Moldovan government increases contravention, criminal fines

Chisinau, 8 June /MOLDPRES/ - The government today approved a draft law on the amendment of the legislation in force, thereby increasing the units of fines in the contravention and criminal sectors, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.   

The document sees, inter alia, the increase of the fine for consumption of alcohol while driving up to 500 units. Thus, the maximal fine for this infringement will reach about 25,000 lei. “We have set to fight those who drive drunk and endanger the human lives,” Prime Minister Pavel Filip said.  

Also, in order to combat the phenomenon of “salary’s payment in envelopes,” the amendments proposed by the government set fines up to 75,000 lei for the legal entities that commit this infringement.    

“I think that, in such cases, the state must be very firm. We encourage the development of enterprises through improving the business environment, yet, we demand that the salaries be paid legally and all the social contributions should be paid,” the PM said.

An essential change deals with the size of the conventional unit staying at the basis of calculating the fines. Taking into account that the size of the conventional unit was established back in 2002 at 20 lei and has remained unchanged till present, this leads to the levying of fines in a disproportionate quantum as against the seriousness of the offence committed. Respectively, the amendments provide for the increase of the conventional unit up to 1 per cent of the average monthly salary on the economy, forecast by the government for the year when the offence was committed, by making proper changes to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Contravention Code. Thus, in 2016, this conventional unit will be equal to 50.5 lei.         

Another measure, provided for in the document approved by the cabinet, sets the requalification of the limits of the minimum level of the content of alcohol in blood, that will be from 0.3 g/l to 0.5 g/l, and respectively, the content of alcohol in the expired air, which will be from 0.15 ,g/l up to 0.3 mg/l, as well as the reduction of the threshold of the advanced degree of the content of alcohol, that will be of 0.5 g/l in the blood and 0.3 mg/l in the expired air. This provision is also aimed at optimizing the process of eliminating the consumption of alcohol, including when driving vehicles, and at leading a healthy lifestyle.    

The parliament is to consider the document.

(Editor L. Alcaza)