Traffic Law Reforms
Would Mean Mandatory
Jail For Drunk Drivers
Four years jail without
the condition of parole
is what the Comisión de
Asuntos Jurídicos is
being asked by a number
of legislators to
include in the reforms
of the Ley de Tránsito
for drunk drivers
involved in a traffic
accident resulting in
death.
Articles 118 and 118 of
the Código Penal (Penal
Code) imposes fines and
jail of up to eight
years for causing death
while drunk driving.
However, most of the
drunk drivers do not end
up in jail, as judges
impose fines and
suspended sentences in
many cases.
The changes to the Ley
de Tránsito would make
jail mandatory,
eliminating suspended
sentences or time off
for good behaviour and
conditional release.
The reform would allow
the courts to hand out
jail sentences of
between four and 15
years for "homicidio
culposo" (homicide) and
from four to 10 years
for "lesions cupolsas"
(serious injuries).
In this way, according
to Alexánder Mora, head
of the Comisión de
Jurídicos, even is a
judge imposes the
minimum sentence, drunk
drivers will spend at
least four years behind
bars.
The reforms to the Ley
de Tránsito also
proposes to increase the
term of ban from
driving. In the event of
a death, the drunk
driver would lose his or
her license from between
12 and 25 years, up from
the current 10 to 20,
and in the case of
serious injuries, from 4
to 12 years, up from the
current 5.
The changes are being
supported by a number of
legislators on the
commission.
Mora added that he feels
confident that the
commission will end its
work by the end of the
month so that it can be
added to agenda of the
Poder Ejecutivo and make
it to the legislative
floor for discussion and
voting.
Some of the other
changes to the reforms
to the Ley de Tránsito
are higher fines and the
mandatory use of helmets
by bicycle riders. |
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