Society
Turkmenistan Strengthens Liability for Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
April 17, 2026 19:01 • UTC+5 (Ashgabat) • 6 views
Starting May 2026, Turkmenistan will significantly increase fines for allowing intoxicated persons to drive and for DUI offenses committed by unlicensed individuals. Penalties have risen to between 10 and 17 calculation units, and a fixed liability has been introduced for responsible officials.
Effective May 1, 2026, new fine amounts will come into force targeting intoxicated drivers and the responsible parties who allow them to operate vehicles, with the aim of ensuring road traffic safety.
Key Amendments and New Fines (Article 222):The new legislation is primarily focused on intoxicated drivers who do not possess a valid driver’s license and on the legal accountability of officials:
- Entrusting a Vehicle to an Intoxicated Person (Part 3): The fine for handing over vehicle operation to a person who is visibly intoxicated has been increased to 10 calculation units (formerly 6).
- Intoxicated Drivers Without a License (Parts 4 and 5):- Unlicensed individuals caught driving under the influence: The fine now ranges between 12 and 15 calculation units (the previous lower limit was 7).
- Repeat offenses (within one year): The lower limit for the fine has been increased to 17 calculation units (formerly 8).
- Liability of Officials (Part 6): The fine for an official responsible for vehicle operation who allows a driver to operate a vehicle in an intoxicated state is now set at a fixed amount of 5 calculation units.
Note: Penalties for licensed drivers caught driving under the influence (Parts 1 and 2), such as driver's license suspension and administrative arrest, remain unchanged.