Legal developments regarding driving under the influence in Honduras and Peru

In Honduras, Deputy Alex Berríos has proposed a reform to Article 323 of the Penal Code to increase prison sentences for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The initiative seeks to improve road safety by imposing prison terms of two to five years for light vehicle drivers and five to ten years for heavy vehicle drivers. The proposal suggests that toxicology and breathalyzer tests from forensic medicine would be sufficient evidence of the offense without needing to prove specific danger to life or physical integrity.

In Peru, the Second Criminal Appeals Chamber of the Judiciary has ordered the immediate release of Maricsa Polet Alfaro Cerna, who was convicted of fatally striking security guard Juan Martínez Torres in Trujillo. Originally sentenced to over four years in prison, her sentence has been reduced to two years of suspended imprisonment. The court cited her lack of criminal record, cooperation with authorities, and partial payments toward civil reparations as reasons for the change. She remains subject to a permanent ban on driving and must fulfill specific biometric and financial obligations.