A Timely Warning To All !

[PostmanPat]

Its getting to that time of year again, Loy Kratong, Christmas, Happy New Year, the time of the year when the already bonkers crazy driving gets even worse!

Last night, a man known to my partner ( they are both tour guides ) was stopped, breathalised, found to be over the limit (whatever the limit is here?) , arrested and only released this morning on payment of 20,000 baht bail, pending a court appearance in the near future.

Cant establish where he was stopped, but based on feedback from this time last year, the police have at least one if not more mobile breathaliser units which spring up late at night in different parts of the city and outlying areas ( I saw them once last year near the night safari traffic lights on the canal road just after maehia market).

Also feedback from last year suggests a few hundred baht in the back pocket is not enough to deal with this, in fact, I am told it could make matters worse for the arrestee.

I like a drink when I go out, I admit it, but will certainly be watching my step from now on.

[circusman]

I doubt 20,000 baht will deter many hard core drinkers but it is at least a good try by the bib.

[slipperylobster]

My lady does not drink, and, not only is a cautious driver, but knows how to smile her way through any police check.

I, on the other hand (and by all accounts) am a confessed lager lout, who likes to hoot and holler his way to a good time.

I have, and will continue, to not drive.

My lady loves to sit and buy drinks for the girls....and we both enjoy.

signed............nothing to hide. (and not getting laid either)

[In Search of Space]

Taxis a cheap enough that you don't need to drive

[mesquite]

The OP's warning appears to be directed at drunk drivers. The warning should be to those who want to avoid them. I'll be staying off the roads due to the number of drunks who will be on them.

[sappersrest]

The blood alcohol limit in Thailand is 50 mg/litre, In the UK it is 80 .So by my really rough guess one large bottle and one small bottle of Chang would put you over the limit.

Edited October 29, 2014 by sappersrest

[uptheos]

The blood alcohol limit in Thailand is 50 mg/litre, In the UK it is 80 .So by my really rough guess one large bottle and one small bottle of Chang would put you over the limit.

If that's the law, so be it.

You know, so there can be no complaints.

[Tywais]

The blood alcohol limit in Thailand is 50 mg/litre, In the UK it is 80 .So by my really rough guess one large bottle and one small bottle of Chang would put you over the limit.

BAC limit of .05%. Sounds about right but depends on how long you spread the drinks out and other variable. R U Pissed?

[Seligne2]

One week ago I saw a police checkpoint at the east side of the Iron Bridge, roughly in front of The Duke's. This was about midnight.

[N47HAN]

How things have changed.

I was with a buddy years back in pattaya , both im sorry to say had more than a few too many.

Anyhow we pulled at some lights on a couple of scooters wed hired.

While waiting buddy managed to fall off his bike. Two police on their bike a few cars back noticed and pulled up next to him.

After a discussion one hopped on his bike while buddy got on the back of the other coppers bike and off we travelled back to the hotel.

Once there xxxxx baht handed over to bib , and a goodbye with a smile.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mamborobert]

One week ago I saw a police checkpoint at the east side of the Iron Bridge, roughly in front of The Duke's. This was about midnight.

That is there quite regularly....amongst other things stops people (mainly underage youths) drinking on the bridge, picks up a van load of Burmese quite regularly as well....also Thais coming down the road from Goodview/Riverside etc around closing.

For Loi Kratong that section is closed down anyway but there is usually a large police presence in tents/marquees on the river side opposite the 7/11.

Edited October 29, 2014 by mamborobert

[wisemonkey]

Anyone that drinks and drives is a selfish <deleted>. I have made that mistake in the past and paid the price. If you want to risk your own life thats fine, but dont put innocent pedastrians, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, at risk at no fault of their own.. its extremely selfish, pay the couple of 100 baht and get a taxi.

[mania]

BAC limit of .05%. Sounds about right but depends on how long you spread the drinks out and other variable. R U Pissed?

