The fine of several thousand euros that a truck driver will receive for giving 0.87 mg/l in a breathalyzer test

On May 4, the Mossos d'Esquadra published a post on X (formerly Twitter) where they reported the complaint against a truck driver driving on the AP-7 in the municipality of Gélida (Barcelona) with a blood alcohol level six times higher than the permitted level for professional drivers , which is 0.15 mg/liter of exhaled air.

Specifically, the driver of the trailer, which was transporting a load of 40 tonnes of food, tested 0.89 mg/l in the first test and 0.87 mg/l in the second , committing a very serious offence which could be considered a crime against road safety .

What penalty will this truck driver face?

First, the administrative fine will amount to 1,000 euros , with no immediate payment option. Furthermore, this violation carries with it the loss of six points on your driver's license.

The truck driver will also be tried for committing a crime against road safety , as defined in Article 379.2 of the Spanish Penal Code , which specifies: "anyone who drives a motor vehicle or moped with an exhaled alcohol level greater than 0.60 milligrams per liter or with a blood alcohol level greater than 1.2 grams per liter."

Criminal consequences of the crime of drunk driving

The same article of the Penal Code specifies that said driver "shall be punished with imprisonment of three to six months, or with a fine of six to twelve months, or with community service of thirty-one to ninety days, and, in any case, with deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles and mopeds for a period of more than one and up to four years."

Ultimately, a judge will decide the criminal punishment for the truck driver who drove six times over the legal blood alcohol level.

When will the new blood alcohol level finally come into effect?

What does the blood alcohol level depend on?

According to the General Directorate of Traffic, several factors can affect blood alcohol levels . One of the main factors is the driver's sex, as men and women metabolize alcohol differently. Another factor is the speed at which the body absorbs alcohol , which can be affected by food in the stomach, as this slows down its absorption.

Other determining factors include a person's alcohol tolerance level and the type of beverage consumed, as each type has a different alcohol concentration. Finally, conditions such as fatigue, sleepiness, anxiety, or stress can alter how the body reacts to alcohol consumption.