Drunk Driving with 3.14 Promille and No License: Repeat Offender Gets 20 Days in Prison
Over the weekend, police in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County recorded 342 traffic violations, with a notable case of a 46-year-old man stopped in Ika.
Over the weekend, police in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County recorded 342 traffic violations, with a notable case of a 46-year-old man stopped in Ika.
The past weekend on the roads of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County was marked by a series of violations, notably drunk driving and an incident in Novalja. According to the Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Department, a total of 342 traffic violations were recorded during the intensified surveillance.
The most severe case was recorded on Friday, July 31, 2026, in the town of Ika. Around 10 PM, a police patrol stopped a 46-year-old Croatian citizen who was driving a passenger vehicle with Rijeka license plates towards Opatija. A breathalyzer test measured his blood alcohol concentration at a staggering 3.14 promille.
Further checks revealed that the driver did not have a valid driver's license and was a repeat offender. His license had been previously revoked due to negative penalty points and failure to undergo a mandatory medical examination. He was arrested and held at the police station until sober, after which he was brought before the Municipal Court in Rijeka in an expedited procedure. The court's final judgment sentenced him to 20 days in prison and mandated treatment at a specialized facility for alcohol addiction.
Of the total violations, the majority were for speeding, with 95 cases. Drunk driving ranked second with 43 recorded instances, while 13 drivers were caught using their phones improperly while driving. There were also four violations each for driving unregistered or technically defective vehicles, and driving before obtaining the right to drive. Three cases each involved not wearing a seatbelt and driving during a driving ban. The remaining violations totaled 177.
The highest speed was recorded on Sunday, August 2, 2026, by a driver of a passenger vehicle with Zagreb plates. At 9:47 PM on the A6 motorway, near the Zečeve Drage viaduct, a laser device measured his speed at 188 km/h in a zone where the limit is 110 km/h. Misdemeanor proceedings will be initiated against him.
A separate incident occurred on the same day, July 31, 2026, in Novalja. Around 1:10 PM, a 44-year-old Croatian citizen threatened police officers with death while they were dealing with him, and then physically attacked one of them, attempting to prevent him from carrying out his duties. The officer sustained minor injuries.
According to the police report, the suspect also damaged a fence owned by a legal entity based in Novalja, in an attempt to reach his car, which had been moved earlier due to improper parking. A criminal complaint will be filed against him on suspicion of coercion against an official, threats, and damage to another's property.
Over the weekend, 47 traffic accidents occurred in the county. Five people were seriously injured, and seven sustained minor injuries. Police breathalyzed 78 drivers and called on all road users to behave responsibly and consistently adhere to traffic regulations.