That is a kind of cool site/tool

[naboo]

A room in town costs 300B for the night.

[Seligne2]

Why don't you tell us where the 300 baht rooms are?

[trainman34014]

It's way past time for all country's to get REALLY serious about drink drivers and up the penalties high enough to all but erase it. I say all but because there is always a certain percentage of complete and utter idiots who think they are above any law. I would suggest mandatory 6 months imprisonment for first offence as driving bans don't work well, especially in a country like Thailand where the law is mostly ignored by many, including Farang, who seem to think that when they leave their own country they can drop to the lowest denominator of behaviour and mimic the locals worst habits.

Heavy duty punishments don't go down well with some but if you can't do the time...don't do the crime. No arguments will do as drink driving is a criminal offence...period.

[Ulysses G.]

A room in town costs 300B for the night.

Daret's Guest House at Thapae Gate.

[northernjohn]

Well I am all in favor off more of it. Also If I see it I will not warn any one. I am not going to in any way promote it or help some one to avoid it.

Public transportation is cheap here in Chiang Mai.

[worgeordie]

The more drunk drivers they catch the better in my opinion,Thais are not

the best of drivers even when sober, and lots of times if a drunk driver

causes an accident,that results in death or not, they nearly always stagger

out of their vehicle unharmed,catch them all no matter who they are.

Alcohol,drugs and driving do not belong together,people need to take

responsibility for their actions.

regards worgeordie

[heybruce]

Why don't you tell us where the 300 baht rooms are?

300 baht is one of the cheaper ones, but there are plenty of guest houses with empty rooms under 1000 baht. This may change during Loi Krathong.

I like the occasional night out, but I always either take a tuk-tuk or stay in walking distance of the condo. I don't want the hassle of an arrest or emergency room visit, these make the evening much less pleasant.

[NancyL]

My goodness all you have to do is walk around the Old City and you'll find many guest houses with signs about fan rooms for 300 baht, even less, per night. Many are quite clean, comfortable and run by nice people. If you're planning a big night out, why not rent a room in advance and be sure to get their business card to give to the tuk-tuk driver so you'll end up back in your room at the end of your night of drinking?

[FolkGuitar]

Why don't you tell us where the 300 baht rooms are?

Up and down soi 8 and soi 9 off Moon Muang Road. Dozens of them scattered all through the small sois in the Old City, north and south, east and west. They are the backpacker's standard, most have a restaurant attached, most offer fan or air/con, a few are run-down, but for a place to sleep off a drunk, their beds are clean, and the rooms are too. Above all, they are cheap.

[Seligne2]

OK, I will take your word for the 300 baht rooms. All I can go on is that I have looked for, and stayed in, lots of different places in CM (I taught in Samoeng and commuted each weekend) and have never run into a 300 baht room.

As for the guys who applaud the police checkpoints: no one in their right minds is in favour of drunk driving, so you are not exclusively enlightened in that regard. But there are many reasons, aside from being drunk, to want to avoid the police: not having your passport, expired license, no license, registration issues, etc. Last month I was stopped twice in one week, albeit on my motorbike. Each time the cops found me at fault for something (no passport, registration 1 month expired) and each time it took a 400 baht "donation" to settle the matter. The police can always find something to ding you for.

[puukao]

You read about kids, families, friends dying because of drunk drivers. But then you say "I'm a good drunk driver." Or, "It will never happen to me." Or, "I know when to stop." One bad mistake and your legacy is gone, money gone, freedom gone, life-long reputation destroyed all because you thought life would not be unkind to you...

never drink and drive, and i have no sympathy on anyone dumb enough to do so...we are all old enough to know that it's better to take a taxi. be safe out there...

[eyecatcher]

At a bar early evening today ; it was one of the girls birthday.

She arrived looking stunning followed ten minutes later by her alcoholic zombified farang boyfriend on his motorbike.

Its a usual sight for me and the mate same guy just dead to the world

However this time he was transporting the girls two beautiful daughters aged around 7 and 9

Self inflicted alcohol damage bring it on but taking two passengers he deserved a right .....ing.

