Police Chief Angelo Gafà Proposes Harsher Fines, But Not Prison, For Drink Driving

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà said that drink drivers should face tougher fines rather than prison time, warning that the current law allows suspects to delay taking a breathalyser test, TVM has reported.

Since driving under the influence is an imprisonable offence, suspects have the right to remain silent to avoid self-incrimination, as well as the right to legal assistance during police questioning.

This state of play effectively serves as a loophole that allows suspects to delay taking a breathalyser test when they are stopped by authorities. Of course, time is of the essence when determining the level of alcohol or drugs in a person’s bloodstream.

The police’s proposal to MPs debating the new drink-driving bill is to remove the possibility of imprisonment for DUI offences while significantly increasing the fines.

“That way, there would still be a strong deterrent that isn’t imprisonment,” Gafà explained.

He said police have significantly ramped up breathalyser checks this year, carrying out 613 tests so far, with 120 returning positive.

This marks a major jump from the same period last year, when just 95 tests were conducted, 90 of which were positive.

However, he added that speeding, and not drink driving, was the greatest cause of traffic accident injuries so far this year.