Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper): On Sunday in Leuven, police found a 23-year-old man cycling drunk, with a blood alcohol level over 1.2 permille. He received a fine of 1,260 euros under Belgian law.
Early Sunday morning, police in Leuven found a 23-year-old man wandering with his bicycle. They were worried about his safety and told him to walk instead of ride. They saw him cycling again and stopped him. After an alcohol test, they confirmed he was drunk. In Belgium, cycling while drunk is a serious offense because it can be dangerous for everyone on the road.
What are the penalties for cycling under the influence in Belgium?
Belgian law sets fines for drunk individuals, whether driving or cycling, based on their blood alcohol level. For low levels between 0.5 and 0.8 permille, the fine is 179 euros. Higher levels, between 0.8 and 1.2 permille, result in larger fines, while levels above 1.2 permille are serious offenses with fines up to 1,260 euros. In this case, the cyclist had an alcohol level over 1.2 permille, leading to the maximum fine. These penalties aim to discourage anyone from using transportation while under the influence.
According to Mathieu Caudron from the Leuven police, riding a bike under the influence is dangerous because it makes it hard to balance and can lead to accidents with other people on the road. He mentioned that the big fines are meant to stop people from cycling while drunk. The police remind everyone that safety is important, and following these rules helps keep the streets safer.
