No more drinking while driving in the Dominican Republic

[vince1956]

http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=20947
SANTO DOMINGO. ? Motorist who are caught drinking alcohol while driving will be subject to fines and even jail, according to a resolution issued by the Interior and Police Ministry.

The resolution stipulates that all drivers who violate it, when driving while under the influence of alcohol, will be detained and their vehicle impounded by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (Amet) or the National Police. In addition, charges will be filed against the driver

 

[kingofdice]

There never should have been drinking while driving previously, if such was the case. Hopefully, this will lead to a reduction in fatalities.

 

[oniblast]

I am a down to the bone Dominican, have always been fans of the Alcoholic Drive Trhus. When any foreign friend is in the country, this is one sure stop. Some have even taken pictures at El Trompo o La Ceniza. I'd sure miss'em.

Nevertheless I am up for this new resolution, although I do not think it will have much success.....let's wait and see??????

O

 

[RonS]

Prohibiting drinking and driving is a no-brainer. However, in the DR, enforcement will only add another layer of police corruption.

 

[Nyeden]

It's about time, when I visited D.R after 13 years in 2004 I was shoked when I saw a man driving whith one hand on the wheele and a Presidente on the other.

 

[Dolores1]

When they enacted the new times for selling liquor, the government announced it would begin enforcing a ban on drinking when driving. So the measure has been there for quite a while, and is just again being publicized. It will take a whole culture change to get Dominicans to refrain from drinking a fria while driving, but it can be accomplished.

 

[JRR]

yes

When they enacted the new times for selling liquor, the government announced it would begin enforcing a ban on drinking when driving. So the measure has been there for quite a while, and is just again being publicized. It will take a whole culture change to get Dominicans to refrain from drinking a fria while driving, but it can be accomplished.

I remeber them making and issue of it at the time. Now when i drive to the beach I only see 8 out of ten people drinking Presidente's while driving

 

[DavidZ]

Anyone think they'll have sobriety checkpoints on New Years Eve?

 

[M.A.R.]

It's about time, when I visited D.R after 13 years in 2004 I was shoked when I saw a man driving whith one hand on the wheele and a Presidente on the other.

ahhhh the good old times, but it shouldn't be a problem once you get out of the city and into the rural areas the police is usually only in the cities, anyway as long as the passengers can drink???.

but seriously, we all know that its very dangerous to over drink and drive and this is a good measure in order to put it some control.

 

[zoomzx11]

Ha!!

If this new law is enforced there will be no cars on the roads on the weekends, Thatll be the day!!! How about you as the driver being responsible for your passengers sobriety?? Drunks will not be able to go home in taxi?s??
Great idea, though. When I first arrived I was amazed at the number of drunk drivers, now its the norm. My wife grew up in Villa Altagrassia near the altopista. One day we were chatting and I asked her approximately how many accidents she personally witnessed form six to sixteen (when she left), mes or menos 200. She described it like going to the movies on Saturday night. Everyone in the barrio would hear the boom and go running to watch. Sad but accidents are the number one cause of death and dismemberment in the DR. Hey, but its a step in the right direction, at least the government is recognizing the problem. ABOVE ALL DONT DRIVE AT NIGHT!!!!!!!

 

[BushBaby]

I suspect this will have the same amount of success as the 'No using of Cellphones whilst driving' law! How many Dominicans (or extranejeros) take serious note of that law?? We ALL know it is dangerous to talk on the 'phone whilst driving, but so few pull over to the side to complete their call!!

Just keep an extra 'Fria' in the cool box & you won't get nabbed (unfortunately - I am an ardent 'No drink before or whilst driving' fan)! ~ Grahame.

 

[jrzyguy]

heh...i have a vivid memory of a guy jumping out of his car to pay a toll booth attendant with a presidente in his hand.

does this new law only apply to actively drinking WHILE driving...or DUI as well?

Certainly there is room for corruption to thrive on this one...but at least an effort is worth it.

THen again..i think i would need at least one drink in me to actualy drive in the dr (at least in the capitol)...or perhaps some xanax.

