Reinis Uzulnieks retains driving license following DUI detention

Former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks continues to drive despite being detained in September in Ropaži municipality with a recorded alcohol level of 3.09 promille. State authorities and the Prosecutor General’s Office have confirmed that his driving license remains legally valid until the Rīga District Court issues a final guilty verdict in an upcoming January hearing.

Uzulnieks addressed the situation in a podcast, stating that he uses his vehicle to transport his two-year-old child to kindergarten in the mornings while his wife is at home. He noted that he intends to stop driving once a court ruling officially revokes his privileges. The State Police completed their investigation and submitted the case to the prosecutor’s office for criminal prosecution in mid-September, but no precautionary measures were imposed to restrict his driving at that time.