Consequences Of A Thai Drink Driving Conviction On Visa

[jcw]

I was reading a thread in the Pattaya section of ThaiVisa about how a chap was treated after getting done for DUI. The first post is well worth a read.

I was under the belief that a conviction for a crime meant no more visa. This looks like wrong information I was told. Does anyone know the facts?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/548294-warning-pattaya-now-has-alcohol-breath-testing-in-daily-use/

Post #89 by 2Unique said regarding in Bangkok : They also have a quota so are very reluctant to let anyone off. Expect night in jail, loss of license, fine, community service and 2 year suspended sentence.

[wana]

i know a few who payed their way out and that was end of it .......5-10 -20k depending on how rich the police think you are

never heard of it going further than a fine

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

[Soutpeel]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

Yeap, they would have the right to revoke your visa and blacklist you if it took their fancy

[wana]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

Yeap, they would have the right to revoke your visa and blacklist you if it took their fancy

it really depends on the police ,and of course ,how much you can /will pay to walk

this being thailand , i doubt anyone who offered 20 or 50k would make it to court

[Soutpeel]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

Yeap, they would have the right to revoke your visa and blacklist you if it took their fancy

it really depends on the police ,and of course ,how much you can /will pay to walk

this being thailand , i doubt anyone who offered 20 or 50k would make it to court

May I suggest you read the thread referred to and it appears some people did try and offer a little sweetener to Thailands finest and were turned down

[wana]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

Yeap, they would have the right to revoke your visa and blacklist you if it took their fancy

it really depends on the police ,and of course ,how much you can /will pay to walk

this being thailand , i doubt anyone who offered 20 or 50k would make it to court

May I suggest you read the thread referred to and it appears some people did try and offer a little sweetener to Thailands finest and were turned down

i read it ,

bribes to the value of 3000 were refused

personally ,i would pay more to get out of that situation

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

Yeap, they would have the right to revoke your visa and blacklist you if it took their fancy

Not quite that far!

Anyway a while back I gave some tips on this topic and that was deemed to be the 'all time low' of posts of this forum by the moderation team. Quite the achievement, but still I'll better not repeat it.

[tomallison]

It sometimes goes further than a fine.

Yeap, they would have the right to revoke your visa and blacklist you if it took their fancy

it really depends on the police ,and of course ,how much you can /will pay to walk

this being thailand , i doubt anyone who offered 20 or 50k would make it to court

Never ever be 100% certain that you will be able to buy yourself out of this situation.

[theblether]

I read the OP on the link and I must say it was one of the best, most descriptive, most informative and compelling posts I have ever seen on Thaivisa, finished off with the perfect mea culpa. The OP here has to be commended for bringing it to a wider audience and the OP that started the topic should also be commended for taking the time to write such an excellent post and let it be a salutory lesson to us all, including me as am guilty of having a few drinks then driving my bike. After reading that article I will be curtailing that.

I have noticed a lot of police checkpoints in central Chiang Mai, they are actively clamping down of drunk driving here too.

[Soutpeel]

i read it ,

bribes to the value of 3000 were refused

personally ,i would pay more to get out of that situation

So what are suggesting to do carry 20k to 50k with you everytime you go out on the booze ?.....personally I think it better just not driving, and getting a taxi

[Soutpeel]

Not quite that far!

didnt say they would...said they could

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I have noticed a lot of police checkpoints in central Chiang Mai, they are actively clamping down of drunk driving here too.

That's because of Songkran. They will be gone today.

Even during Songkran I don't see them actually doing much, to the point that it makes little sense to even avoid them.

[evadgib]

I remain concerned that the testing apperattus could be tampered with for personal gain (ie trying to fleece someone who's sober or perhaps a non drinker), after all ALL ferangs drink don't they?

[farang000999]

I hate drunk drivers but just kicking someone out of the country who has family and assets here seems a bit harsh. That said, if he gets a second DUI, give him the permanent boot.

[Soutpeel]

I remain concerned that the testing apperattus could be tampered with for personal gain (ie trying to fleece someone who's sober or perhaps a non drinker), after all ALL ferangs drink don't they?

As I stated in the "Pattaya" thread, BAC meters cannot be "tampered" with by the end user to change the reading....they mearly give the breath alcohol concentration in the breath, they are not go - no go type meters and calibration is typically carried out annually by the manufacturer or vendor. The BiB will not be able to carry out this calibration verification/adjustment.

There is typically only one or two buttons on a BAC unit...on and off... therefore if you blow 0.05, you are legally drunk... Sgt Somchai of the BiB is not not fleecing you. The only real procedural concern in what the Pattaya BiB are doing is that it appears they are not carrying out a second test, typically 30 minutes later to verifiy the inital reading.

If someone is 2x 3X the limit on the first test, the second test doesnt help much, but for borderline readings, this could mean the difference of being arrested or being let go and not charged.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

So what are suggesting to do carry 20k to 50k with you everytime you go out on the booze ?.....personally I think it better just not driving, and getting a taxi

Don't worry they give you the chance to go to the bank. Even a phone call home and western union in extreme cases, but of course the longer you wait the more upstream has to be taken care of and the price rises.

[astral]

If you value your life in LOS and visa,

Don't Drink and Drive.

Simple!!

[jcw]

Yeah, that story is a fantastic reality check.

It seems when they get orders for a quota, there is no bribing your way out.

I am not suggesting you read the many pages in it, what striked me are the number of people living int he area justifying their continuation of drink driving knowing the risk of the treatment given to save a 80b motorbike taxi ride. I look fwd to reading their story in the future .......