On February 29th, it was reported that the latest standards for drunk driving testing in China will be implemented starting March 1st, 2024.
The new testing standards, exemplified by the measurement of ethanol content in blood, set the threshold for alcohol consumption while driving at 0.20mg/mL. Drivers with blood ethanol content equal to or greater than 0.80mg/mL will be considered driving under the influence. The linear range for testing spans from 0.1mg/mL to 3mg/mL.
The new national standards categorize ethanol detection in blood and urine into two methods: gas chromatography and electrochemical sensor technology.
The previous standards only specified gas chromatography as the laboratory testing method without outlining on-site testing methods.
The conversion coefficient between ethanol content in blood and breath has been adjusted from 2100 to 2300 based on the latest scientific research and statistical data, better aligning with the physiological and metabolic characteristics of the Chinese population.
Penalties for drunk driving:
Driving a motor vehicle after drinking will result in a six-month suspension of the driver's license and a fine ranging from one to two thousand CNY.
Repeat offenders caught driving after drinking will face detention for up to ten days, a fine ranging from one to two thousand CNY, and revocation of their driver's license.
Penalties for intoxicated driving:
Driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated will lead to restraint by the traffic management department until sober, revocation of the driver's license, and criminal prosecution; reissuance of the driver's license is prohibited for five years.
Driving a commercial motor vehicle while intoxicated will result in restraint by the traffic management department until sober, revocation of the driver's license, and criminal prosecution; reissuance of the driver's license is prohibited for ten years, and after obtaining a new driver's license, driving commercial motor vehicles is prohibited.
In cases of major traffic accidents caused by drunk or intoxicated driving, constituting a crime, the individual will face criminal prosecution, revocation of the driver's license by the traffic management department, and a lifetime ban on reapplying for a driver's license.
