Drunk drivers to lose licence under new law

Drivers who are caught driving after drinking more than the legal limit of alcohol for the second time will automatically lose their driving licence if the cabinet approves the plan later today as expected.


Transport minister Camiel Eurlings and his justice colleague Ernst Hirsch Ballin believe the stricter drink-driving rules will reduce the number of deaths caused by drunken drivers which is currently estimated at between 100 and 300 a year, reports the Volkskrant.
Under the tighter regulations, drivers found guilty of an alcohol level above the equivalent of two beers for the first time will be fined, as is the case now, but a second conviction with double the level of alcohol (four beers) will result in an automatic disqualification from driving.
When the motorist is eligible to drive again, he or she will have to re-take the driving test.
The initiative for the new legislation came from opposition Liberal (VVD) MP Frans Weekers and Aleid Wolfson from the Labour coalition party. ‘This is simple, clear and hard but fair,’ Weekers told the Volkskrant.
Originally a point system was considered but this was deemed unnecessarily complicated.

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