Andorran Police Tie Petrol Theft, High-Speed Chase and Stolen Plates to Easter Anti-DUI Campaign

Andorran Police Link Drive-Off Theft, High-Speed Chase, and Stolen Plates to Anti-DUI Campaign Amid Easter Checks

Police in Andorra have connected a Saturday night petrol theft and high-speed chase to the theft of vehicle registration plates from a car in Sispony, as part of intensified Easter road safety operations targeting drunk and drug driving. The first 2026 campaign, running round-the-clock from March 28 to April 12 across the road network, marks the start of four annual alcohol and drug enforcement drives, plus five more on other violations with parish traffic services. The goal is to reduce accidents, deter risky behaviour and highlight consequences for drivers and road users.

Key incidents unfolded over the holiday weekend. On Friday night in Canillo, a 51-year-old man crashed into a safety barrier on the Forn road at the Prats junction with a blood alcohol level of 2.20g/l—nearly triple the legal limit—fled but was quickly located and detained. Other arrests included a 38-year-old man at 1.31g/l in Escaldes-Engordany early Thursday, and a 33-year-old at 1.44g/l early Monday. Separately, Saturday night brought a collision at kilometre 19.3 on the CG-2 in Canillo around 10:45pm between a French-plated car and a line bus, injuring the 24-year-old driver; bus passengers were unharmed.

That same Saturday-to-Sunday night, a 23-year-old driver filled up at a Sant Julià de Lòria petrol station and fled without paying. Police spotted the vehicle at the Riu Runer border checkpoint, but he accelerated away toward Andorra la Vella, driving against traffic with lights off at high speed, ignoring signals amid heavy late-night traffic from nightlife venues. The chase ended when he lost control and hit a streetlamp on Baixada del Molí in Andorra la Vella. Officers found the car's plates did not match the vehicle—they had been stolen from a Sispony resident's car in the Plans area of La Massana—and the original plates were inside. Feeling unwell during detention, the man was taken to hospital for observation; no alcohol or drugs were confirmed, and he faced charges related to public function, collective safety and property crimes.

The Sispony owner, woken at 5:23am, discovered both plates missing from his parked car despite snow falling around 10pm the previous evening, with no footprints nearby suggesting the theft occurred earlier during active hours. He filed a report to reclaim the plates but expressed concern over whether it was random or targeted, citing his young daughter's short walk to school nearby. Police assured him they knew the suspect but withheld details for data protection, while probing possible irregularities in prior vehicle sales linked to the stolen plates.

Legal limits

Non-professionals face detention at or above 0.87g/l blood alcohol; professionals at 0.57g/l. For borderline levels—0.81-0.86g/l (non-professionals) or 0.51-0.56g/l (professionals)—officers evaluate symptoms and context before fines, Batllia referral or arrest. Administrative sanctions start at 0.57-0.80g/l for non-professionals and 0.02-0.50g/l for professionals. Blood tests have no margin of error; criminal thresholds are 0.80g/l and 0.50g/l.

Penalties

Administrative fines reach €400 with up to two-month licence suspensions. Criminal cases for non-professionals bring €300-3,000 fines, up to one year in prison or arrest, and three-year licence withdrawal. Professionals risk €1,200-6,000 fines, two years' prison, four-year licence loss and professional disqualification. Drug driving is a misdemeanour with suspension; test refusal leads to detention and criminal penalties including up to one year's prison, €600-3,000 fines (€1,200-6,000 for professionals) and up to three-year (four for professionals) licence withdrawal. Cyclists, scooter users and personal mobility device operators face equivalent sanctions.

Authorities maintain zero tolerance to prevent harm and urge all road users to avoid alcohol and drugs before driving.