 

[suarezn]

The law is an open container law...In other words no open container is to be had in the car unless it is in the trunk (Thanks god most cars nowadays have an slide down trunk)...Anyway I think its a good law, except for the corruption it will create. Now the DR is just like the US...a veritable Nueva Yol Chiquito (exactly what Leonel always wanted)...this is except for the fact that we still have tons of blackouts, a government that's corrupt to the bone and that will spend people's money in whatever whim they feel like without giving even the smallest explanation to the public, one of the lowest per capita expenditure on education and health, etc...

What a country!!!

 

[Don Juan]

Holy mangoes! This is insanity!

According to long-standing Dominican drivers' manuals (circa 1955), It clearly states that "a person of age" must drink a beer or its equivalent in alcohol to "counteract nervocity" so as to maintain "orderly traffic patterns".

Research made by Dominican think-tanks into: "patterns of behaviour-while-driving", have shown that two or more "jiggers" of pure, unadulterated alcohol can "relieve the anxiety" associated with stress brought on by unregulated traffic. I.E non-working traffic lights. -source: "DR, Loco o no loco, alcohol's soothing effects on commuters ". (1965, bantam books).

To prohibit people already accustomed to, "calm their nerves", before getting behind a two tonne machine, can indeed cause many more fatalities than it's intended to prevent.

I am dead-set against this asinine regulation as it will make driving in DR totally chaotic and alter people's courteous driving habits.

This is absolute lunacy. The Government idiots are at it again!aranoid:

 

[gary short]

According to long-standing Dominican drivers' manuals (circa 1955), It clearly states that "a person of age" must drink a beer or its equivalent in alcohol to "counteract nervocity" so as to maintain "orderly traffic patterns".

Research made by Dominican think-tanks into: "patterns of behaviour-while-driving", have shown that two or more "jiggers" of pure, unadulterated alcohol can "relieve the anxiety" associated with stress brought on by unregulated traffic. I.E non-working traffic lights. -source: "DR, Loco o no loco, alcohol's soothing effects on commuters ". (1965, bantam books).

To prohibit people already accustomed to, "calm their nerves", before getting behind a two tonne machine, can indeed cause many more fatalities than it's intended to prevent.

I am dead-set against this asinine regulation as it will make driving in DR totally chaotic and alter people's courteous driving habits.

This is absolute lunacy. The Government idiots are at it again!aranoid:

hahaha......good point....if you've had a pint and I don't mean beer, you're less likely to have soiled yourself whilst trying to navigate traffic.

 

[msbanker]

Drinking and driving

It is going to take a major change in Dominican culture and attitude to make this policy work. My husband and his family are always bugging me because I won't drink and drive, I won't drink while someone else is driving (even if they are not drinking). The family tells me it is ok in the DR to do this, it is not a problem. I tell my husband that he better get used to it because that won't be tolerated in Canada and by me.
I sure hope they can make it stick, those roads are bad enough let alone having someone drunk behind the wheel.

 

[CFA123]

I suspect at best it will be selectively enforced based on the attitude of AMET officers & the offending driver during their encounter.

I think the chances of being pulled over for drunk driving in DR will be slim to none. Where I'd be concerned about being caught with an open bottle is in the roadblocks you inevitably run across from time to time.

 

[msbanker]

I am always the designated one because I will not drink and then drive. I don't like the idea that I am responsible for the sobriety of my passengers. Isn't that going a bit far? If I am sober and taking people home that's a good thing right?

 

[zak023]

This might be enforced in The Capital..And I stress might...and mabye the major tourist areas...but it will NEVER change in the country..NEVER.!!

I have done it myself but then again I see another car about every 15 minutes where I do drink and drive...And I don't mean drunk..Just driving with a cool Presidente between towns or in town..

 

[zak023]

Hummm.!!!

a good idea in my country you lose your licence for 1 year, ? or more and a heavy fine also your car insurance goes up eric

Let me take a shot at this.....You live in the USA...Because it sounds like an American Law to me...