DRINK driving is a crime and doing it can get you in a serious amount of trouble.
The Road Safety Act 1967 made it an offence to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of over 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. These are the fines for people who drink drive.
Fines are based on salary and how bad the offence isGetty – Contributor
How are drink-driving fines calculated?
You could be imprisoned, banned from driving and face a fine if you’re found guilty of drink-driving.
But the exact punishment each driver is handed depends solely on the decision of the magistrate in court.
This depends on what your breath test result was and if you have previous driving convictions.
Magistrates will then place you in one of the salary-based sentencing “bands” laid out in the court guidelines.
These are designed to make fines fair – so drivers on regular incomes pay less than super-rich celebs and footballers like Wayne Rooney or Ant McPartlin.
Fine Band A: 50% of relevant weekly income (between 25 – 75% of relevant weekly income)
Fine Band B: 100% of relevant weekly income (75 – 125% of relevant weekly income)
Fine Band C: 150% of relevant weekly income (125 – 175% of relevant weekly income)
Fine Band D: 250% of relevant weekly income (200 – 300% of relevant weekly income)
Fine Band E: 400% of relevant weekly income (300 – 500% of relevant weekly income)
Fine Band F: 600% of relevant weekly income (500 – 700% of relevant weekly income)
Fines are normally based on A to C and depend on how serious your offence is – crashing into others, being heavily over the limit or other mitigating factors can ramp up the severity.
When you commit an offence that is worthy of prison time, bands D-F are also an option.
What’s the average fine?
As fines are based on salary there’s no real “average fine” but Band C is the most common as this tends to cover anyone up to twice the limit on the breath test.
Drivers three times over the limit will head into custodial sentencing and Bands D-F.
Any driving ban is a minimum of a year, increasing as offences get worse or for repeat offenders. In minor cases you’ll be able to attend a rehab course to slash the ban.
The fine isn’t the only financial penalty associated with being caught drink-driving.
Previous estimates reckon a conviction could cost up to £50,000 once you add in fines, legal fees, increase in car insurance and potential loss of job.
What are the drink-drive penalties?
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink can lead to three months imprisonment, up to £2,500 fine and a possible driving ban.
Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink can lead to six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a driving ban for at least one year (three years if you have been convicted twice in 10 years).
Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis can lead to six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine and driving ban for at least one year.
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink can lead to 14 years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, a ban from driving for at least two years and an extended driving test before your licence is returned.
What’s the maximum you’d have to pay?
The maximum fine for being in charge of a vehicle while drunk is capped at £2,500.
Being “in charge” can include attempting to gain entry to the vehicle and failing, having keys to the vehicle, having intention to take control of the vehicle or even “being near the vehicle”.
Falling asleep overnight in the car could also land you in trouble or just sitting in the car having a cigarette.
Once cops actually catch you moving in a car then the fine becomes unlimited with no cap on the salary-based guidelines. The maximum is 700 per cent of your weekly income.
What is the drink-driving limit in the UK?
The drink-drive limit differs in the UK depending on whether you are in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Government guidelines state that the limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath or 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.
In Scotland the limits are 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath or 67 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.
With just 10mg per 100ml of blood you are 37 per cent more likely to be involved in a fatal road accident than when sober.