MOSCOW, April 22 (RAPSI) – The Federation Council on Monday approved a bill toughening punishment for leaving a scene of personal injury road traffic accidents.

The State Duma passed the bill on April 17.

Currently, taking off drivers face driving license suspension for up to 1.5 years or administrative detention for up to 15 days.

Tougher punishment for traffic offence or negligent vehicle maintenance resulted in heavy consequences is envisaged only for offenders under the influence of alcohol. Thus, drivers leaving a road traffic accident scene can evade harsher punishment because it is virtually impossible to ascertain a fact of alcohol consumption at a later date.

According to the bill, drivers taking off and leaving injured persons at road traffic accident scenes would face compulsory community service for up to 3 years with deprivation of a right to hold certain posts for up to 3 years as well; or imprisonment of up to 4 years with deprivation of a right to hold certain posts for up to 3 years.

Hit-and-run fatalities would be punishable by prison terms ranging from 2 to 7 years with deprivation of a right to hold certain posts for up to 3 years. If a road traffic accident led to the death of two and more people a runaway responsible driver would face prison sentence varying from 4 to 9 years with deprivation of a right to hold certain posts for up to 3 years.