Russian officials now have the authority to seize vehicles from drivers who have been convicted of multiple instances of drunk driving, according to reports from state media on Thursday, which referenced a recent ruling from a regional court.

The Krasnodar cassation court determined that a vehicle can be confiscated if its owner is caught driving under the influence again after having already faced penalties or if they decline to undergo a medical check-up, as reported by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

According to Russian criminal law, confiscation is allowed when the vehicle in question is owned by the individual convicted and was utilized during the offense. The Krasnodar cassation court emphasized that factors such as a driver’s income, family circumstances, or their dependency on the car for transportation do not exempt the vehicle from being seized.

This ruling is in line with earlier guidance from Russia’s Supreme Court, which stated that vehicles owned by a partner living with the offender might also be confiscated if those vehicles were frequently used by the offender in connection with repeat infractions.

Although Russia’s legal system does not officially recognize judicial precedents, the decisions made by cassation courts that interpret federal laws often serve as direction for lower courts, potentially indicating a stricter approach to enforcement.

Official statistics show that over 384,000 drivers were apprehended for driving under the influence in Russia in 2024. Of this number, 237,000 had their licenses revoked, while others faced fines or brief incarcerations.