DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 11

DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

SWEDEN’S NEW LAW One of Europe’s strangest laws, the new drunk-in-charge-of-a-car law m Sweden, is proving a success. Convictions are decreasing. In Sweden the penalty for driving a car while drunk is one month’s imprisonment, without the option of a fine. It applies to all classes, and is rigorously enforced. There is one alleviating point. The convicted motorist need not go prison as soon as sentence is passed. He can serve his sentence in any month during the six nunths after conviction. This arrangement was made to prevent people from losing their employment if they were suddenly taken away from their work. In the evenings Stockholm police patrols stop motorists' to see if they have been drinking. If a motorist is suspected he has to go to the police station, where a blood analysis is made to determine the quantity of alcohol that has been taken. One new business has sprung up as a result of the law. An enterprising Stockholm firm supplies chauffeurs for any car at any time of the day or night. Motorists who have been to a party telephone this firm to suppiv a driver for their cars rather than take the risk of driving themselves.