Drunk Driving in Israel – Israeli Traffic Lawyer
This article will provide information about drunk driving in Israel.
Three of the most serious offenses that a driver can cause are a fatal car accident, a hit and run, and drunk driving. While it is permissible to have a small level of alcohol in one’s system while driving, it is important to note that driving after drinking any level of alcohol is risky, as you don’t always know if you have crossed the threshold into legally impaired driving.
All issues regarding driving violations in Israel are administered by the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety.
When Is Driving Considered Drunk Driving in Israel
This is very important to consider, as many people are pulled over and given a DUI (an offense for driving while intoxicated) when they do not believe they are drunk. The technical definition of drunk driving is decided on by the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Health, and it assumes that one has a certain concentration of alcohol in one’s system within three hours of taking a breath, urine, or blood test.
This is even more severe in particular cases, for example, for new drivers, drivers 24 years old and under, or drivers of commercial or public vehicles. In this case, any alcohol concentration over 50 micrograms/liter according to a breathalyzer test or 10 milligrams/100 milliliters according to a blood test.
Refusal to Take a Test
It is important to note that, while a police officer can not force a driver to take a test, refusing to be tested is a transport offense that can result in imprisonment for one year or a fine of 10,000 NIS. There are very few physical and medical conditions that might allow a person to refuse to be tested, however, the burden of proof will be on the driver.
If you believe you have a physical or medical condition that would allow you to refuse a test, it is best to contact a lawyer immediately. You are permitted to make a short phone call if you are pulled over, although the police officer will not likely permit a long delay, as that could possibly affect the test, which needs to be performed within three hours of drinking.
Consequences for Drunk Driving
The penalty for driving while drunk is severe, including, among other things, suspending one’s license for two years. If the drunk driver was convicted of this offense in the past year, then the license suspension will be for four years.
It is important to note that the courts are permitted to shorten the duration of the license suspension. In order to ensure that your case is argued in a way to obtain the shortest license suspension possible, it is important to hire an Israeli traffic lawyer. We discuss how to choose a traffic lawyer in our article on the topic.
Other Articles of Interest
If you are caught drunk driving in Israel, we have a separate article, What to Do if Caught Drunk Driving in Israel, in which we list specific steps that may be of assistance.
We have many other articles on our website about traffic violations and drunk driving. This includes what to do if you’re in a car accident, hit and run, compensation for property damage, a traffic accident on the job, driving without a license, driving while high on drugs, and more.
Contact Us
Our law offices specialize in many areas of law, including Israeli traffic law. Please contact Advocate Moti Orange for assistance with your drunk driving case.
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