LETTER: DUI punishments from around the world

If you think the drunk driving penalties in the U.S. are a little lenient, you’re right. Compared to the rest of the world, the U.S.’s DUI punishments are lenient. Most other countries give automatic license bans for several years on the first DUI charge, and some even suspend a license permanently if you get a second charge. The harshest DUI punishments around the world can sound crazy, though. Here are some of the top hard-core DUI penalties around the world.

Poland

Poland has a long history of having dangerous roads and tragic accidents, so they don’t tolerate any self-inflicted safety hazards. For the first offense, you lose your license for at least three years and face a minimum fine of $1,635. That’s not all, though: you also have to attend a series of long political lectures.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, and France

The standard fees, jail time and driving suspension applies to these countries. What sets them apart is that you can have your vehicle impounded and sold by the authorities for your first DUI offense.

And no, El Salvador will not execute you by firing squad like the rumors say.

South Africa

The jail time and fees are much higher in this country. For your first DUI, you can be sent to jail for 10 years, fined $10,000, or both.

Turkey

Turkey’s treatment of drunk drivers has always been something of a legend, because police officers were known to drive intoxicated drivers 20 miles out into the desert and force them to march back to civilization. They’re even kind enough to find an escort so you’d march the whole 20 miles without help.

Australia

There’s nothing like good old-fashioned public humiliation. If you get a DUI in Australia, your name and offense is published in the newspaper for everyone to see. We guess a lot of people are fired from their jobs because of this.

United Arab Emirates

Flogging. Yep, you read that correctly. In addition to jail time, you could be flogged with 80 lashes across the arms, back and legs.

The penalties in the U.S. are pathetic by comparison. We don’t necessarily want the extreme of flogging. Instead, maybe we should try a nice mix of Australia’s humiliation and France’s tendency to impound vehicles.

BOB LAUNHARDT

Pinehurst