Individual on a skateboard under the influence, blood alcohol nearly double the legal limit: 40-year-old apprehended.
In a recent incident, a 40-year-old resident of Verbania was stopped by the Mobile Squad of the local police station for suspected drunk driving. The incident occurred on Thursday evening.
The man, who was riding a scooter at the time, admitted to consuming alcohol at a bar in Intra. Upon further investigation, it was found that his alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
Under Italian law, driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is penalised based on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) relative to the legal limit of 0.5 g/L. For BAC levels between 0.8 g/L and 1.5 g/L, repeat offenders face a driving ban of 6 months up to 1 year, followed by mandatory installation of an alcohol interlock device for 2 years.
In this case, the man's BAC level was found to be around 1.0 g/L, which falls within the range of penalties for repeat offenders. As a result, he faces a driving ban of up to 1 year and the mandatory installation of an alcohol interlock device for 2 years.
Italian law imposes escalating penalties for DUI offences, especially when the BAC exceeds the legal limit by twice or thrice the threshold. For BAC levels above 1.5 g/L, repeat offenders face a driving ban of 1 to 2 years and must install an alcohol interlock for 3 years.
It is important to note that fines for non-compliance with alcohol interlock installation range from €158 to €638, with potential license suspension of 1 to 6 months. Penalties double if the interlock device is tampered with or circumvented. If a driver does not install the interlock and is again caught drunk, penalties increase by one third.
Beyond these administrative sanctions, Italian law considers driving under the influence as an aggravating circumstance in cases causing severe injury or death, leading to tightened criminal penalties. Additionally, very high BAC levels (e.g., exceeding 2.0 g/L) are treated as serious offenses that can lead to vehicle confiscation and increased jail time, reflecting "insane" or extremely reckless driving under the law.
The BAC legal limit for general drivers is 0.5 g/L, and zero tolerance applies to new drivers and driving under the influence of drugs. This framework reflects a stringent Italian approach combining administrative, technological, and criminal sanctions against drink-driving offenders.
In summary, the incident serves as a reminder of the strict Italian DUI laws and the penalties that come with drunk driving. The man will face a driving ban and mandatory installation of an alcohol interlock device for his BAC level of around 1.0 g/L, which is twice the legal limit.
The incident highlights the strict Italian approach towards drink-driving offenders, as evidenced by the penalties for DUI offences, which escalate, especially when the BAC exceeds the legal limit. This emphasis on health-and-wellness, evident in the control of alcohol consumption, also extends to mental-health, given that alcohol misuse can lead to various mental health issues. Furthermore, the average Italian citizen should stay informed about general-news, including crime-and-justice stories, to better understand the consequences of such behavior under the law.
