Drink driving

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:58 pm

Are there any drink driving laws in Thailand ??
If so can anyone tell me what they are and how hot the police are at enforcing them ??

Thanks

Post by **Norseman** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:41 pm

They are really not enforcing any law at all in Hua Hin, but we all strongly advise you to drive sober and clean!! (If you know what I mean).

I was in a party with the chief of the criminal police in Chiang ***.
He was pissed. Really down on he's knees.
But drive? Yes of course!!!
Need the car you know.

Too many farangs have lost their lives because of drunk driving in Hua Hin.
Either hit by a drunk driver, or lost control of their vehicle themself because of their drinking habits.

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:59 pm

Thanks for the quick reply.

Only have 2 Singhas if driving and never any of the other stuff.

Post by **buksida** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:00 am

There are laws here but as always the police only tend to enforce them when they need an income boost.

Echo Noresmans sentiments, its not worth the risk, take a 20 baht mototaxi home.

Post by **igor1** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:12 am

Has anyone actually been stopped for drunk driving in this country?

About half a year back a student was sentenced to death after having killed four people while driving drunk. He had killed two motorcylcle drivers then fled the scene and ran into two more so it was a perticularily bad crime.

yet I would take it as an indicator that if you are drunk and hurt someone driving you might be in a lot more trouble here than in europe

Post by **lomuamart** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:44 am

I think, as has been said, that the police have "clamp downs" from time to time, rather than an ongoing policy of enforcement (or education, for that matter).
A couple of years ago I was down near Phuket and a friend who was driving refused a drink saying that the whole area was on the look out for DD at that time. I think he said the legal limit was 50mgs, rather than 80 in the UK. Don't take that as gospel, but it would appear that the legal amount is in fact lower than in some countries back West.
Last year, I had a nasty accident - a car hit my wife and I while going home on her motorbike. The young Thai chap stopped and took me to hospital, where I was screaming for the police as they wheeled me into the operating theatre. The Thai chap pleaded with my wife not to call the police and assured her his insurance company would cover all my hospital bills if she didn't. By the time I came round the next day, it was too late to do anything.
So, yes I think they do treat it seriously here, but then they've actually got to be out on the roads to do something about it.

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:31 am

My girlfriends babysitter was killed yesterday by a drunk driver. When i asked if he would go to prison she replied..... 'no he big money, he pay family of girl dead"
Fu**in hell how can this be a deterrent? Thailand needs a real shake up on traffic laws... wait the police don't give a damn.... oh what the hell just do what you want.

Post by **Robee** » Thu May 11, 2006 3:36 pm

Just a little thought on drink driving - what if the person you hit died of serious injuries, as Randy Cornhole said; 'the family of the girl was paid off, but if the Thai Family had lots of money and they didn't want your money for their child, they wanted you to spend time in their Thai prison. As we all know, the prisons in this country are not the best, the breakfast is not sausage, bacon, tomatoes and fried bread.

Thai Prisons are not the 'lap of luxury' to spend the next few years or more in a small cell. So, to all those who drink and drive, just think of doing a few years in Thailand when you have trouble seeing your wife and kids and the visiting times are not the best.

So, the best advice 'Don't drink and drive in this country' just think of sitting in that cell for a long time, just for the sake of a few drinks.

A lot of people do drink and drive on holidays, but if someone crashes into them and you have been drinking, most foreign countries will put you at fault. In the land of LOS lets all be happy, but I have now sewn the seeds in your heads of sitting in a cell for just a couple of drinks.

As a drinker myself, I love to have a good few drinks with the guys but the thought of not being able to have a few drinks with my mates as I may be sitting in a cell would be too much to bear, so no drink when I am driving in Thailand.

Robbie

Post by **olmate** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:13 pm

I dont drink drive/ drink ride anywhere. Not cause im worried about the police, but because i couldn't live with myself if i killed someone going about there own business. I strongly believe in this saying-
"drink and drive, you bloody idiot!"

And when it comes to thailand there are plenty of taxis, tuk tuks ect that are more than willing to get you home, thats there livelihood and the place wouldnt be the same without them!!!!!

Post by **Guess** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:14 am

All this advice about drinking and driving is good. I agree the two don't mix.

They do convict people of drunk driving in Bangkok. It seems that you have to be visibly drunk to get caught though. To do that you must be doing something even more stupid than the most stupid Thai driver can do. That takes some doing.

As for the motorcycle taxi of car taxi, I am on the fence an that one. I could drink five of six Changs and still be better than most people on the raod.

Thst is no justification of course. Best way if you are away from home and need to get home after a drink either take a non-drinker with you or find a reliable taxi driver who does not drink.

As for paying off for crimes, I believe that should always be the case so long as when it involves death or injury to a person a lengthy prison sentence is also applied. Obviously it is not always possible to apply both.

Post by **Rider** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:17 pm

Guess wrote:All this advice about drinking and driving is good. I agree the two don't mix.

They do convict people of drunk driving in Bangkok. It seems that you have to be visibly drunk to get caught though. To do that you must be doing something even more stupid than the most stupid Thai driver can do. That takes some doing.

As for the motorcycle taxi of car taxi, I am on the fence an that one. I could drink five of six Changs and still be better than most people on the raod.

Thst is no justification of course. Best way if you are away from home and need to get home after a drink either take a non-drinker with you or find a reliable taxi driver who does not drink.

As for paying off for crimes, I believe that should always be the case so long as when it involves death or injury to a person a lengthy prison sentence is also applied. Obviously it is not always possible to apply both.

As an update on the DD thing when I was in BKK last the thai police now have breathalysers and often on Friday, Saturday night you get the casual checkpoints set-up in greater BKK areas 2200 - 0130 hrs.

Post by **Winkie** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:20 pm

Randy Cornhole wrote:My girlfriends babysitter was killed yesterday by a drunk driver. When i asked if he would go to prison she replied..... 'no he big money, he pay family of girl dead"
Fu**in hell how can this be a deterrent? Thailand needs a real shake up on traffic laws... wait the police don't give a damn.... oh what the hell just do what you want.

Randy

Just out of interest, how old is your girlfriend if she needs a babysitter!

Post by **Jaime** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:03 pm

Norseman wrote:I was in a party with the chief of the criminal police in Chiang ***.
He was pissed. Really down on he's knees.
But drive? Yes of course!!!
Need the car you know.

Know what you mean. The slight difference in my experience of drinking with local big wigs up country is that they have always had a driver...... who is also at the party and getting merrily pissed as well!