As a leading law firm specializing in traffic offenses, the Law Offices of Kr. Vivek Tanwar Advocate and Associates in Gurugram is committed to promoting road safety and ensuring the well-being of individuals in our community. This article aims to provide valuable insights into the legal aspects surrounding drunk driving in Gurugram, highlighting the severe consequences that offenders face under the existing legal framework.
Introduction : In the past two decades, Gurgaon has emerged as one of the primary financial hubs of our country. The vast variety of career opportunities that lie in the city have attracted a huge chunk of population from different parts of the country to come to this city and explore their opportunities.
The enticing nature of these job opportunities can be said to have had the most effect on youngsters and the population of this category of the population has considerably increased in the city. With the presence of a huge number of businesses in the city, the number of these youngsters and office workers has also increased, which has simultaneously led to the increase in the number of pubs and bars in the city.
The problem arises when these people who visit these party places, end up driving their vehicles on the roads under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drunk and Drive has become a common, unethical practice in the city and has hampered the safety of the users of roads in the city. These youngsters, as well as certain aged people, who engage in the consumption of alcohol in the various happening places around the city, have significantly increased the danger to not only their own lives, but other common people commuting on the roads.
Although the legal drinking age has been set at a higher age limit of 25 years in the State of Haryana, there are barely any people who follow this prescribed limit and even the pubs are to blame for this, who serve alcohol to the youngsters who are underage to consume alcohol as per law.
Punishment for drunken driving
According to Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, driving under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offence in India. To fall under the purview of the provisions under the referred section, the offender must have fulfilled the following criteria:
- He/She must have alcohol content of more than 30mg. per 100 ml of blood, determined by a breath analyzer test, or
- It is established by the concerned authority or traffic police that the person driving the car is in a state where He/She can be reasonably thought to be under the influence of drugs to that extent where the individual does not have control over the vehicle.
A person who fulfills any of the above criteria is also punishable with the following penalties, which include:
A First drunk and drive offence would attract a punishment with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months and/or with fine which may amount up to two thousand rupees, or both.
A second offence, where committed within three years of the commission of the first offence, will lead to imprisonment for a term which may extend up to two years and/or with a fine of three thousand rupees, or both.
Conclusion:
The commission of offences of drunk and drive and the associated problems cannot be single handedly attributed to the common public, but it has a considerable amount to do with the corrupt traffic officials, who many a times do not take these cases seriously and let off the offenders in return for bribe. The leniency in execution of the established laws on the part of the concerned authorities has reduced the efficacy of the laws and has simultaneously increased the danger and the offences on the roads of the city. To ensure safety of all the residents of the city, it is essential that there is stricter imposition of penalties, and greater checks on the roads which would raise the fear that the public has in their minds with relation to road rules and will ensure greater adherence to established rules.
If you or a loved one are facing legal issues related to drunk driving offenses or need guidance on any traffic-related matters, the experienced team at the Law Offices of Kr. Vivek Tanwar Advocate and Associates is here to help. Contact us today for a consultation and let our skilled attorneys provide the expert legal assistance you need.
Author : Adv. Anjali Bablani and Prasanjeet Mallick (Intern)