The Kremlin supports the idea of tightening criminal liability for impaired driving, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, RIA Novosti reports.
Earlier in the day the ruling United Russia party said it will propose amendments to the law allowing harsher penalties for driving under the influence, including steeper fines, vehicle confiscation, lifetime driving bans and a custodial sentence for repeat offenders.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has also endorsed the initiative.
“We have had a series of gruesome traffic accidents recently; sadly, the absolute majority were committed by drivers who were highly intoxicated,” he said.
“We should consider introducing tougher criminal responsibility for these offenses.”
Seven people were killed and four injured when a car slammed into a bus stop in western Moscow on Saturday. The Toyota’s driver, a 29 year-old man, lost control of his vehicle at high speed, went over the curb and onto the sidewalk, killing five teenagers and two adults.
