A Senator in the Philippines is proposing to criminalize the act of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But in his Senate Bill 83 or the Alcohol and Drug Testing Act, Senate president Manny Villar is proposing a very low penalty of a $22 fine for a first offense.

A law must be in place to provide stricter penalties for accidents caused by drunk drivers, Villar said.

Under the measure, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs. A person shall be considered under the influence of alcoholic beverages if it shall be established that he has a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.6 percent or more.

For the first offense, a fine of $22 and a one-year suspension of driver's license shall be meted out. For the second and all subsequent offenses, the violator faces a fine of $110 and a five-year revocation of his license. If during the suspension period, a violation was committed again, the offender shall be sentenced to one to five years imprisonment.