Criminal liability introduced for repeat drunk driving (video)

Recent amendments to the Criminal Code establish criminal liability for individuals caught driving under the influence multiple times. The penalties include the deprivation of certain rights for up to three years, correctional labor ranging from two to three years, or imprisonment for two to three years. This was announced in the law "On Amendments to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Improving Road Safety," which was approved by senators on January 24 during the third plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.

Senator Kutbiddin Burhonov, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense and Security, addressed the meeting, highlighting alarming statistics: 40,542 drunk driving violations were recorded in 2021, 47,365 in 2022, 41,866 in 2023, and 31,436 in 2024.

"The most concerning aspect is that nearly 8,000 drivers in 2024 were found to have repeatedly driven under the influence, even after facing administrative penalties for previous offenses," Senator Burhonov said.

The law also introduces additional criminal liabilities, including:

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Right to photograph and videotape law enforcement officers preserved

- Violation of the procedure for training, retraining, and conducting exams for motor vehicle drivers, as well as issuing driver's licenses.
- Driving a vehicle after the individual’s driving rights have been revoked.
- Failure to adhere to safety protocols when operating vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or a mixture of diesel and gaseous fuels.

Additionally, the law addresses violations under the Code of Administrative Responsibility, focusing on offenses related to aggressive driving behaviors, such as "drifting," "chess" driving, and other actions that obstruct traffic flow.

"It should be noted that in 2024, 22% of violations detected only with the help of photo and video devices were committed by one driver of a vehicle up to 4 times, 18% - from 5 to 10 times, 9.5% - from 11 to 20 times, 1.3% - from 31 to 40 times, and note that 0.1%, or 22 thousand drivers, committed more than 100 traffic violations," Burhonov said.

Finally, Senator Burhonov reported that in 2024, there were 9,364 road accidents in Uzbekistan, resulting in 2,203 fatalities and 8,901 injuries.