What is revolutionary about the NPA proposal is that it bans people from even being passengers in vehicles driven by drunk drivers. Violators would face up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.
Thus a person who does not have the courage to refuse the offer of a ride from a drunk driver could also be punished. People would have to keep in mind that when out drinking with friends, accepting a ride back home or to another bar from someone who has been drinking would be treated as a crime.
When it comes to the actual application of the new penalties, however, difficulty arises. Investigators will have to prove that a passenger in a vehicle driven by a drunk driver had prior knowledge that the driver was drunk.
Investigators may also face difficulty when investigating other types of abettors. Nevertheless, the NPA proposal providing punishment for abettors will serve as an admonition to Japanese society, which up to now has shown a general over-tolerance toward driving under the influence of alcohol.
Incentivos novos, mas de implementação não tão simples.
Claudio
p.s. “Se beber, não dirija”.
