Drinking a beer or a glass of wine and driving, no longer punishable by new road code, says Romanian PM

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Interior Minister Radu Stroe have agreed on a series of changes to Romania’s road code that would allow people to drive after drinking a beer or glass of wine. According to Ponta, who announced the changes, up to 0.2 milligrams of pure alcohol will be allowed in a person’s expired air, if the reforms are adopted. This means driving after a beer or a glass of wine would not be considered a contravention in the new road code, he said. However, he stated that between 0.2 and 0.5 milligrams was a contravention which would a driver's license suspended. After 0.5 it is considered to be a criminal offense, he added, quoted by by local news agency Mediafax. Ponta said the new code applied the European rules on alcohol consumption and aimed to increase safety on roads. Another change in the country’s road code would see a person's driving license suspended if fines are not paid within 30 days. The new road code is yet to be adopted. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com