Drinking and driving

Verified 08 décembre 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

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  • You have a standard driver's license
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He is forbidden of drive with a alcohol content in the blood not less than 0,5 g/l blood.

It comes down to 0.25 mg alcohol per liter of breath.

FYI  

If you have consumed alcohol, you can measure your blood alcohol concentration with a breathalyzer before driving. Visit the Road Safety website which provides tips to avoid taking risksAlcohol and driving.

The law enforcement carry out a checking blood alcohol concentration in a manner that obligatory, optional or preventative.

The checking may be preceded by a screening blood alcohol concentration.

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Verification required

Verification blood alcohol concentration is required if you are in one of the following situations:

  • You are in drunkenness
  • You refuse the blood alcohol screening
  • Your state of healthcertified by a doctor, does not allow you of endure one screening with alcohol test
  • You are involved in a traffic accident having caused a personal injury
  • You are the alleged perpetrator of a infringement to the highway code punishment of the additional penalty of suspension of driving license

Optional Verification

Verification blood alcohol concentration is optional if you are in one of the following situations:

  • You are involved in a traffic accident which has only caused material damage
  • You are the alleged perpetrator of a infringement to the highway code which is not punished by additional penalty of suspension of driving license

Preventive check

L'blood alcohol concentration may be verified randomly, without any offense or accident.

Screening

The law enforcement you provide one breathalyzer.

The breath test used only for track down one blood alcohol level.

If the screening is positive, law enforcement have checked your precise blood alcohol level.

Verification

The checking of the alcohol content is done with a breathalyzer or by blood tests and medical examinations.

The result you are notified.

Law enforcement must ask you if you wish one 2nd control.

In case of positive response, this control is made immediately and the result you are news release.

You're in a different situation

Levels between 0.5 and 0.8 g/l

Drive with a alcohol content in the blood equal to or greater than 0,5 g/l and less than 0,8 g/l is a contravention.

You are sanctioned by a fine up to €750.

In general, it is a flat-rate fine of €135.

Your vehicle may be immobilized.

6 points are withdrawn of the driving license.

You may also additional penalties following:

Level of 0.8 g/l or more

Drive with a alcohol level of 0,8 g/l or more of blood is one offense.

It comes down to 0.40 mg alcohol per liter of breath.

You are sanctioned by a fine up to €4,500 and by a sentence of 2 years in prison maximum

Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded with the authorization of the prefect or public prosecutor.

6 points are withdrawn of the driving license.

You may also additional penalties following:

FYI  

You risk the same penalties in case of driving in overt drunkenness.

Decline of submit to the checks of the alcohol content is is one offense.

You are sanctioned by a fine up to €4,500 and by a sentence of 2 years in prison maximum.

6 points are withdrawn of the driving license.

You may also additional penalties following:

In case alcohol-induced accident, your insurance company will apply sanctions (increase in contributions, termination of contract...).

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