Male driver admits to being mentally ill to avoid alcohol test on New Year's Eve

Through basic investigation and forecasting the increase in alcohol violations by drivers on New Year's Eve, Nam Tu Liem District Police coordinated with Road Traffic Police Team No. 6 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) to set up a special task force to handle violations.

From 7:30 p.m. on December 31, 2023, a special task force of 40 officers and soldiers from the Traffic Police - Order Team (Nam Tu Liem District Police) coordinated with Road Traffic Police Team No. 6 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) to set up two checkpoints on Le Duc Tho and Le Quang Dao streets.

The working group placed signs announcing alcohol concentration checkpoints and cones to divide into two lanes to check all cars and motorbikes traveling on Le Quang Dao Street (from Thang Long Avenue - My Dinh National Stadium).

Just a few minutes after setting up the checkpoint, the Special Task Force discovered 3 drivers driving cars in violation of alcohol concentration.

Speaking to the authorities, the drivers admitted that they had consumed alcohol and beer while celebrating the New Year with friends.

"I am aware that drinking and driving is wrong and causes traffic safety problems, but I am somewhat subjective during Tet. I myself do not think that the traffic police work even on holidays," said driver VTK.

It is worth mentioning that there were drivers who only consumed a small amount of alcohol but could not control themselves. When the traffic police asked to check, they kept walking away and did not comply. The traffic police had to persuade the driver many times before he complied with the inspection.

Like driver NL, driving a car with license plate 30A-519.XX, only violated the level of less than 0.25 mg/L of breath but continuously drove away without complying with the traffic police's inspection.

After 20 minutes of persuasion, this driver complied with the request of the Working Group and admitted his actions.

At Le Duc Tho Street (from Highway 32 to My Dinh National Stadium), at 9:41 p.m. the same day, the Task Force stopped a car with license plate 30F-311.XX for inspection. However, the driver of this car repeatedly refused to comply and showed signs of driving away.

The Nam Tu Liem District Police and Traffic Police Team No. 6 had to work hard to get the driver out of the car for questioning. However, this person kept yelling at the authorities and claimed to have a "mental illness" and refused to take a breathalyzer test.

After nearly 30 minutes of persuasion from the authorities and his family, the driver finally agreed to take a breathalyzer test. The results showed that the driver had violated the level of 0.645 mg/L of breath. This level of violation is 1.6 times higher than the highest level of violation stipulated in Decree 100.

The working group drew up a record to fine the driver 35 million VND, revoke his driver's license for 23 months and impound his vehicle for 7 working days.

At the end of the working shift at 1:00 a.m. on January 1, 2024, the Special Task Force handled 30 cases of drivers violating alcohol concentration. Of these, there were 10 car drivers and 21 motorbike drivers.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chien, Captain of Traffic Police Team No. 6 (Traffic Police Department of Hanoi City Police) said that the unit has conducted basic investigations on the routes managed by the Team to focus on handling roads and streets with a large number of violations.

"We thoroughly understand that the unit's officers and soldiers must resolutely handle violations, with no restricted areas and no exceptions. The unit also determines that handling alcohol concentration violations is continuous, with no days off," said Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chien.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duc Hien, Captain of the Traffic Police - Order Team (Nam Tu Liem District Police) also informed that the unit has mobilized each restaurant and food and beverage business in the area to remind customers not to drive after consuming alcohol.