Gov’t approves heavier penalties against drink-driving offenders – 15 years maximum jail and RM100,000 fine

Gov’t approves heavier penalties against drink-driving offenders – 15 years maximum jail and RM100,000 fine

The proposed amendments to Sections 41 to 45 of the Road Transport Act 1987 have been tabled in parliament, and heavier penalties are set to be meted out to those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent of causing death, as Bernama reports.

The jail term for such offences has been increased to a maximum of 15 years, with a fine of between RM50,000 to RM100,000 for the first offence. For a subsequent offence, the jail sentence will be between 15 to 20 years and the maximum fine will further be increased to RM150,000. Under the present law, the maximum jail time is 10 years, and the maximum fine is RM20,000.

Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of the conviction.

Gov’t approves heavier penalties against drink-driving offenders – 15 years maximum jail and RM100,000 fine

The increased fines and jail terms were included in the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020, which was tabled for first reading by transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong at the Dewan Rakyat today. Also incorporated into the amendment is a revision of the prescribed limits of alcohol as detected through breathalyser, urine and blood tests, as previously reported.

Currently, the levels adopted by the country stands at 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 ml of breath, 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood or 107 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of urine. These will be lowered to 22 microgrammes of alcohol for every 100 ml of breath, 50 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood or 67 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of urine, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

Wee said the amendments were aimed at addressing not just the issue of drink-driving, but also reckless and dangerous driving as well as driving under the influence of drugs, The Star reports.

Gov’t approves heavier penalties against drink-driving offenders – 15 years maximum jail and RM100,000 fine

He said those who fell asleep while behind the wheel could be charged under the law for reckless driving. “You are also liable and can be charged. If you cause any death, these will be the penalties for you, we are serious. If you cannot control your car, it means it is reckless driving,” he said to a question of whether the law is applicable to those who fell asleep while driving.

Wee added that punishments for offences related to basikal lajak (modified bicycles) and other micro-mobility vehicles will also be increased under the amended laws. He said that in the case of modified bicycles, those above 21 years old would be charged. “But if it involves minors, the parents or guardians who allow them to go out late at night will be fined,” he said.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Amran on Jul 27, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    Well done gomen! Clamp down on these dangerous road users.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 0
    • yes, bravo & please equip the enforcers with more breathalyser units to catch more of these people.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • Harga kopi naik on Jul 27, 2020 at 9:01 pm

      Price up and everybody happy

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Lee Boon Peng on Jul 28, 2020 at 11:40 am

      As always talk big only. Then in reality, all settle under table mah.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 8
  • We Girls of Turkey Stunt on Jul 27, 2020 at 5:46 pm

    too many traffic law breakers on the road thanks to incompetence of jpj and driving schools for many decades.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 13
    • Hantu Raya on Jul 27, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      No mate, you should be thanking also the shit head parents that display little or no respect for traffic laws in front of their kids- monkey see monkey do.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
      • Abdool Ram Leigh on Jul 29, 2020 at 9:55 am

        Plausible those kids also graduated and acquired license from the same driving school(s) or on the road test instructor of their parent(s)?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Dredd on Jul 27, 2020 at 10:04 pm

      JPJ & driving schools never taught students to drive under influence, that comes from the parents. Go blame the parents.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
      • Penjara-kan SoSial on Jul 29, 2020 at 9:48 am

        Why no stern warning on prohibition of driving / riding under the influence of alcohol in driving school syllabus ?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
        • Lets See on Jul 29, 2020 at 5:25 pm

          It is in the syllabus. You just slept right thru it when the instructor was explaining.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Bieight on Jul 27, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    Useless if not properly enforce

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Aghast on Jul 27, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    I am all for clamping down on dangerous road users and that includes the under aged unlicensed riders & drivers as well. Whats has the government done to rid our streets of all these unlicensed riders & drivers. Why are the parents of such unlicensed and under aged riders and drivers not punished with stiff sentences as well?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • vivizurianti on Jul 27, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    when go clubbing, drink fizzies or air oren for healthier choice.

    One less problem in public road now.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
    • dream_125 on Jul 27, 2020 at 8:57 pm

      Or use grab, uber, teksi, bas, LRT. There are enough choices nowadays.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Helang & Cronies Co on Jul 29, 2020 at 10:07 am

      Before pandemic, we travel 900kmph to Die-One island just to sip ribena juice together with cute and pretty Tie-May. Drunk until paparazzi can’t recognize our face. Being drunk is not a sin LOL

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • johnwick on Jul 27, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    just like last time, talk only, in real life, everything settle under table

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4
  • Terence on Jul 27, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    I have many time stopped when the lights are red but low and behold motor bikes and cars just going on. What is that? Drunk driving is much less in numbers that those idiots who break the law. Can’t see it?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • How about these? on Jul 27, 2020 at 9:24 pm

    Mat rempit? Driving under the influence of drugs?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • choha on Jul 27, 2020 at 9:57 pm

    no good, just impose death penalty and you’ll see 0 cases

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Gabriel on Jul 28, 2020 at 9:22 am

    Good job. Took only 5 months in power to implement it. A positive step in the right direction.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
    • Damon Lee on Jul 29, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      Wholly agreed. A positive step in the right direction under new management.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • bmlim on Jul 28, 2020 at 9:24 am

    Actually, penalizing drunk drivers is good. Not only the victims are affected. The family of the drunk driver is affected too besides public facilities damages that, eventually you and I have to pay through taxes.

    But what about penalizing motorcycles that are involved in motorcycle-car accidents whereby the car have to make claim to the car’s own insurance even though clearly motorcycle is at fault. In motorcycle-car accidents, why the motorcyclist don’t have to compensate car damages? Doesn’t make sense. I think this allowed motorcyclist to be irresponsible on the road. The law needs amendment to better reflect today’s road users.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
    • Ben Yap on Jul 29, 2020 at 9:59 am

      because most motorcycles are kapchais and the riders are under B40 group. Government don’t want us to extort them for money else they can’t put food on the table and pay rent. there will be more problems arise which starts from just a simple accident.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Jul 28, 2020 at 9:28 am

    this is a costly penalty of over drinking of todi and beer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
 

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