A 20-Year-Old Who Drank and Drove Again During Probation for a Drunk Driving Accident Ultimately Faces Consequences

Police Strengthen Punishments for Habitual Drunk Drivers

A man in his 20s, whose license had been revoked due to drunk driving, was arrested for driving under the influence again while intoxicated. Additionally, the police seized the vehicle of a man in his 40s with a history of habitual drunk driving who refused to undergo a breathalyzer test.

On the 13th, Jeju Dongbu Police Station announced that they had arrested a man in his 20s, identified as Mr. A, on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk and unlicensed driving).

Jeju Police Conduct Special Crackdown on Drunk Driving. Yonhap News

Mr. A is accused of driving without a license while heavily intoxicated to the point of license cancellation level on September 29, during which he collided with a parked vehicle. Police investigations revealed that his driver's license had already been revoked in July of last year due to drunk driving. Mr. A committed the offense during his probation period. Following the policy to strengthen punishment for habitual drunk drivers, the police arrested Mr. A on the 10th.

Furthermore, the police seized the vehicle of a man in his 40s, Mr. B, on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (refusal to undergo a breathalyzer test). Mr. B, who has two prior drunk driving offenses from about 10 years ago, is accused of refusing the police's breathalyzer test on November 26 in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City.

Currently, the police are seizing vehicles of drivers with a high risk of repeat drunk driving offenses to prevent recidivism and raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

The conditions for seizing vehicles of habitual drunk drivers are: △ when a serious fatal accident causing multiple casualties occurs due to drunk driving △ when a driver with two or more drunk driving offenses within five years causes a serious injury accident due to drunk driving again. Drivers with three or more drunk driving offenses within five years can have their vehicles seized even if they commit a simple drunk driving offense without causing any accidents.