The Problem
You had a few drinks at dinner and decided to drive back to your hotel, thinking the alcohol limits might be similar to your home country. Now you have been pulled over at a police checkpoint and the breathalyzer shows you are over the limit. As a foreigner, you are terrified about what happens next. Will you go to jail? Will your rental car be impounded? Can you still fly home next week? The consequences of drunk driving in Turkey can be severe and immediate.
How the Law Works in Turkey
Drunk driving in Turkey is regulated by the Highway Traffic Law (Karayolları Trafik Kanunu, Law No. 2918). The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is 0.50 promille (0.05%) for regular drivers and 0.00 for commercial and new drivers. Under Article 48 of this law, driving with a BAC between 0.50-1.00 promille results in a license suspension and a heavy fine. A BAC over 1.00 promille or refusal to take a breathalyzer test results in license suspension for 2 years, vehicle impoundment, and a fine of approximately 8,000-12,000 TL. For BAC over 1.50 promille or causing an accident while drunk, criminal charges under TCK Article 179 (endangering traffic safety) apply with imprisonment of up to 2 years. If someone is injured or killed, penalties increase dramatically under TCK Articles 85-89.
What the Tourist Should Do
If stopped at a checkpoint, do not attempt to flee as this compounds your charges enormously. Cooperate with the breathalyzer test, as refusal carries the same penalties as testing positive. Ask for a blood test at a hospital if you believe the breathalyzer was inaccurate, as you have this right under the Highway Traffic Law. Contact a lawyer immediately before making any statements. If your rental car is impounded, notify the rental company as their insurance may or may not cover drunk driving incidents. Do not attempt to drive away from the scene under any circumstances.
The Risks
A drunk driving conviction in Turkey goes on your criminal record and can affect future visa applications for Turkey and other countries. If you cause an accident while drunk, you face aggravated charges: injury results in 1-6 years imprisonment, and death results in 2-15 years imprisonment under TCK Articles 85-89. Your travel insurance and rental car insurance almost certainly exclude drunk driving, leaving you personally liable for all damages. A travel ban may be imposed if criminal charges are filed, preventing you from leaving Turkey. Your driver's license from your home country may also be affected through international notification systems.
LetFix Solution
LetFix connects you with traffic and criminal defense lawyers who handle drunk driving cases for foreigners. We work to minimize penalties, negotiate with prosecutors, and protect your ability to travel freely.
