In Latvia, as of today, when administrative arrest no longer exists, increased fines will be imposed on drinking drivers.
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Until now, administrative penalties were specified in the Latvian Code of Administrative Violations, but as of today, administrative penalties are included in sectoral legislation. In December 2018, the Saeima in the final reading supported the new Law on Administrative Liability, which from today introduces a number of changes in the procedure for drawing up administrative penalties.
Amendments to the Road Traffic Law provide for increased penalties, as from now on there will no longer be an administrative arrest in Latvia, which was applied to intoxicated drivers.
A fine of EUR 120 will be imposed on a cyclist and EUR 850 to EUR 1,400 on a driver of another vehicle for driving or being taught to drive a vehicle if the blood alcohol content of the exhaled air or blood test exceeds 1 ppm but does not exceed 1.5 ppm. deprivation of rights for three years.
The sanctions in force so far provided for a fine of 120 euros for a driver of a bicycle and moped, and an administrative arrest and fine of 850 to 1200 euros for the driver of another vehicle, as well as a two-year deprivation of rights.
If the number of per mille detected exceeds 1.5, the driver will be fined between 1,200 and 2,000 euros and deprived of the right to five years. The same penalty shall apply to persons if the said offense is committed under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, toxic or other intoxicating substances.
To date, such offenses have been subject to administrative detention and fines of between € 1,200 and € 1,400, as well as four years’ imprisonment.
The amendments to the law also stipulate that a driver will be able to be fined between 1,200 and 2,000 euros for driving away from the police and deprived of the right to drive for five years.
The amendments to the law identify a number of other violations for which the fine has been increased.
For example, failure to provide information about the driver or its legal user will result in a fine of between 70 and 700 euros for the owner of the vehicle from today. In this way, it is intended to reduce the vehicle owner’s interest in creating conditions which enable him to avoid being held administratively liable for the commission of the offense in question or to enable other persons to avoid it.
It is also envisaged that driving a vehicle whose number plate does not comply with the national standard is completely or partially altered, covered, covered with protective materials, mechanically damaged, folded or otherwise concealed, the driver will be fined from 55 to 140 euros.
Also in the future, drivers’ documents will be able to be checked by employees of the municipal transport control service.
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