Interior Ministry wants to impound vehicles from drunk drivers

The Interior Ministry of Belarus has plans to abolish a provision in the Penal Code which envisages criminal prosecution against the drivers who were found under influence repeatedly within six months, Belta news agency quoted Belarus's Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumau as saying. The measure is justified by a huge number of drunk drivers stopped by the traffic police. According to the minister, material responsibility should replace the criminal prosecution. In other words, violators would be deprived of their cars regardless whether they own them or not. A draft legislation will be developped within several weeks.

The Police have not yet decided what to do with the seized vehicles. According to Navumau, they could be passed over to low-income families.