site.btaParliament Criminalizes Refusal of Alcohol and Drug Testing after Traffic Accidents

Parliament adopted at second reading on Friday amendments to the Penal Code, which criminalize refusal of alcohol and drug testing in traffic accidents and increase fines for DUI of drugs or alcohol. Refusal to submit to an alcohol and/or drug test after being involved in a traffic accident is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of BGN 2,500.

In case of driving with alcohol levels of more than 1.2 per mil, the offender will be punished with imprisonment from one to three years and a fine from BGN 1,000 to BGN 5,000. The previous fine ranged from BGN 200 to 1,000.

Repeat DUI will carry fines from BGN 2,000 to BGN 10,000 and prison sentences from one to five years for offenders with blood alcohol levels of more than 0.5 per mil.

Drug driving will carry fines from BGN 1,000 to BGN 5,000 compared to between BGN 500 and BGN 1,500 before. Repeat offenders will be fined between BGN 2,000 and BGN 10,000.

Fatal traffic accident will carry prison sentences ranging from 12 to 20 years, provided the driver who caused them was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, escaped from the scene of the accident, lacked a driving licence, exceeded the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in a populated area, ran a red light, or ignored a pedestrian crossing. Particularly egregious cases can carry life sentences.

If the driver caused a medium or grievous bodily injury during a traffic accident, and one of the above holds true, their sentence will range from four to 12 years in prison.

The amendments to the Penal Code introduce a chapter on terrorism, which stipulates that anyone who collects or provides funds or other property, knowing or presuming that they will be used in whole or in part for the commission of an offence under this chapter, shall be punished by imprisonment from three to 12 years, with a fine from BGN 5,000 to BGN 30,000.