5 Arrested for Driving Under the Influence in Island-wide Traffic Inspection

With new laws set to take full effect on the island this 2019, city ordinances are being given attention as to how they are monitored or implemented, especially those that concern public safety and security.

As anywhere in the world, public safety is a major concern, and so, incidences related to faulty behaviour particularly those that have direct effect on others or the public, such as reckless driving in public roads and highways, are especially important to monitor.

Police Nabs 5 People for Drink-Driving after Island-wide Traffic Inspection

On the evening of January 4 (Friday), traffic authorities have arrested five people for drink-driving after conducting an island-wide inspection for road violations and other related crimes, as shared in a report by Channel News Asia.

Four men and and a woman aged between 21 and 49 tested positive under the Brethalyzer test, after they have been stopped by the traffic police.

A total of 30 people were stopped and tested for alcohol consumption as part of the anti-drink driving enforcement operation set by the Traffic Police. The highest breath evidential analyser result was 55 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, higher the prescribed legal limit of 35 mg of alcohol.

The operation was conducted amid a reported increase in the number of drink-driving related accidents within the first nine months of last year. Notably, there were about 126 alcohol-related accidents from January to September 2018, which shows a 22.3 % increase in the same period in 2017.

Last December, Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development shared that authorities are studying the possibility of imposing stiffer penalties for drink drivers in response to the increase in the incidences of reported accidents.

This may include, heftier fines, prolonged driving disqualification periods, as well as longer prison terms.

At present, first-time offenders are fined SGD 1,000 to SGD 5,000, and may be banned from driving for at least a year.  Repeat offenders may be face a fine of up to SGD 30,000 and sent to jail for up to three years.