[Criminal prosecution of drunk driving in the former Czechoslovakia and in the Czech Republic and Slovakia].

Abstract

In the successor states of former Czechoslovakia, the law enforces the principle of 0.0% alcohol content in blood while operating a motorized vehicle. Those persons who break this law can be punished according to either section 201 StGB "Jeopardizing others while under the influence of addictive substances" or section 201 a StGB which regulates "drunk driving" instances. Various sanctions can also be imposed: 1) imprisonment; 2) confiscation of driver's license; 3) monetary fine. Within the judicial framework, driving while intoxicated, 0.1% alcohol content in blood, is absolutely forbidden, and in some cases, an alcohol content of 0.08% is sufficient to place the suspect under the same laws regulating 0.1% category. The alcohol content in the blood is usually determined by means of a blood or urine test.