Headline:
Norwegian Woman Sent to Prison for Drunkenly Moving Car a Few Meters on a Parking Lot
Subhead:
After a night out, a Norwegian woman moved her car a few meters on a parking lot, only to be stopped by police and charged with drunk driving. Here’s her unusual tale.
In an unusual case of drunk driving, a Norwegian woman was sentenced to 15 days in prison after moving her car just 10 meters on a parking lot. The woman, who had been out drinking with her partner and friends, had parked her van earlier in the evening but decided to move it around midnight to a spot with CCTV coverage, fearing its safety.
She took the initiative as she had consumed less alcohol than her partner. As she started moving the vehicle, a police patrol approached and ordered her to pull over. A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 1.29 promille, well over Norway’s 0.20 promille limit. She acknowledged her actions, stating, "I moved the car a few meters, but I didn’t think I was over the limit."
In April, she was convicted by Telemark District Court and handed a 15-day prison sentence, a two-year driving ban, and a NOK 10,000 fine. However, she appealed the decision, arguing that the punishment was too harsh.
In October, the Court of Appeal reduced her driving ban to one year and four months, citing her medical treatment needs and the relatively low risk to others in the incident. Despite the reduced sentence, the court upheld the prison sentence and fine.
Norwegian Drunk Driving Laws Explained
In Norway, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.20 promille. Driving with a BAC between 0.20 and 0.19 promille can lead to fines and license suspension, while BACs of 0.19 promille and above typically result in harsher penalties, including imprisonment.
Alcohol Consumption and Promille Levels
Når alkohol kommer over i blodet, kan man måle det som promille. Det er forskjellig hvor mye promille man tåler før det blir farlig. Factors like gender, weight, alcohol tolerance, and food consumption can all affect how quickly one’s BAC rises and how much alcohol is considered dangerous.
Readers’ Reaction
The woman’s case sparked debate among readers, with many questioning the severity of her punishment given the low risk of harm posed by her actions. Others argued that the law should not make exceptions, regardless of the distance traveled or perceived risk.
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