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Drunken driving caused 22 deaths last year say police |
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 A.M. Costa Rica staff The traffic police report that in 2018, there were 22 drunken drivers who died in vehicle accidents, one more than in 2017. Police also report that they detained 128 drivers who had consumed alcohol for each person who died while driving drunk. In total, 16 out of every 100 drivers who were subjected to the breathalyzer test tested positive for alcohol or 2,815 positive tests of 18,003 given. In 2017, only 12 percent of the tests administered were positive, reflecting an increase in detected cases. Police point out that that for each person who died at the wheel due to alcohol, 128 were arrested for drunken driving and that may have saved their lives and the lives of innocent third parties. German Marin, director of the Traffic Police, says that the figures are important, since they shows that almost 2 out of 10 people have the habit of driving drunk. "This behavior is very regrettable, not only detecting almost 3,000 drivers in a state of disability by alcohol, but most deserved to be remitted to the Public Ministry to face a criminal case for such behavior. It reflects a level of irresponsibility impossible to understand or justify and in that sense, in 2019, we will act even more strongly to attack this problem, starting from now with the Fiestas de Palmares*,"said Marin. Transit authorities point out that in most of the cases where a driver tested positive, the driver was in a state of absolute drunkenness and totally incapacitated. Of the 2,815 cases detected, 2,066 exceeded the highest levels of blood alcohol allowed by the traffic law. This means 73 percent of offenders exceeded the maximum level of alcohol. |
 A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo The police registered breathalyzer tested positive for alcohol on 2,815 drivers. A clear example, were the arrests during the Palmares Festival*. According to the police, 2 drivers were driving while intoxicated. In addition to the criminal cases, the police surprised 400 drivers under the influence of alcohol, in 2018, but at such low levels that no judicial or economic sanction occurred. Another 349 drivers did receive a fine of ¢312,298.73 ($515.82) which will force them to take a one-week road re-education course and earn a minimum grade of 80 in order to renew their licenses. ---- Should the laws be changed and licenses suspended for a longer period of time if someone is found to be driving drunk? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com *Click on the blue letters to reach the place in google maps. |
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