New law increases penalties for speeding and drunk driving

Road accidents continue to pose serious social, economic, and environmental challenges in Uzbekistan. Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries or lose their lives in traffic incidents. The primary causes include speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, and other violations.

On February 20, Uzbekistan adopted the law “On Amendments and Additions to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and the Code of Administrative Responsibility”, introducing significant changes to road safety regulations.

Under the new law, drivers who continue to operate a vehicle after being stripped of their driving rights will now face criminal liability. Article 261-2 of the Criminal Code establishes that violators may be subject to:

• A fine of 50 to 100 times the basic calculation amount (18.75 million to 37 million soums),
• Correctional labor for up to two years,
• Imprisonment for up to three years.

Additionally, Article 195-2 has been introduced into the Code of Administrative Responsibility, making it illegal to distort or distribute photos and videos of law enforcement officers performing their duties in a way that discredits them, including on the internet. Such violations carry a penalty of 20 to 50 times the basic calculation amount or administrative arrest for up to 10 days.

Another key change concerns penalty points. A driver who accumulates more than 12 points within a year will be deprived of their driving privileges. Under the updated administrative code, penalty points are issued in addition to existing fines for violations, with a maximum of 2 points per offense. These points remain active for one year before being automatically removed. If a driver exceeds 12 points, they will be banned from driving for a minimum of six months.

The law also introduces criminal liability for driving under the influence or evading breathalyzer tests. The penalties apply to:

• Illegal use, transfer, or forgery of state license plates or vehicle identification numbers,
• Violations in driver training, certification, and examination procedures,
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated or evading DUI tests,
• Driving while under a driving ban,
• Failing to comply with safety regulations for gas-powered vehicles.

Repeated drunk driving offenses now carry severe consequences, including:

• Up to three years of license revocation,
• Correctional labor for two to three years,
• Imprisonment for two to three years.

Statistics show that 40,542 drunk driving violations were recorded in 2021, 47,365 in 2022, 41,866 in 2023, and 31,436 in 2024. In 2024 alone, nearly 8,000 drivers were caught driving under the influence despite prior administrative penalties.

Additionally, 32,723 cases were reviewed under Articles 131 and 136 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, covering drunk driving and evading breathalyzer tests. As a result, 31,351 drivers were fined, lost their driving privileges, or faced administrative detention.

The law also enforces stricter penalties for speeding. Amendments to Article 128-3 specify:

• Exceeding the speed limit by 20-40 km/h results in a fine of 1.875 million soums (five times the basic calculation amount),
• Exceeding the limit by 40-60 km/h leads to a fine of 3.375 million soums,
• Exceeding the limit by more than 60 km/h results in a fine of 5.625 million soums.

Speeding fines will be calculated after deducting 5 km/h from the recorded speed, to account for speedometer inaccuracies.

In light of these stricter traffic laws, all drivers and pedestrians are urged to strictly follow traffic rules to ensure road safety. Reckless driving puts lives at risk, and it is important to stay informed and warn others about these legal changes.