Not a Single Sip Allowed! ... Gyeongnam Police Agency Cracks Down on Drunk Driving on the 11th

Entertainment Districts, Restaurant Areas, and Highway Entrances and Exits

On the 11th, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency will conduct a comprehensive crackdown on drunk driving in restaurant districts and entertainment areas.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency will conduct a comprehensive crackdown on drunk driving on Friday the 11th, the first Friday after the easing of social distancing measures.

With the operating hours of restaurants, cafes, and entertainment bars adjusted to 11 PM, gatherings involving alcohol are expected to increase, along with concerns about drunk driving.

All police stations in the province will mobilize traffic (local) police to conduct mobile crackdowns around entertainment districts and restaurant areas, while the highway patrol unit will deploy 16 night patrol officers and 8 patrol cars to conduct drunk driving checks at highway entrances and exits.

The covert patrol crackdown team of the provincial police will also conduct joint operations together with frontline police station crackdown teams.

They will use contactless breathalyzers to measure alcohol consumption and will disinfect them frequently after use to prevent virus infections such as COVID-19.

If caught drunk driving, drivers will face civil liabilities such as increased insurance premiums and deductibles, criminal liabilities including imprisonment of up to 5 years or fines up to 20 million won, and administrative penalties such as license suspension or revocation, according to the Road Traffic Act.

A Gyeongnam Police Agency official said, “Drunk driving is a very dangerous act that can easily lead to major accidents,” and added, “Whether it’s a sip or a glass, if you drink alcohol, never drive, and if you see a vehicle suspected of drunk driving while driving, please actively report it.”