Drunk passenger grabbed taxi steering wheel mid-drive, convicted of aggravated drunk driving

A 50-year-old man has been convicted of aggravated drunk driving in Tampere after grabbing the steering wheel of a moving taxi while heavily intoxicated, Yle reports.

The incident occurred late at night last autumn when the man, with a blood alcohol level exceeding 0.2 percent, interfered with the vehicle’s controls. According to court documents, he seized the wheel and turned it, causing the taxi to swerve into the left lane. No other passengers were in the vehicle at the time.

The defendant denied the charges, admitting to being a passenger in the taxi but claiming he never touched the steering wheel. He also disputed attempting to change the vehicle’s direction.

Pirkanmaa District Court ruled that the evidence, including the taxi driver’s testimony, confirmed the man had operated the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The court determined his actions endangered both his own safety and that of others on a public road.

He was sentenced to a 60-day suspended prison term and ordered to pay 40 day-fines. The ruling is not yet final, as the defendant has indicated dissatisfaction with the verdict.