The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has released six typical cases to clarify legal provisions concerning drunk driving. These cases illustrate six different scenarios of drunk driving offenses, aiming to raise public awareness of the legal consequences of such behavior and to prevent and reduce the occurrence of these crimes at the source.
According to the released cases, individuals who engage in illegal driving behavior, including speeding and driving against traffic while evading checks or fleeing accident scenes, repeatedly colliding with vehicles or pedestrians while intoxicated, or showing a reckless disregard for public safety, will face severe criminal penalties for endangering public safety through dangerous means.
Other circumstances that warrant heavier penalties include severe intoxication causing traffic accidents followed by fleeing the scene, repeat drunk driving offenses committed by individuals who show no signs of reform after previous punishments, actions of escaping or obstructing law enforcement checks after being caught drunk driving, denying the fact of drunk driving, providing false statements made by relatives, or seeking substitutes from acquaintances, and driving vehicles inconsistent with the driver's license while intoxicated.
According to the head of the SPP's Procuratorial Department for General Crimes, the Supreme People's Court, the SPP, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Justice jointly issued guidelines for handling criminal cases involving dangerous drunk driving at the end of 2023.
The guidelines unified standards for law enforcement and judicial practices in handling drunk driving cases, and ensured strict law enforcement and impartial justice. They emphasized the comprehensive and correct implementation of criminal policy of tempering justice with mercy, and ensured strict and law-based punishment of drunk driving offenses, resulting in improved public legal awareness and a notable decline in both the incidence and prosecution of drunk driving cases, the official said.
However, some drivers remain unaware of relevant laws and updated regulations, and their insufficient legal awareness continues to contribute to the prevalence of such incidents. The release of the cases aims to further guide drivers fully recognize the severe dangers and legal consequences of drunk driving, and urge them to avoid this behavior and foster a safer, more orderly, and civilized road traffic environment, the official added.
