Health minister Anutin urges stricter DUI penalties starting at Songkran

 

File photo

 

The Department of Land Transport chief has commented after health minister and DPM Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his personal Facebook page that he wanted to see tougher penalties for drink driving and negligent drivers.

 

It is hoped that changes to the penalties may be made in time to begin during the Songkran festival in mid April, reported the Thai media.

 

DLT chief Jirat Wisanjit said that the legislation for DUI is different depending on whether the offender is a public vehicle driver or a private person.

 

Drivers like cabbies already face very strict regulations dealt with by the DLT, he said. Licences are suspended on a first offence and on a second transgression they are taken away entirely.

 

The public are dealt with by the police and must go through the courts. Penalties are at the discretion of the courts.

 

As regards amending the penalties for all drivers that would require consultation between his department, the police, the justice department and public interest groups, he said.

 

Thaivisa notes that whether this exchange between Anutin and the DLT falls into the realm of "mulling", "in the offing", "likely" or "definite" is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Source: Channel 7

 

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I think this is the most intelligent comment he has ever made,

Yes,Thailand needs to take a much tougher stance on DUI,its

the only way to try and curb the numbers of drivers who think

its OK to drink and drive.

regards Worgeordie

3 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I think this is the most intelligent comment he has ever made,

Yes,Thailand needs to take a much tougher stance on DUI,its

the only way to try and curb the numbers of drivers who think

its OK to drink and drive.

regards Worgeordie

How does this help if the police isn't enforcing the law?

Won’t happen 

3 minutes ago, jackdd said:

How does this help if the police isn't enforcing the law?

So just do nothing ? let the deaths mount up.

regards worgeordie

There are no excuses for drink driving. Everybody knows it's wrong so the law should be that anyone who is caught should have their vehicle crushed. 

For the life of me I cannot understand why at these roadblocks, road side checks they only look at registration labels and wave you on.

 

They rarely check if you have a licence, let alone look inside to see who is driving.

 

I have been coming to Thailand since 2005 and have NEVER had a breathalyzer carried out on me and I am on the road daily and have driven all over Thailand.

 

Back in Sydney, same day I arrived, had a breathalyzer carried out on me, in the 11 days I was there recently, I was breathalyzed 3 times, morning, midday and evening, different days of course, just goes to show who is serious and who is not, who have a real police force and who doesn't.

 

 Same time every year another brainstorm suggestion by a minister with no balls to justify he is considering doing something, but nothing comes of it because the guys down below aren't interested and don't fear the boys up top.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The public are dealt with by the police and must go through the courts.

Unless 'connected' or very affluent, in which case, a blind eye is turned by the B.I.B. and no paperwork is processed.  

21 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

There are no excuses for drink driving. Everybody knows it's wrong so the law should be that anyone who is caught should have their vehicle crushed. 

I don't think everyone does know it's wrong. When I was 18, had you asked me why I don't drink drive, I'd have told you it's cos I don't wanna lose my license. I feared the law back in the UK. I was young and naive and selfishly only saw the consequences of my actions affecting me. Ask me now why I don't drink drive and my reasoning is different. I don't drink and drive cos I'm not in control. I could end up hurting or killing someone and I'd only have myself to blame. 

 

I remember a girl here told me she had drunk driven the night before. I told her that it was very bad and she could have hurt or killed someone. Her reply was, "But what about me? I could have been hurt or killed!". She was 38 at the time. 

 

I had a friend who lost his license for a year for drink driving. He said nothing has sucked more than not being able to drive. One way or the other people have to learn. Through education or punishment. Both are seriously lacking here when it comes to DUI. 

 

 

Just one question:  Why do we have to wait till Songklan?  

2 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

Just one question:  Why do we have to wait till Songklan?  

Coffins are already manufactured. You need to consider the return on investment of the coffin makers and funeral services.

4 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

Just one question:  Why do we have to wait till Songklan?  

Further, it's not a valid excuse to say it's complicated because offences committed by cab & bus drivers etc., are processed by a different agency than private vehicles drivers. Just get on quickly with getting the 2 processes adjusted.  

3 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I think this is the most intelligent comment he has ever made,

Yes,Thailand needs to take a much tougher stance on DUI,its

the only way to try and curb the numbers of drivers who think

its OK to drink and drive.

regards Worgeordie

Up until about a month ago every one used to drink and drive in Vietnam then the law changed, if you drink and drive here on a motorcycle you are fined 8 million VND over 10000 baht and lose license for two years, a car is much more you cannot drink one can of beer it’s the same, all my friends here and people I know are scared and will not use motorcycle to go drinking very scared of the police here, they use Grab or drink at home all the bars are very quiet and lost a lot of business, this is the way it should be done.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Health minister Anutin urges stricter DUI penalties starting at Songkran

 

Unfortunately....stricter penalties will just allow the police to demand larger bribes.

