Enhancements in Drunk Driving Checkpoints Detailed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs
In Kazakhstan, the updated rules for checking drivers for alcohol consumption came into effect on September 16, 2023. These changes aim to bring order to the normative base and protect the rights of road users, as stated by Senator Kожаев.
The procedure for checking drivers for alcohol consumption remains the same. An inspector can direct a driver to undergo testing if there are signs of intoxication while driving. The test is conducted using an alcohol tester. If disagreeing with the test results, one can request a medical examination.
Refusal to undergo the test still carries penalties under Article 613 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. The penalties for drunk driving in Kazakhstan have been gradually increased over time, from one year to seven years, as Senator Kожаev reminded us. This makes the seven-year ban one of the harshest penalties worldwide, according to Nikolai Arsyutin.
However, Arsyutin also criticized Article 608 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, calling it one of the harshest in the world. He further pointed out that the penalty does not consider the severity of the offense, the absence of an accident, or minimal alcohol levels.
The issue is being considered in the Mazhilis and will subsequently be discussed in the Senate. In 2023, 366 accidents involving drunk drivers resulted in 82 deaths and 463 injuries. The following year, in 2024, there were 503 such accidents, with 68 deaths and 721 injuries.
The policy of decentralization and reducing bureaucracy is the reason for the change in issuance of the rules. The rules are now issued by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, not by government decree.
It's worth noting that these measures were introduced due to the high number of fatal accidents. Currently, many drivers who have been stripped of their rights for seven years are appealing, stating they cannot work or support their families.
In 2023, a person in the Mazhilis criticized Article 608 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, but specific details about the person's identity and the exact reasons for criticism are not publicly detailed.
The new rules only apply to drivers, not pedestrians or other road users. Being stripped of the right to drive for seven years is one of the harshest penalties worldwide, according to Nikolai Arsyutin. The goal of the changes is to protect the rights of road users and bring order to the normative base.
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