[northernjohn]

OK, I will take your word for the 300 baht rooms. All I can go on is that I have looked for, and stayed in, lots of different places in CM (I taught in Samoeng and commuted each weekend) and have never run into a 300 baht room.

As for the guys who applaud the police checkpoints: no one in their right minds is in favour of drunk driving, so you are not exclusively enlightened in that regard. But there are many reasons, aside from being drunk, to want to avoid the police: not having your passport, expired license, no license, registration issues, etc. Last month I was stopped twice in one week, albeit on my motorbike. Each time the cops found me at fault for something (no passport, registration 1 month expired) and each time it took a 400 baht "donation" to settle the matter. The police can always find something to ding you for.

How would you know they will find some thing wrong? You sound like you don't even try to obey the law. I have never looked for a 300 baht a night but I know where there is one and I didn't even look.

[NancyL]

OK, I will take your word for the 300 baht rooms. All I can go on is that I have looked for, and stayed in, lots of different places in CM (I taught in Samoeng and commuted each weekend) and have never run into a 300 baht room.

As for the guys who applaud the police checkpoints: no one in their right minds is in favour of drunk driving, so you are not exclusively enlightened in that regard. But there are many reasons, aside from being drunk, to want to avoid the police: not having your passport, expired license, no license, registration issues, etc. Last month I was stopped twice in one week, albeit on my motorbike. Each time the cops found me at fault for something (no passport, registration 1 month expired) and each time it took a 400 baht "donation" to settle the matter. The police can always find something to ding you for.

I'll take a slightly different line than Northern John. Sure, I know where to find a 300 baht a night room -- not that I've ever had to since my own condo (slightly more than 300 baht/night) is about 400 meters from the moat.

I've never made a "donation" to the cops. I always carry my passport with me and I never ride a motorbike. But, unlike Northern John, I've been known to tip a few to where I probably wouldn't pass whatever passes for a drunk driving test here in Thailand. So, I simply don't drive.

[philw]

Hang 'em High.

And lets start having random breath checks on the morning commute, for those who like to drink at home.

Deportation for a DUI offender would be pleasing to some of the sads on here.........

[Seligne2]

OK, I will take your word for the 300 baht rooms. All I can go on is that I have looked for, and stayed in, lots of different places in CM (I taught in Samoeng and commuted each weekend) and have never run into a 300 baht room.

As for the guys who applaud the police checkpoints: no one in their right minds is in favour of drunk driving, so you are not exclusively enlightened in that regard. But there are many reasons, aside from being drunk, to want to avoid the police: not having your passport, expired license, no license, registration issues, etc. Last month I was stopped twice in one week, albeit on my motorbike. Each time the cops found me at fault for something (no passport, registration 1 month expired) and each time it took a 400 baht "donation" to settle the matter. The police can always find something to ding you for.

I'll take a slightly different line than Northern John. Sure, I know where to find a 300 baht a night room -- not that I've ever had to since my own condo (slightly more than 300 baht/night) is about 400 meters from the moat.

I've never made a "donation" to the cops. I always carry my passport with me and I never ride a motorbike. But, unlike Northern John, I've been known to tip a few to where I probably wouldn't pass whatever passes for a drunk driving test here in Thailand. So, I simply don't drive.

You are an example to us all. I presume you are female judging from your user name. Perhaps ladies, always carrying a purse, always have their passports. Being a guy, I have no safe and secure place to carry a passport at all times.

I say again, if the cops stop you and are so inclined, they can always find fault.

[Chiengmaijoe]

One week ago I saw a police checkpoint at the east side of the Iron Bridge, roughly in front of The Duke's. This was about midnight.

They're there a lot, but invariably only stop motorbikes and pickups. I drive a car and have never been stopped in dozens of passes through. That's true of most check points. Edited October 29, 2014 by Chiengmaijoe