EMPLOYEES serving public posts in government agencies and institutions will be sacked if they are found driving while drunk from May 1, when the criminal law is amended to criminalize drunk driving.
Details of the amendment, which was passed by the bimonthly session of standing committee of China s top legislature Thursday, are yet announced, according to the city government.
The amendment makes drunk driving a violation of Criminal Law and drunk drivers would be detained and fined.
If there are no serious consequences such as road accidents, drunk drivers will be detained for up to 15 days, according to the road traffic safety laws. They are only subject to administrative or civil penalties.
Under the new rules, drunk drivers will be guilty of dangerous driving attracting one to six months detention and other penalties.
An employee surnamed Wu of Shenzhen Customs said, according to an internal customs rule, government employees face punishment if they drive under the influence of alcohol.
Lawyer Jin Yan of Guangdong Jinyuan Law Firm hoped the interpretation would punish an offender according to the degree of blood-alcohol content.
(Han Ximin)
