Hungary may toughen drunken driving laws

BUDAPEST, Hungary, March 14 (UPI) -- Police in Hungary plan to strengthen drunken driving laws and allow fines to be collected from foreign motorists, a report said Friday.

A maximum blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent is regarded as a minor offense, but national police reportedly want to reduce the maximum to 0.05 percent, which will allow fines of more than $110 to be collected from drivers in the European Union, the Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

Police also reportedly want to be able to give out fines based on breathalyser test results and end the current procedure requiring a blood test.

Zero tolerance for drunken driving began in Hungary in January after statistics revealed that 13-14 percent of deadly and personal-injury driving accidents were caused by drunken drivers, the report said.