Press Release
July 26, 2007

Anti-drunk driving bill refiled by Villar

Senate President Manny Villar refiled the bill that seeks to protect public safety by criminalizing the act of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Senate Bill 83 or the Alcohol and Drug Testing Act is entitled, "An Act defining as a crime the act of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor and/or prohibited drugs and providing graduated penalties therefor."

Villar explained that existing laws on car accidents involving drunk drivers are lenient, treating such accidents as caused by reckless imprudence and not by deliberate act.

A law must be in place to provide stricter penalties for accidents caused by drunk drivers, Villar said.

"We want to minimize accidents and deaths due to accidents caused by persons driving any kind of motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs," he explained.

Under the measure, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs. A person shall be considered under the influence of alcoholic beverages if it shall be established that he has a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.6 percent or more.

For the first offense, a fine of P1,000 and a one-year suspension of driver's license shall be meted out. For the second and all subsequent offenses, the violator faces a fine of P5,000 and a five-year revocation of his license. If during the suspension period, a violation was committed again, the offender shall be sentenced to one to five years imprisonment.

News Latest News Feed