Motorists warned over drink-driving fine even without 'getting behind the wheel'
Experts say 300 people have been prosecuted for the offence in the last four years
Drivers are being warned they could be fined for drink-driving without actually getting behind the wheel. According to experts 300 motorists have been prosecuted for committing the crime over the past four years.
Most drivers pulled over under suspicion of being intoxicated receive a DR40 conviction - for being 'in charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit - if they fail a breathalyser, blood or urine test.
But for the alternative DR50 endorsement - in charge of a vehicle while unfit through alcohol - just having the keys in the vicinity of the vehicle can be enough.
Many motorists are prosecuted for this offence after being found sleeping in their vehicle while intoxicated.
And while 2,176 were successfully prosecuted for the more common DR40 charge between 2021 and 2024, there were also 288 DR50 endorsements handed out during the same time period.
These drivers faced a £2,500 fine, driving ban and three months in prison.
Select Car Leasing secured the data from the DVLA via the Freedom of Information Act.
Expert Graham Conway said: "If you're inside a vehicle with the keys you could be prosecuted under the DR50 offence.
'That means if you've had a few too many and fancy sleeping it off in the back seat, you may still end up with a fine and ban.'
According to the Road Traffic Act: A person remains in charge of their vehicle until they have transferred control to another, for example by handing over the key or have gone some distance from the car.
The legislation also makes clear that if the level of the drug does not exceed the specified limit, but where there is sufficient evidence of impairment, the charge will be contrary to Section 4, which covers the DR50 charge.
The DVLA figures showed an upward trend in DR50 endorsements between 2021 to 2023 - but a reduction last year.
In 2021 there were 59 added to driving licences in England, Scotland and Wales.
That rose to 66 in 2022 and 84 in 2023, but dropped to 19 in 2024 - a total of 228. Of these 47 were female drivers and 181 male.
The hotspots were mainly in Scotland, with Glasgow recording 18 endorsements, Aberdeen 12, Edinburgh eight and Dundee seven.
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The legal alcohol law limit in Scotland is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath the limit.
Graham added: 'Obviously, the best approach is not to drink any alcohol if you're going to drive your car.
'Although there are some rough guidelines out there, there's no way of knowing how a few pints of glasses of wine could affect your ability behind the wheel as factors such as age, weight, gender and the amount of food you have consumed all come into play.
'It's also important to bust the myth that drinking a coffee or having a shower will sober you up quickly enough to drive safely - it can take hours for alcohol to leave your system.
'A mistake many people make is to believe they are fit to drive the morning after, no matter how much booze they consumed the night before.
'It is very possible to be still over the limit and as a result be a danger to other road users and risk losing your licence.'
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