Why drivers who are drunk or high on drugs always flee the accident scene in Hong Kong?

11th March 2020 – (Hong Kong) At around 4am today, a 7-seater vehicle lost control and rammed into the McQ (McQueen) fashion store at 51 Patterson Street in Causeway Bay. The display window was shattered and the vehicle sustained damages. Police arrived at the scene after the driver disappeared.

Drink driving in Hong Kong is a serious criminal offence and will cost you a maximum fine of HK$25,000, up to 3 years’ imprisonment and 10 driving-offence points. Those convicted of driving above the prescribed limit of 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of urine may need to pay a fine of up to HKD 25,000 or face a jail sentence of up to three years, along with 10 driving demerit points, and a required driving course. Those caught drug driving face similar penalties, with a jail sentence of up to five years. Repeat offenders may have their license taken away permanently and increased jail sentences.

This explains clearly why drivers in Hong Kong always flee the accident scene when they know that they are drunk or on drugs. If the police arrive and fail to locate the driver, the suspect will not need to undergo a breathalyser test or a drug test. Hence, there is no drink driving offence committed. The owner of the vehicle can conveniently arrange for a ‘substitute’ to admit to the car crash without having to undergo any breathalyser test or drug test.

According to section 38 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 374) “a person drives carelessly within the meaning of this section if on a road he drives a vehicle without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road.” The maximum penalty for careless driving in Hong Kong is a fine of HKD$5,000 and 6 months’ imprisonment.

A former driver for local superstar Nicholas Tse, Shing was jailed in 2002 for four months for conspiring to falsely claim he was at the wheel of the star’s Ferrari when it crashed on Cotton Tree Drive, Central. Shing told the court that Tsec callled him at 6am on 23rd March 2020 after he crashed his black Ferrari given as a gift by his company, Emperor Entertainment Group. The driver then offered to ‘replaced’ the missing driver to the investigating police officer. He admitted being the driver of the vehicle before he was subsequently arrested by the ICAC on 12th April.

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