Former Minister of Welfare of Latvia Reinis Uzulnieks was detained while driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 3.09 per thousand. After his detention, he was released as no precautionary measures were applied to him, but he faces the possibility of imprisonment for up to one year. According to the State Police, his Škoda Kodiaq vehicle was seized.

According to amendments to the Criminal Code that came into effect in November 2022, criminal liability is provided for operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level above 1.5 per thousand. In such cases, confiscation of the vehicle is possible if it belongs to another person, with the offender being liable for its value.

The Latvian parliament is also currently contemplating the possibility of tightening penalties for drivers under the influence of alcohol, as statistics show that the threat of criminal punishment positively influences the behavior of car owners. Last year, 1,093 criminal cases were initiated in Latvia against drivers with a blood alcohol level exceeding 1.5 per thousand.