Police empowered to confiscate cars from first-offence drunk drivers

Tougher laws on drunk driving will become a reality on Tuesday and allow the police to take the car away from intoxicated drivers, even if it's their first offence.

The government has decided that the consequence of driving with a blood alcohol level above 2.0 permille should be the immediate confiscation of the car. 

"We are making it easier to confiscate the car earlier, so when the police stop someone who is heavily intoxicated, or someone who drives drunk again and again, they can take away the car, sell it and give the money to the state," the legal spokesperson for Socialdemokraterne, Trine Bramsen, told DR.

READ MORE: Drive drunk and lose the car

Recurring drunk drivers
After the new rules become effective on Tuesday, drivers with a blood alcohol level of more than 1.2 will also have their car confiscated, if they have been pulled over with a level above the legal limit of 0.5 once in the last three years.

While the traffic safety council, Rådet for Sikker Trafik, supports the tougher penalties, the council suggests that more is done to prevent drunk drivers by treating their alcoholism.




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