New Harsher Punishment For Reckless Driving and Drunk Driving In M’sia
With the earlier cases which we have been receiving and hearing during the MCO time where a lot of netizens have been firing up because of reckless driving and drunk driving cases. The Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong has made amendments to increasing the penalties and punishments for reckless driving as well as driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
This amendment to the Road Transport Act 1987 (also known as Act 333) has been tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, 27 July. Here are some of the amendments:
1. Reckless Driving – for first-time offenders, they will be jailed between five and 10 years, fined between RM20,000 and RM50,000, and have their driving license taken away for five years or more. Repeat offenders will be sent to jail between 10 and 15 years, fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and will face license disqualification for 10 years. Meanwhile, reckless drivers that do not cause death will face penalties similar to the current Act, which includes a maximum of five years’ jail, an RM5,000 to RM15,000 fine, and have their license revoked for five years; repeat offenders face a maximum of 10 years’ jail and a fine of between RM10,000 and RM20,000. These categories also included careless and inconsiderate drivers which can also be jailed and fine and falling asleep when driving will be considered as reckless driving too.
2. Driving Under Influence (DUI) – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will see first-time offenders sent to jail for two years, fined RM10,000 to RM30,000, and have their license revoked for two years. Repentance offenders will be sent to prison for five years, fined RM20,000 to RM50,000, and be stopped from driving for five years. For those driving under the influence causing death, first-time offenders will be jailed between 10 and 15 years, fined RM50,000 to RM100,000, and stopped from driving for 10 years. Repeat offenders can be jailed between 15 and 20 years, fined from RM100,000 to RM150,000, and face a minimum of 20 years of not getting behind the wheel.
3. In charge of Vehicle and under influence but not driving – this means when you think you are being smart by parking your car by the roadside when sees a roadblock and quickly changing driver will be charged under a fine of between RM1,000 and RM5,000, and possibly face imprisonment for a maximum of two years and license disqualification of two years or more. Meanwhile, repeat offenders will be fined between RM5,000 and RM10,000, be sent to jail for not more than five years, or have their license revoked for five years or more.
4. Refuse to Breath Test and Specimen Analysis – People found suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs but refuse to cooperate with authorities to provide relevant samples for testing will also face harsher punishment. First-time offenders will be jailed not more than two years, fined between RM10,000 and RM30,000, and be stopped from driving for two years. Repeat offenders will be jailed less than five years, fined RM20,000 to RM50,000, and have their license revoked for five years or more.
The prescribed limits for alcohol content will be lowered to:
– 22mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath (previously 35mcg),
– 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood (previously 80mg), and
– 67mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine (previously 107mg).
So Remember if you have drink alcohol, do not drive and put others in danger. Get a designated driver instead of that Grab where you can call Grab when you aren’t fit to drive your car.
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