Judges could order alcohol tags for people under ban
The Tweede Kamer has passed a bill that lets judges order an alcohol tag (alcoholenkelband) for anyone given a court alcohol ban, instead of leaving the choice to the person.
A majority of the Tweede Kamer has voted for a bill that lets judges make an alcohol ankle monitor mandatory for people under a court-imposed alcohol ban. Almost all parties were in favour. Only FVD and PvdD voted against. The bill now goes to the Eerste Kamer, the Senate, which still has to approve it.
At present, people under an alcohol ban can choose to wear a tag voluntarily. Judges can already require blood and urine tests.
CDA MP Jeltje Straatman backed the plan in the debate, saying it means checks are not weekly but continuous: "Not one check a week, but 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Justice minister David van Weel said the new bill addresses the criticism of an earlier version from the Raad van State, the Council of State.
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Eerste Kamer
The Senate, the upper house of the Dutch parliament. It cannot amend bills but can approve or reject them after the Tweede Kamer has passed them. Its 75 members are elected by the members of the provincial councils.
Raad van State
The Council of State, which advises the government and parliament on proposed laws and is also the highest administrative court.