New law: Drunk drivers in Uzbekistan face prison terms

A new law establishing criminal liability for drunk driving and evading a traffic inspection has been adopted in Uzbekistan. The law, titled “On Amendments and Changes to the Criminal, Criminal Procedure Codes of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Code of Administrative Responsibility in Connection with the Improvement of the Road Safety System,” was passed on February 20 and takes effect upon its official publication.

Key Amendments to the Criminal Code

Under the new regulations, criminal liability has been introduced for:

• Illegal preparation, transfer, or use of state license plates or identification numbers of motor vehicles and trailers.
• Forgery of documents related to vehicle registration and identification.
• Violations in driver training, retraining, examination, and certification processes.
• Driving a vehicle while intoxicated or evading an inspection.
• Operating a vehicle after being deprived of the right to drive.
• Violating safety regulations when using vehicles powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or mixed fuels.

Repeat drunk driving offenses will now be subject to criminal punishment, including:

• Deprivation of certain rights for up to three years.
• Correctional labor for two to three years.
• Imprisonment for two to three years.

Rising Drunk Driving Cases in Uzbekistan

The decision to impose stricter measures follows a concerning rise in drunk driving violations:

• 2021: 40,542 cases
• 2022: 47,365 cases
• 2023: 41,866 cases
• 2024: 31,436 cases (as of February)

Additionally, nearly 8,000 drivers in 2024 were found guilty of repeat drunk driving offenses after previously facing administrative penalties.

According to official data, 32,723 cases were reviewed under Article 131 (drunk driving) and Article 136 (evasion of sobriety testing) of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, leading to fines, license revocations, and administrative detention for 31,351 citizens.

The introduction of criminal liability marks a major step in strengthening road safety measures and reducing the number of intoxicated drivers on Uzbekistan's roads.