La Laguna Carnival: 79 Drivers Caught Drink-Driving in Early Checks

Early road safety checks in La Laguna for the Carnival celebrations have revealed a worrying number of drivers breaking the law by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to local police data, 79 drivers were caught for drink-driving during the first four operations.

Most of these cases, 70 to be exact, were administrative offenses, meaning drivers were over the legal limit but not at a criminal level. However, nine drivers face criminal charges. They had more than 0.60 milligrams of alcohol per liter of breath, which is considered a crime against road safety under Spanish law. This can lead to prison sentences, high fines, and losing their driving license.

Police also caught eleven people driving under the influence of drugs, which carries significant fines under the Road Safety Law. Furthermore, eleven vehicles were taken off the road due to serious issues, such as not having a valid vehicle inspection (ITV) or the owner's driving license being expired.

Because of these findings, La Laguna's Councillor for Citizen Security, Badel Albelo, confirmed that these operations will continue until Sunday, February 22nd. Albelo stressed that these checks are vital to protect responsible citizens and prevent drink or drug driving from causing accidents. He highlighted that driving under the influence of alcohol is not just illegal, but also a serious danger to everyone on the roads during the celebrations. He urged people to use public transport for their Carnival outings. Finally, the councillor thanked the officers for their work and assured the public that extra attention will be given to the busiest days on Tenerife's roads to ensure a safe Carnival for all.