Police Check

[jaiyenyen]

I was driving home last night and was stopped at the tollbooth near Suk soi 1 BKK. The policeman had an alcohol meter ready in his hand. He then did the usual checks, and then gave me a breath test. As I'd had 4-5 small beers, my rear end started to twitch a little bit, but I passed. I've been stopped, checked and "fined" many times over here, but never breath tested before.

Just so I know for the future, what is the allowed limit in Thailand?

[Cuban]

{Measured as XX milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood )

I believe that the Thai law states that limit is 50, this compares well with most of Europe and Americas; their figures below.

The Blood Alcohol Levels to define DUI / Drink-Driving.

0 – Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary

20 – Norway, Poland, Sweden

30 - Germany. (if you’re in an accident)

50 - Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Serbia/Montenegro, Croatia, Latvia, Macedonia, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus (North)

80 – UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Switzerland, USA, Canada and South Africa.

90 - Cyprus (South)

I think that a level of '50' is reached after one small beer, but there are other factors that affect the effect of the alcohol within the body. I read some research that suggests that driving skill and judgement is effected after a blood alcohol level of 20 is reached.

My greatest fear on the subject of monitoring alcohol consumed would be the introduction of such tests before boarding a flight, consider being legally fit to drive for 15 hours or more.

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Rest of the world.

[Explorer]

Answer: Don't Drink and Drive!

Explorer

[Boater]

Answer: Don't Drink and Drive!

Explorer

esp in Bangkok, and with the taxi so cheap!

[dominique355]

Answer: Don't Drink and Drive!

Explorer

or, as Johnnie Walker put it on Bayoke Tower: Drink Don't Drive.

I was stopped once at Silom Road and had to blow. The policeman said, the limit was 50. Drink a (small) bottle of sparkling water or soda water before you drive, it should lower the results of a blow test by about 10 to 15 points. (No guarantee, though )

[khundon]

100 milliletres of blood (80mg%) equivalent to 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliletres of breath, or 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. in the UK.

Do the Thai police, have the more sophisticated breath test machines the English cops use, back at the station, if you blow a positive (Red) at the roadside??

You cannot be prosecuted on the roadside breath test machine results, only on the results from these machines, in the UK.

What happens in Thailand??

[jaiyenyen]

Good question, I have no idea. The machine the cops had at the roadside looked pretty basic to me. I only had to blow in the general direction of the thing, it was held around 20cm from my mouth. The ones in the UK have an actual mouthpiece.

[phaethon]

Answer: Don't Drink and Drive!

esp in Bangkok, and with the taxi so cheap!

If you do take a taxi it's probably best if you have a drink or six beforehand.

I don't indulge, but if there is one thing that would 'drive' me to drink, it's Bangkok taxi driving.

Good question, I have no idea. The machine the cops had at the roadside looked pretty basic to me. I only had to blow in the general direction of the thing, it was held around 20cm from my mouth. The ones in the UK have an actual mouthpiece.

Made me wonder if it wasn't a home-made device or an old asthma inhalator painted up to persuade you to cough up some tea money... but then why would it have given a negative result? Maybe it was broken He should take it back to Pantip for a refund.

[Always18]

Answer: Don't Drink and Drive!

esp in Bangkok, and with the taxi so cheap!

If you do take a taxi it's probably best if you have a drink or six beforehand.

I don't indulge, but if there is one thing that would 'drive' me to drink, it's Bangkok taxi driving.

Good question, I have no idea. The machine the cops had at the roadside looked pretty basic to me. I only had to blow in the general direction of the thing, it was held around 20cm from my mouth. The ones in the UK have an actual mouthpiece.

Made me wonder if it wasn't a home-made device or an old asthma inhalator painted up to persuade you to cough up some tea money... but then why would it have given a negative result? Maybe it was broken He should take it back to Pantip for a refund.

Assuming one is found to be "over the limit", does anyone know what the likely penalties would be?

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Answer: Don't Drink and Drive!

Explorer

esp in Bangkok, and with the taxi so cheap!

Yes but it's always the same story, even if taxis were free the stupid would remain stupid and drive drunk, ah yes... i remember, they always say that they are not drunk with 2 or 3 beers...