New Judicial Package: 40,000 Lira Increase in Penalties for Drunk Driving
A new judicial package to be presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly includes strict penalties for various traffic offenses. Key provisions of the package, as shared by Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, include:
- Cutting off traffic: A new offense, “cutting off traffic” (stopping another vehicle, road bullying etc) will get up to 3 years in prison and a one-year suspension of the driver’s license.
Other proposed penalties include:
- Making a dangerous maneuver (swerving): A 50,000 lira fine and a one-year license suspension.
- Drifting: A fine of 80,000 lira.
- Driving without a license: A fine of 40,000 lira.
- Not yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, or police: A fine of 20,000 lira.
- Leaving the scene of a fatal accident without cause: Between 1 and 3 years in prison, along with a two-year suspension of the driver’s license.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol: The fine for drunk driving will increase from 9,267 lira to 50,000 lira, with a potential prison sentence of 6 months to 2 years.
- Driving under the influence of drugs: A 100,000 lira fine and a 5-year license suspension.
- Firing guns during celebrations: People firing into the air during weddings, engagements, and military send-offs will face up to 10 years in prison.
- Firing weapons in residential areas or using blank guns: A prison sentence of up to 5 years.
- Possessing an unlicensed shotgun: A fine of 30,000 lira.
- Carrying an unlicensed blank gun: A fine of 20,000 lira.
