According to a circular dated February 24, the temporary suspension of some actions aims to "prevent certain excessive behavior within the staff when performing their duties.
According to the document, it is forbidden to carry out stop operations and set up barriers on public roads, using cones and other signaling devices, as well as night operations aimed at drivers driving under the influence of alcohol.
The spokesman for the Luanda provincial police command, Nestor Goubel, explained that the inspection actions aimed at drivers who consume alcoholic beverages will be maintained, but will be "carried out in a more pedagogical manner taking into account the need to preserve the greater legal good which is life.
He also pointed out that the Luanda provincial command will not stop monitoring the traffic, while the issues related to alcohol levels provided for in the Highway Code are "maturing".
"While these issues are maturing and being resolved, it will be a more pedagogical action in order to avoid more accidents and loss of lives on the roads, this is the objective of the provincial command," stressed the official.
As for the stop operations, he explained that "they cannot be used to hinder traffic", but should be used to improve the road environment and therefore be carried out "in specific and timely situations".
With the entry into force of the new Penal Code on February 11th, anyone driving with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than 1 milligram per liter can be arrested and summarily tried.
In practice, any driver of a car or bicycle who has consumed alcohol, even half a glass of beer, will be unable to drive, because the legislator has changed the mathematical measurement from gram to milligram.
The rate that was permissible in the current Highway Code was 1.2 grams of alcohol in the blood.
According to the circular of the Luanda Provincial Command, the police should only patrol cars at night, for possible interventions in accidents, and the officers should "be engaged only in the traffic regulation aspect.
