Former welfare minister Uzulnieks still drives after drink-driving case

Reinis Uzulnieks, Latvia's former welfare minister, is still driving a car despite being caught drunk at the wheel this autumn. This is permitted because no conviction has entered into force in his criminal case, the television channel TV3 found out. His driving rights can therefore only be taken away after a court verdict.

Uzulnieks himself mentioned the driving in an interview, saying he uses the car to take his child to kindergarten in the morning.

The prosecutor's explanation

TV3 reported that, according to the prosecutor's office, the man has not been convicted and has not been found guilty in the manner set out by law, so restricting his right to drive would be an unjustified infringement. A spokesperson said that in drink-driving cases generally there is no provision allowing a person to be barred from driving before a verdict. The exception is when driving is part of someone's occupation, such as a bus driver; then a ban on driving any vehicle in the course of work duties may be imposed. Uzulnieks' job duties were not connected with driving, and it was also taken into account that he had no previous convictions.

How the case has developed

Uzulnieks was caught on 12 September, during the run-up to the Saeima (Latvian parliament) elections, in Ropaži municipality with 3.09 per mille of alcohol. Afterwards, the Union of Greens and Farmers recalled him from the ministerial post and expelled him from the party.

The case spent only two days with the State Police. On 15 September it was sent under an accelerated procedure to the Pierīga prosecutor's office to start criminal prosecution. The Riga District Court will begin examining it on 27 January. Driving rights will be withdrawn only if a guilty verdict is handed down.

In a later interview Uzulnieks said that on that morning he bought and drank 0.2 litres of brandy, then bought another 0.7 litres of strong alcohol during the day, of which he managed to drink 0.6 litres before being stopped. In total, he said, he drank 0.8 litres of spirits that day. He has pledged to give up alcohol entirely.