Warning: Hungary has a zero-tolerance limit

• Hungary applies zero tolerance: you may not drive a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in your body.
• Above 0.50 g/l blood alcohol or 0.25 mg/l breath alcohol: criminal offence (Section 236 of the Hungarian Criminal Code).
• Below this limit: administrative fine.
• In many countries a certain amount of alcohol is tolerated; in Hungary it is not. Many foreign drivers are unaware of this difference.

What penalty can you face?

• Basic offence: up to 2 years’ imprisonment
• If serious bodily harm is caused: up to 3 years
• Permanent disability, serious damage to health or a mass accident: 1 to 5 years
• Death of a person: 2 to 8 years; death of more than two people: 5 to 10 years

Where the law provides for a maximum of 3 years’ imprisonment, the court may impose a fine, community service or other penalties instead. A driving ban is in principle mandatory, so its length is one of the most important issues for the defence.

What happens after you are stopped?

• Testing: if the roadside breath test is positive, it is followed by a measurement with an approved device or a blood sample. Only the latter count as evidence.
• Driving licence: the police can seize your licence on the spot. Ask us what this means in your case, including for a foreign licence.
• Suspect interview: you have the right to an interpreter and the right to remain silent.
• Outcome: many cases end without a court hearing, with a written penal order (büntetővégzés). A hearing can only be requested within a short deadline.

What should you do now?

• Do not make a statement until you have spoken to a lawyer.
• Ask for an interpreter in your own language.
• Ask for copies of the test results and the official records.
• Write down what you drank, when, and when you drove.
• If you have received a summons or a decision in Hungarian, send it to us immediately: the deadlines are short.

How we help

• We explain every document and every step of the procedure in English
• We check that the measurement and the taking of samples were lawful
• We assist you at the suspect interview
• We argue for a lighter sentence and the shortest possible driving ban
• We represent you in court, including on appeal

Frequently asked questions

Can I be prosecuted in Hungary if I live abroad?

Yes. An offence committed in Hungary is dealt with by the Hungarian authorities. We can represent you and keep you informed in English.

What is the drink-driving limit in Hungary?

Any amount of alcohol is prohibited when driving. Above 0.50 g/l in the blood or 0.25 mg/l in the breath it is a criminal offence; below this limit an administrative fine applies.

Can I go to prison?

The law provides for up to 2 years’ imprisonment for the basic offence, but the court may impose a fine or community service instead. If an accident with injuries occurred, the penalties are higher.

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Call us now, day or night

Dr. László-Tamás Benő: +36 70 379 0245

Office: Falk Miksa utca 4, mezzanine 4, 1055 Budapest (by appointment only)

See also: Detained or arrested in Hungary · Hungarian version