Drive drunk or high? Pay US$1,000: new Law

Santo Domingo.- Starting next year, when traffic police will start using breathalyzers, as stipulated  by a new Law, those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs face a fine as high as RD$51,000 (US$1,060).

Motorists submitted to a breathalyzer test receive the results with the level of alcohol in their blood, and with that receipt can challenge the accusation in traffic court.

Road safety expert Mario Holguin said other countries-in addition to breathalyzers, they also utilize skin contact tests.

He recommends a lab which analyzes the evidence, so the traffic authorities don’t become judge and jury.

When should blood alcohol tests be conducted?

The expert says nighttime hours are ideal to resort to the breathalyzer. “It’s better to measure the degree of concentration of alcohol in the blood, because during the day they disrupt traffic and it’s at night when alcohol is consumed most in the Dominican Republic.”