Despite the Search, Suspected Drunk Driving Vehicle Enters Police Station Parking Lot on Its Own

Drank Until Morning, Visited Police Station as a Witness in a Separate Case

A vehicle suspected of drunk driving, which police had been searching for following a report, entered the police station parking lot on its own, leading to the immediate arrest of the driver at the scene.

A drunk driving vehicle entering the police station on its own. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the police on November 26, the Ilsan Dongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province received a report at around 11:40 a.m. on September 14 stating that "there is a vehicle suspected of drunk driving" in the Jayuro area of Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, and began patrolling the area. The police attempted to track the vehicle's movements based on the license plate number and vehicle characteristics provided by the informant, but were unable to locate the vehicle.

Then, at around noon, while the police had returned briefly to the station to check their enforcement equipment, a vehicle with the same license plate as the suspected drunk driving vehicle entered the police station parking lot. Upon witnessing this, an officer immediately approached the driver, a man in his 30s, and conducted a breathalyzer test.

The results showed that Mr. A's blood alcohol concentration was 0.120%, a level high enough for license revocation, and he was arrested on the spot for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving).

It was reported that Mr. A had visited the police station that day for a separate matter, to be questioned as a reference witness by the criminal investigation division. A police official stated, "Mr. A testified that he had been drinking with an acquaintance in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, until the morning and came out after taking a short nap."

The police announced that Mr. A was referred to the prosecution on drunk driving charges on October 20.

Under the current Road Traffic Act, a driver is considered to be driving under the influence if their blood alcohol concentration is 0.03% or higher. If the blood alcohol concentration is between 0.03% and less than 0.08%, the penalty is imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 5 million won.

If the blood alcohol concentration is between 0.08% and less than 0.2%, the penalty is imprisonment for at least one year and up to two years, or a fine of at least 5 million won and up to 10 million won. If the blood alcohol concentration is 0.2% or higher, the penalty is imprisonment for at least two years and up to five years, or a fine of at least 10 million won and up to 20 million won.