31 - General Penal Provisions

Anyone who deliberately or negligently violates provisions given in or under this law shall be punished with fines or imprisonment for up to one year, unless the offense is subject to a stricter penalty provision. The same penalty applies to violations of conditions in individual decisions made under this law and breaches of prohibitions under §§ 35 and 36. Attempted offenses are not punishable, except for violations of § 22 first paragraph. Anyone who negligently causes significant bodily harm or the death of another through the use of a motor vehicle shall be punished according to the Penal Code § 280 or § 281.

A person who violates § 22 first paragraph shall be punished as follows:

a. With a fine for a blood alcohol concentration of up to 0.5 per mille or a breath alcohol concentration of up to 0.25 milligrams per liter of air, or with a specified concentration in the blood of another intoxicating or narcotic substance. b. With a fine and conditional or unconditional imprisonment for a blood alcohol concentration of over 0.5 to 1.2 per mille or a breath alcohol concentration of over 0.25 to 0.6 milligrams per liter of air, or with a specified concentration in the blood of another intoxicating or narcotic substance. c. With a fine and unconditional imprisonment for a blood alcohol concentration above 1.2 per mille or a breath alcohol concentration over 0.6 milligrams per liter of air, or with a specified concentration in the blood of another intoxicating or narcotic substance.

The degree of intoxication in drivers who have taken medication according to a prescription from a doctor or dentist shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In determining the penalty under the second paragraph, particular attention shall be paid to the degree of intoxication and the dangers the driving has posed. A person who violates § 22 first paragraph, cf. § 31 second paragraph, letter a, and who has been previously convicted under § 22 first paragraph, cf. § 31 second or fourth paragraph, shall be punished, as a rule, with a fine or a fine and conditional imprisonment. A person who violates § 22 first paragraph, cf. § 31 second paragraph letter b or c, and who has been previously convicted under § 22 first paragraph, cf. § 31 second or fourth paragraph, shall be punished, as a rule, with a fine and unconditional imprisonment.

Instead of a fine and unconditional imprisonment, a fine and conditional imprisonment may be imposed with conditions as mentioned in the Penal Code § 37 letter f.

Violation of § 22 fifth paragraph shall be punished with a fine and imprisonment.

Parking violations that are not covered by provisions under § 8, and violations of the prohibition on stopping, shall only be punished if the parking has caused or could have caused serious traffic obstruction or a danger to persons or goods. Otherwise, a fee shall be imposed according to § 31 a.

In accordance with further rules given by the King, a fee may be imposed instead of a penalty for violations of other rules given in or under this law.