Gwangju Police Say "Don't Move" to Drunk Hit-and-Run Drivers... They Will Be Caught Even If They Flee

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Gwangju police plan to take strong action against a suspect who fled the scene after causing a traffic accident while driving under the influence.

On the 7th, the Gwangju Police Agency and the Gwangju Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee announced that they have established a policy to hold suspects who cause traffic accidents and flee the scene for various reasons such as suspicion of drunk driving, drug use, unlicensed driving, or prior similar offenses fully accountable through thorough investigations.

The police explained that when a hit-and-run incident occurs, they track the suspect vehicle, identify the license plate, and locate the offending driver. If the suspect goes into hiding without responding to contact, they pursue them thoroughly through analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and location tracking investigations.

In particular, when suspicion of alcohol or drug use arises, the investigation process includes examining the driver’s movements prior to the accident, and various testing methods such as alcohol metabolite tests are conducted to ensure these results can be reflected in future court sentencing.

A Gwangju Police Agency official emphasized, "If a driver has a history of drunk driving, drug use, unlicensed driving, or similar prior offenses, they often flee considering the possibility of aggravated punishment and potential disadvantages at work or elsewhere. However, the most important thing when causing a traffic accident is to provide aid to the victim, whose life is directly at stake, and to take measures to prevent secondary accidents caused by damaged property."

He added, "Since thorough investigations and techniques are used to uncover the reasons for fleeing and reflect them in sentencing, it is crucial to recognize that failure to take post-accident measures or fleeing the scene under the Special Act on Punishment of Hit-and-Run is severely punished, and all necessary actions must be taken."

In fact, last August, a driver suspected of drunk driving on a road in Gwangju collided with a roadside wall and a guide sign on the right side of the road and fled the scene but was later fined 10 million won by the court.

This is by no means a light penalty compared to the usual fines of 3 million won for a first-time drunk driving suspension and 5 to 10 million won for cancellation cases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.