These are the first eight drivers arrested following the enactment of the law that toughens penalties for those who drive with 1 gram of alcohol.
The Mendoza Police continue to carry out strict alcohol tests throughout the province. In the last few hours, eight drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. These actions are part of the recent promulgation of Law 9099 of the Contravention Code, which toughens the penalties for those who have a blood alcohol level of 1 gram or more.
Most of the cases of drunk driving detected occurred in the early morning, between 1 and 5 am, in Greater Mendoza, East and South of the province. Of the eight drivers arrested, three were motorcyclists.
In Guaymallén, a particular case stood out: a driver of a Ford Ecosport van was recorded with a blood alcohol level of 2.14 grams per liter (g/L), the highest level recorded in these controls.
Law 9099 imposes severe penalties for drivers with blood alcohol levels above 1 gram per liter of blood. Penalties include fines ranging from $508,000 to $1,397,000, equivalent to 4,000 to 11,000 Fixed Units, with each UF valued at 127 pesos.
In addition, the law provides for arrests of up to 120 days and mandatory disqualification from driving vehicles, with a duration that can range from 90 to 545 days. It is important to note that disqualification from driving is mandatory and payment of the fine does not reduce the duration of this penalty.
Judges may also impose the obligation to attend training, prevention and/or responsible driving courses, depending on the circumstances of the case.
In the meantime, the driving licences and vehicles of offenders will continue to be retained until the corresponding sanction has been served. Also, refusal or obstruction to take the breathalyser test will be considered a legal presumption of a contravention.
In addition to these penalties, the provincial government enacted Law 9555, which establishes that drunk drivers who cause traffic accidents must cover the costs of their medical care in public hospitals.
The cases
In Rivadavia, at 11:00 p.m., at the intersection of Liniers and España streets, a Keller motorcycle driver was arrested with a blood alcohol level of 1.43 grams per liter (g/L).
Later, in General Alvear, at 1:40, a motorcyclist on a Zanella motorcycle was caught with a blood alcohol level of 1.79 g/L at the intersection of L and 5 streets. In Luján, at 2:15, on JJ Paso and Ugarte streets, a driver of a Toyota Hilux pickup truck was detected with a level of 1.45 g/L.
In San Rafael, at 4:30 a.m., at the intersection of Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen and Espejo, a motorcyclist on a Guerrero motorcycle had a blood alcohol level of 1.25 g/L. At 1:40 a.m., on Ruta 7 and Guerrero, a driver of a Fiat Duna was controlled with a blood alcohol level of 1.31 g/L.
In Guaymallén, on Holmberg and 25 de Mayo streets, two significant cases were recorded: at 4:30 a.m., a driver of a Ford Ecosport van was stopped with a blood alcohol level of 2.14 g/L, and at 5 a.m., a driver of a VW Golf showed a blood alcohol level of 1.68 g/L.
Finally, in Tupungato, at 05.40, on Assistant Ubilla Street, a driver of a Chevrolet Agile was stopped with a level of 1.55 g/L.
