The United Russia (UR) party has introduced a bill that will toughen responsibility for drunk driving with a complete ban on blood alcohol while driving, Interfax reports citing member of the Presidium of UR, Vladimir Gutenev.

"The head of the committee on constitutional legislation Vladimir Pligin argued for 0 ppm [blood alcohol level], the head of the security committee Irina Spring - for 0 ppm, and a leader of UR Andrey Vorobiev also was for 0 ppm", Gutenev said.

Driving under the influence of any alcohol will be punished. Even 0.1 ppm will be considered as 'a state of intoxication.'

First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Vyacheslav Lysakov told Gazeta.ru that the decision was made by the leader of UR, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

"I will let you in on a secret, I was just now at a meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, where I asked him to listen to expert opinions on this. Experts who are totally against 0 ppm. Because we are tightening responsibility for driving while intoxicated, but the criteria are not limited to intoxication. This is wrong. I think it would be a political mistake if we give up a maximum allowable level of alcohol concentration in the blood, which still disallows drivers from drinking," he said.

"His last phrase for today was 'I stand by my opinion' [Medvedev initiated the 0ppm decision Gazeta.ru]. And I understand it, because people who don't know the passion and fight that was surrounded the 0 ppm decision, may take it as a license to drink. Mr. Medvedev also said as much. At the same time, it isn't fair to count everyone as unreasonable, and I am sorry. The biggest part are normal, adequate people", added Lysakov.

The deputy said the UR decision to limit alcohol to 0ppm was a "political mistake" and he said he would continue to promote his proposal to establish a legal standard of 0.2 ppm.

"If the second reading of my amendment is rejected, I will withdraw my signature from the bill and will vote against it," Lysakov stressed.

The bill can not be formally submitted to the Duma without review by the Government and the Supreme Court. After the document is submitted to parliament, it will take another month to get to the House for its first reading. However, according to a number of deputies, the State Duma intends to pass this legislation before the end of the fall session, which ends on December 21.

The bill toughens responsibility for driving while intoxicated (including imprisonment for repeat offenders), and significantly increases the penalties for other violations. The minimum fine could rise from 100 to 500 rubles, and the maximum from 5000 to 50,000 rubles. There is also a proposal to amend the Criminal Code, if a drunk driver kills anyone, he will face up to ten years in prison (currently seven years), and if 2 people the punishment will be up to 20 years (now nine).

A complete ban on alcohol in the driver's blood was introduced in July 2010. Prior to this ban a level of 0.3ppm was possible. The reason for this is to allow those taking medication or with unusual physiological structures to be allowed to drive with trace amounts of alcohol.