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The 'zero alcohol' at the wheel is already the law in half the country: which provinces require it this summer

2023-01-20T16:28:00.826Z


More and more districts do not tolerate drinking even a sip before driving and fine violators. Knowing this is key when traveling.


To drive vehicles there are

requirements

that are identical throughout Argentina, such as having an up-to-date license and insurance.

But there are also requirements that can vary greatly depending on the place through which it circulates.

The

level of alcohol

tolerated in the blood of the person who drives is a clear example.

In recent years,

more and more provinces

have been enacting laws that impose "

zero alcohol behind the wheel

" in their territories.

That is, the total ban on drinking before driving.

The Province of Buenos Aires

recently

launched a regulation of this type, and joined the

other 12 provinces

that already punished with harsh sanctions even those who have only ingested

minimal amounts

of an alcoholic beverage before driving.

Thus, taking into account that the country has

24 provinces

 counting the Capital, now about 13 -

half plus one

- require "zero alcohol".

But

not the rest

: almost "half the country" still allows driving with moderate levels of this substance in the body, up to the

limit of 0.5 grams

 per liter of blood set by the National Traffic Law 24,449.

With which, this summer, those who go on vacation by car should know what the rules are in this regard in the different places they

will visit

and in all those jurisdictions through which

they will pass

 on the way.

On the routes to the coast, as well as throughout the Buenos Aires territory, if someone drank alcohol they cannot drive.

Photo: Martin Bonetto.

Province of Buenos Aires: how is the new "zero alcohol" law at the wheel

On

January 1

 , 2023, Buenos Aires law 15,402 came into force, which modified the Traffic Code imposing

zero tolerance

of blood alcohol for drivers throughout the provincial territory.

What applies even in the routes and national highways that cross it.

The norm, approved unanimously in the Buenos Aires Legislature at the end of last year, thus

canceled

 the possibility contemplated until now of driving with up to

0.5 grams

 of alcohol per liter of blood.

Violators, meanwhile, expect harsh penalties:

3 to 18 months withholding

the driver's license depending on the degree detected, up to

$180,000 fine

and possible

arrest

, in addition to the obligation to take driver's education courses.

On the other hand, it is specified that those who refuse to be controlled will be

considered positive

, with all the sanctions that this entails.

On January 1, the law entered into force in Buenos Aires territory and there are operations to verify that it is complied with.

Photo: Min. Transport PBA.

What other provinces have passed zero tolerance laws for alcohol while driving?

-

Chaco

.

It has been in effect since August

2022

.

-

Chubut

.

Sanctioned at the end of 

2020

.

-

Cordoba

.

It has been applied since 

2014

-

Between Rivers

.

Its standard was regulated in

2018

.

-

Jujuy

.

Apply the "zero alcohol" since

2018

.

-

The Pampa

.

Enacted in August

2022

.

-

La Rioja

.

Sanctioned in November

2022

.

-

Black River

.

It has its law since 

2017

.

-

Jump

.

"Zero tolerance" has been the law since

2014

.

-

Holy Cross

.

Its law came into effect in 

2017

.

-

Land of Fire

.

It was approved in

2021

.

-

Tucuman

.

Prohibits alcohol while driving since

2016

.

To all this is added that, according to the National Ministry of Transportation, more than

40 municipalities

in the country also have their own

"zero alcohol"

rules at the wheel in their territories.

For example, the cities of

Rosario

, capital

Santa Fe

,

Posadas

and capital

Neuquén

.

Therefore, even in the most flexible provinces there may be certain

localities

that are not.

This is why being well informed is key when going on a trip to avoid problems.

Or directly, as the specialists advise, 

never drink if you are going to drive

 or

speculate

about the time it takes for the body to "clean itself".

Submitting to breathalyzer controls is mandatory and those who refuse are considered drunk.

Photo: Ministry of National Transport.

Why is it recommended not to drink alcohol before driving?

Based on medical criteria and statistical evidence, the

Ministry of Health of the Nation

emphatically advises against driving while drinking alcohol, stating that its consumption "increases the chances of being involved in a road accident,

whatever the level

".

The official recommendation is clear: "If you're going to drive,

don't drink

alcohol."

And it is that, among the 

dangerous effects

 that alcohol generates in a person who is in control of a vehicle, the following stand out:

-

Reduces peripheral vision

and can cause

double vision

, which hinders the person's ability to discern what is happening around them and diminishes their ability to

judge distances

.

-Decreases coordination and attention: thus, whoever has drunk 

will take longer to make decisions in the

face of events or situations that require an immediate reaction.


-Generates a

false state

of

euphoria

,

security

and self-

confidence

, which leads to a "feeling of

contempt for danger

" and a tendency to transgress the rules (for example, avoiding wearing a seatbelt or helmet).

With the criteria of "zero tolerance", if there is alcohol in a meeting, those who will be driving should not have a drink.

Photo: Shutterstock.

The national "zero alcohol" law, delayed

At the national level, there is a project for "zero alcohol" at the wheel that 

was half

 approved in November in the Chamber of Deputies and is now awaiting approval by the

Senate

to become law.

Since in the Upper House the commission's opinion had been achieved quickly and there is sufficient consensus, it was expected that the final sanction could arrive 

before the end of the year

.

But finally it did not happen.

For this reason, now the Government included this issue as one of the 27 projects that it asked the Legislative Power to

deal with in extraordinary sessions

, between January 23 and February 28.

If progress is made, this initiative, prepared by the National Road Safety Agency (ANSV) with the support of organizations of relatives of victims of road accidents, will establish 

for the entire country

that tolerance of alcohol in blood will be

zero

when driving any type of motor vehicle.

After this change to the Traffic Law, in any case, each jurisdiction

will be able to decide whether to adhere

 to the new regulations.

Or if it maintains its own legislation, as would happen in provinces like Mendoza;

and in the City of Buenos Aires, where for now the criterion of tougher sanctions for those who exceed the limit prevails.

MDG

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Source: clarin

All news articles on 2023-01-20

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