Armenian Police: In January, 138 drivers lost their driver`s license  due to drunk driving

ArmInfo. In the period from January 1 to 29 of this year, 138 drivers lost their driver's  license due to drunk driving.

As reported by ArmInfo in the RA Police Press Service, the basis for  deprivation of rights was Article 126.  Part 2 of the RA Criminal  Code. The police explained that the reason for the deprivation of a  driver's license was the presence in the blood of the above drivers  of an acceptable norm of up to 0.5 ppm of alcohol in the blood. The  above persons have lost their rights for a period of one year.

Note that from January 1, 2020, a point system of fines began to  operate. Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses and the  package of related laws were approved at the sitting of the RA  National Assembly on December 9 in the second and final reading. The  amendments provide for mitigation of punishments for 26 types of  offenses out of 100 previously approved. At the same time, in 19  cases the rate will decrease by 50%, and in 7 cases - below 50%. This  will allow citizens of the country to save about 2.7 billion drams.  The package provides for reform of the road safety system. Each  driver who received a driver's license at the beginning of the year  will be provided with 9 points, which will subsequently decrease  depending on the gravity of the offense from 3 to 5 points. In case  of a repeated offense, the driver will be deprived of the right to  drive a vehicle for a period of 6 months, after this period he will  be able to return a driver's license with 9 points. The driver will  need to know that during the next accident he may lose his rights for  a period of 1 year. The package provides for the procedure for  retraining drivers. So, in case of deprivation of a driver's license  for a period of 6 months, a driver who has been trained for at least  three months will be able to return a driver's license ahead of  schedule. If there are 3-4 points, the driver will also be able to  return 2 points after completing the training. In fact, a fine of 5  thousand drams is equal to withdrawing 1 point, 20-25 th drams - 2  points, with a decrease of 4 points we are talking about only two  cases - speeding and loss of life. The requirement of mandatory  technical inspection of the vehicle will also remain in force,  however, the requirement of a coupon on the vehicle's windshield will  become optional.  At the same time, the package provides for  toughening measures of responsibility for the commission of  especially dangerous offenses on the roads, which led, inter alia, to  deaths. So, responsibility for driving a car without a driver's  license is being tightened. In this case, a fine of 200-300 thousand  drams or 3 months in prison with the deprivation of the right to work  during the year is envisaged. When driving a vehicle while  intoxicated, the fine will amount to 300-500 thousand drams or  imprisonment for 6 months with the deprivation of the right to work  for a year. The police said that the vast majority of offenses  related to driving while intoxicated. According to statistics, in  2017 drunk drivers committed offenses that led to the deaths of 15  people, in 2018 - 23. At the same time, in 2017, 217 people were  injured in accidents caused by drunk drivers, and in 2018 - 326.  Other measures of liability are also provided for by the package,  which will enter into force six months after publication.