Government and Policy

DUI will become an independent charge

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-18 07:25

BEIJING - Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) will be listed as an independent charge in the eighth amendment of the criminal law of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing Morning Post reported on Tuesday.

Reckless driving is a violation of public security, including DUI and racing vehicles on urban public roads at a speed that exceeds the safety limit.

Related readings:  Police target drunk driving amid soccer fever  Criminal law may include drunk driving  New law proposed for drunken drivers  Drunken man left in underwear after robbery

Car accidents caused by drunk driving reached 3,206, causing 1,302 deaths nationwide between January and August 2009, according to statistics released by the Supreme People's Court.

"This charge with a heavy penalty will effectively prevent such violations," said Liu Mingxiang, assistant dean of the Law School at Renmin University of China.

However, some still doubt the effectiveness of the charge.

"Better law enforcement and administrative penalties can also help to solve the problem of drunk driving," said Wu Ming'an, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law.

Last year, Sun Weiming, an unlicensed hit-and-run driver in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan province, received a death sentence from the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court for endangering public safety after he killed four and injured one in a drunk-driving accident in 2008. His sentence was later reduced to life in prison.

Sun is thought to be China's first drunk driver to be charged with "endangering public safety" and sentenced to death.

In another case, a drag racer in the eastern city of Hangzhou, whose speeding car killed a pedestrian, received a three-year sentence after he was charged with a traffic offense.

The eighth amendment draft will be deliberated at the 16th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from Aug 23 to 28 in Beijing.

"If there is no huge disagreement, it will be passed in October this year," said an official on the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC standing committee.

The eighth amendment draft of the criminal law also includes charges against employers who intentionally default on paying wages.