Netizens "Heavier Penalties Needed for Livelihood Drivers"
Drunk Driving Eradication Measures Implemented from the 1st
Amid heightened social awareness about drunk driving, a situation was captured where a driver caught in a sobriety checkpoint knelt before the police, pleading for leniency.
On the 29th of last month, three photos were posted on the online community BobaeDream under the title "Yesterday's Drunk Driving Checkpoint Scene."
On the 29th of last month, three photos were posted on the online community BobaeDream under the title "Yesterday's Drunk Driving Checkpoint Scene." [Photo source=Online Community BobaeDream]
The attached photos show a man kneeling on the sidewalk in front of a police officer holding a light baton. On the left side of the road in the photo, police cars and officers, presumably dispatched for the drunk driving checkpoint, are also visible.
The man caught in the sobriety checkpoint is seen bowing his waist, clasping his hands together, and repeatedly pleading with the police officer. Even after the officer left the scene, the man remained kneeling in the same spot, which was also captured.
The poster who shared the photos explained, "The drunk driver is crying profusely, begging for leniency, saying he is a livelihood driver," and added, "The police are persuading him, saying, 'We don't have that authority, so please call a designated driver and go home.'"
Upon learning this story, netizens raised their voices, demanding harsher penalties for livelihood drivers caught drunk driving.
The author who released the photo explained, "The drunk driver, claiming to be a livelihood driver, begged tearfully for leniency just this once," adding, "The police were trying to persuade him by saying, 'We don't have that authority, so please call a substitute driver and go home.'" [Photo by Bobae Dream, an online community]
One netizen pointed out, "Drunk driving by livelihood drivers should be punished tenfold. Since they drive longer hours and distances than regular drivers, the risk of accidents is much higher." Other comments included, "If he was really that desperate, he would have called a designated driver," and "If his livelihood depends on it, why does he drink and drive?"
Meanwhile, from July 1, a new drunk driving prevention measure will be implemented, which includes confiscation and seizure of vehicles if a driver causes a fatal accident while intoxicated or is caught repeatedly driving under the influence.
Last year, there were 130,283 drunk driving crackdowns and 10,559 drunk driving-related accidents recorded. This is similar to the levels before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 (130,772 crackdowns, 15,708 accidents).
As a countermeasure against the persistent drunk driving problem, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced a "Joint Police-Prosecution Drunk Driving Eradication Plan" on the 28th of last month.
According to this plan, vehicles may be confiscated or seized if the driver is caught repeatedly driving under the influence. Those subject to vehicle confiscation or seizure include drivers who caused fatal accidents due to drunk driving, those who caused serious injury accidents due to drunk driving twice or more within five years, and those caught drunk driving three or more times within five years.
Drunk driving crackdowns will also be intensified. The National Police Agency will conduct nationwide simultaneous crackdowns every Friday during the July-August vacation season and will implement tailored crackdowns based on regions and time slots.
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