The proposed changes affect the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes, the Code on Offenses, as well as the Law "On Road Traffic," and include:
- Increased liability for traffic accidents with fatal consequences if they occurred while under the influence.
- Cancellation of exemption from liability through reconciliation with the victim.
- Exclusion of probation for cases of traffic accidents involving fatalities. The term of administrative arrest for drunk driving will be increased to 20 days.
- Equating mopeds to motor vehicles, which requires drivers to obtain a category A1 license.
- Increased fines and terms of arrest for other violations.
Deputy Dastan Bekeshev proposed amendments to the document, including limiting the grounds for the forced towing of vehicles.
He noted that vehicles are towed from both necessary and unnecessary places. Residents of the "Kok-Zhar" microdistrict complain about the lack of no-parking signs, yet their cars are still towed, creating a business around this.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Oktay Urmambetov confirmed that this proposal will be taken into account.
Additionally, Bekeshev suggested that information about towed vehicles should be posted not only on the GUOBDD website but also in mobile applications such as "Tunduk" or "My City." Urmambetov agreed with this initiative.
Bekeshev also raised the important question of how to determine the state of alcohol intoxication. He proposed to clearly specify the permissible blood alcohol level in the law.
“How can we understand if a person is intoxicated? For example, they drank yesterday, and today they are sober, but they still smell of alcohol. Or a person drank a week ago, and traces of alcohol remain in the blood,” Bekeshev explained.
Sometimes even kefir can show the presence of alcohol in the body, which raises suspicions. Also, people take medications that can leave a specific smell, not indicating intoxication.He also noted that the code defines the concept of "in a state of intoxication," which requires clarification.
Chairman of the Education Committee Suyunbek Omurzakov expressed the opinion that a drunk person and a sober person can be distinguished without a test. However, Bekeshev reminded that the new law introduces strict penalties for driving under the influence, including fines of up to 80,000 soms and license revocation, so it is necessary to clearly establish the blood alcohol level.
Bekeshev proposed to fix this norm in a note to the law, as many drivers may not be aware of its existence.
Furthermore, the deputy emphasized the need for separate regulation of the status of scooter and electric scooter drivers so that they are not equated with pedestrians. A representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs agreed to consider this proposal.
He also pointed out the problem of legalizing and registering illegally imported mopeds, noting that many of them were registered with an understated engine capacity, and proposed to allow their legalization.
Director of the State Center for Vehicle Registration and Driver Training Tynychbek Saidov promised that the center would implement the decision if it is adopted. Urmambetov added that this proposal would be studied further.
Bekeshev expressed dissatisfaction that his proposals are being considered for too long.
“I sent them a month ago, and I still receive the response: ‘We will consider it,’” the deputy noted.
Another deputy, Bolotbek Borbiev, suggested keeping the blood alcohol level regulation at the level of a resolution, pointing out the need for special equipment to determine the alcohol level, which the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not have.
The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs agreed that the Ministry is not yet ready for this and emphasized that determining the alcohol level when consuming drinks such as bozo or kumys requires special equipment, which is currently unavailable.
