated, will face a six-month suspension of their driver's license and a fine of 1,000 yuan (around $153) to 2,000 yuan.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or the country's top legislature, concluded its three-day bimonthly session Friday.

According to China's current criteria, drunk drivers refer to those having 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

China's previous law stipulates a license suspension of three to six months for drunk drivers.

In recent years, fatal car accidents in big cities such as Chengdu, Nanjing and Hangzhou have triggered heated public outcry and calls for stricter penalties for drunk driving.

Also according to the amendment, those who drive with fake vehicle plates and driving licenses, will face up to 15 days of jail term, plus a fine of 2,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan.

Currently, such drivers will face a fine of 200 to 2,000 yuan. Further, those who drive a vehicle with a plate that belongs to another vehicle, would face a fine of 2,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan under the amendment, higher than the current fine of 200 to 2,000 yuan.