 

As health minister he should be more concerned about the songkran festivities being invaded by Chinese covid 19 carriers. Ban (or postpone) it, this year, is the safest option.

Answer : STOP the Police collecting Money, opver the limilt, back to the station mfor a second check if still over on a properly maintained machine, then the next day COURT who issue the fine and or disqualification . Police responsible for safety of vehicle after the event . Do away with the POLICE collecting money ..problem solved the BIG problem in Thailand is the POLICE !

No Farang bashing today, must of had good weekend 

3 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

For the life of me I cannot understand why at these roadblocks, road side checks they only look at registration labels and wave you on.

 

They rarely check if you have a licence, let alone look inside to see who is driving.

 

I have been coming to Thailand since 2005 and have NEVER had a breathalyzer carried out on me and I am on the road daily and have driven all over Thailand.

 

Back in Sydney, same day I arrived, had a breathalyzer carried out on me, in the 11 days I was there recently, I was breathalyzed 3 times, morning, midday and evening, different days of course, just goes to show who is serious and who is not, who have a real police force and who doesn't.

 

 Same time every year another brainstorm suggestion by a minister with no balls to justify he is considering doing something, but nothing comes of it because the guys down below aren't interested and don't fear the boys up top.

In Korat and Udon , you better not be drinking after 8:00 checkpoints all over the cities , Breathalyzer is Mandatory 

5 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

In Korat and Udon , you better not be drinking after 8:00 checkpoints all over the cities , Breathalyzer is Mandatory 

Nice.

 

I only drink and drive when I am at the local, 20 minutes down the back road through a couple of villages, and I don't drink enough to put me over, not that big of a drinker, 3-4 smalls in 2 and a half hours.

3 hours ago, jackdd said:

How does this help if the police isn't enforcing the law?

It increases the size of the bung you need to give them to wave you on. Kerrching!

How about enforcing the penalties we already have?

Put on a different record and put the Parrot back in his cage; i've been hearing this one for the last 20 years !

3 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

For the life of me I cannot understand why at these roadblocks, road side checks they only look at registration labels and wave you on.

 

They even don't look at licenseplates, plenty of motobikes drive without one in Bangkok.

56 minutes ago, stephenterry said:

As health minister he should be more concerned about the songkran festivities being invaded by Chinese covid 19 carriers. Ban (or postpone) it, this year, is the safest option.

The virus is all under control here in LOS.   Even the  PM says so...100%. No need to worry.  With all the water being thrown about any virus cheeky enough to make an appearance will soon end up in the sewer. 

So Anutin wants to see tougher penalties for Drink Drivers and negligent Drivers.

Well ! He is in the perfect position within Government as a Deputy Prime Minister to make this happen.

Come on Anutin ! Actually make this happen, and make the Law stick for everybody.

That way you may get back some credibility after your xenophobic and racist remarks against Foreign people in your Country.

Health minister in charge of traffic laws????

5 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

There are no excuses for drink driving. Everybody knows it's wrong so the law should be that anyone who is caught should have their vehicle crushed. 

Stop banging your head against the keyboard, it's damaging your ability to think straight.

 

You don't crush vehicles for drink driving, you 'crush' the people who did it.

 

 

Rooster

9 minutes ago, maprao said:

Health minister in charge of traffic laws????

According to the article he just posted it on his Facebook.

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

For the life of me I cannot understand why at these roadblocks, road side checks they only look at registration labels and wave you on.

 

They rarely check if you have a licence, let alone look inside to see who is driving.

 

I have been coming to Thailand since 2005 and have NEVER had a breathalyzer carried out on me and I am on the road daily and have driven all over Thailand.

 

Back in Sydney, same day I arrived, had a breathalyzer carried out on me, in the 11 days I was there recently, I was breathalyzed 3 times, morning, midday and evening, different days of course, just goes to show who is serious and who is not, who have a real police force and who doesn't.

 

 Same time every year another brainstorm suggestion by a minister with no balls to justify he is considering doing something, but nothing comes of it because the guys down below aren't interested and don't fear the boys up top.

I'm ure the ratio of police to citizen's is much higher in Australia than Thailand. Having said that, police are much more active in pursuing drunk drivers and other offenders. I may have been stopped 2-3 times in 20 years in Thailand - hardly ever see police, and never breathalised. 

How do they get caught-by accident ????