161 citizens were arrested for driving while intoxicated. This data is reported only during these 29 days of December.
According to police reports, the doubling of drunk driving arrests according to their statements to judicial officers is linked to the end-of-year holidays.
Nertil Laho is one of the arrested people who appeared in Tirana court after being found by the dragnet to be a drunk driver. His lawyer presents the young man's justification in court.
"He said he was celebrating with his work colleagues," he said, Top Channel reports.
These justifications have become a refrain in December before judges who hear who the arrested people have been partying with, and who, after it is determined that they have not caused any damage or injuries, are released under the obligation to appear.
"My client also said that I celebrated with the work team," said lawyer Shpëtim Kodheli.
Tirana has the highest number of drunk drivers, where 16 people ended up in police stations on Christmas alone.
In addition to those arrested by breathalyzer tests, 369 others were fined in December for the traffic violation of driving while under the influence of alcohol, but with a blood alcohol content below 0.5 grams per liter.