The White Falcon - 30.04.1993, Page 3

Icelandic drunk driving rules explained

Maj. Phil Henning, Provost Marshal,
Iceland Defense Force staff
0.050 percent, you will be required to submit
to a blood alcohol test. On base, the police
will have the hospital draw three vials of
Iceland’s drunk driving laws are
among the toughest in the world. In
fact, Iceland has four separate laws on
drunk driving, including a mandatory
“Implied Consent Law” which requires
all drivers to submit to a blood alcohol
test when requested by the police.
Because of our basing agreement, all
Defense Force members and their fami-
lies are subject to Icelandic law. Al-
though Navy security police are pri-
marily responsible for law enforcement
on NAS, Keflavik, all drunk driving
cases are turned over to Icelandic offi-
cials for prosecution. Additionally, of-
ficers from the Keflavik Airport and
Customs Police patrol NAS Keflavik
and have jurisdiction as well. Drivers
stopped for suspected drunk driving
face a very different blood alcohol stan-
dard for establishing drunk driving than
in the United States.
In fact, the most important feature of
elandic law is the legal blood alcohol
evel for establishing proof of drunk driving.
Most jurisdictions in the United States estab-
lish 0.10 percent of alcohol in the blood as the
legal proof of limit, but Iceland sets 0.050
percent. Based on the police officer’s judge-
ment, you may be permitted to proceed or
allowed to call a taxi or have a completely
sober friend drive you home, or the police
may choose to drive you home in their police
vehicle.
Should your breath test register at or above
blood, of which two are sent to separate
laboratories off base for testing and the third
sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital for analy-
sis. It takes about six weeks to get all of the
results back.
Once the test results are received, then
your case will be tried before the Commis-
sioner of the Keflavik Airport and Customs
Police who has set 0.059 percent of alcohol
in the blood as the minimum level that he es-
tablishes guilt. This is slightly more lenient
than allowed by Icelandic law, but remem-
ber, this may not apply to other parts of
Iceland, such as Reykjavik or Akureyri.
Remember, the court can also
find you guilty of drunk driving
even if your blood alcohol level is
slightly less than 0.059 percent
(locally) or 0.050 percent else-
A*- where, based on testimony of the
•£- police and other evidence. Mili-
tary members convicted of drunk
driving may also face additional
administrative action from their
commander.
We strongly urge you not to
drive, even if you’ve only had
onedrink! Alcohol affects people
in different ways, depending on
body composition and weight.
For many, even one drink can
cause you to register 0.050 per-
cent! To avoid any problems, if
on base, use one of the many
available taxis, or have a totally
alcohol free, designated driver
take you home. If off-base, sum-
mon a taxi. Even though it may
cost you $70 for a taxi from
Reykjavik to the base, remem-
ber, it’s a lot cheaper than a potential $1,000
fine and loss of your career!
Iceland’s drunk driving laws are tough,
and they even require bar tenders and restau-
rant owners to notify the police if someone at-
tempts to drive after having too much to
drink. With increased daylight and police
patrols, the safest bet is to be completely al-
cohol free should you decide to drive any-
where in Iceland!
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April 30,1993
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