PM Prayut urged to jail drunk drivers during festive season

[webfact]

PM urged to jail drunk drivers during festive season



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha was urged Tuesday to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to jail drunk drivers 3-7 days in order to reduce road accidents during New Year’s celebrations.

Mr Surasith Silapa-ngam, manager of No Drunk Driving Foundation, said that the seven-day period during the New Year’s festival was regarded as the dangerous period for high incidence of road accidents in which over 300 people were killed annually.

Referring to the prime minister’s remark in October that he didn’t want road accidents to occur, Mr Surasith suggested that the prime minister uses his special powers vested by Section 44 to put into jail drunk driver 3-7 days during the festive season.

According to statistics, a total of 24,237 people died in road accidents last year – a reduction of 2,000 compared to a year earlier – putting Thailand in the second place for countries with highest road casualties.

Dr Thanapong Chinwong, manager of Road Safety Centre, attributed high incidence of road accidents in Thailand to lax law enforcement and social norm.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-urged-to-jail-drunk-drivers-during-festive-season


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-23

[halloween]

While the suggestion has merit, wouldn't it be better to seize their vehicle for the week. When Somchai's pick-up is taken away, the 27 passengers forced to start walking will give him grief he will remember for a loooong time.

[JeremyBowskill]

Problem is with a plan like this is the people executing it. Will be difficult to convince the coppers enforcing it that its not just a new years bonus and that people actually need to be prosecuted, and not just make a contribution to the happy happy new meer fund.

[Seastallion]

"Dr Thanapong Chinwong, manager of Road Safety Centre, attributed high incidence of road accidents in Thailand to lax law enforcement and social norm"

EXACTLY!!! The two major contributors. Nice to hear the voice of reason coming from a Thai.

[Seastallion]

While the suggestion has merit, wouldn't it be better to seize their vehicle for the week. When Somchai's pick-up is taken away, the 27 passengers forced to start walking will give him grief he will remember for a loooong time.

Yeah, impounding the vehicle will have a far better punitive effect than a fine or a few days in the clink, and would be logistically easier in the long run for the police.

And it should be year-round, not just for one week of the year.

[onetime]

While the suggestion has merit, wouldn't it be better to seize their vehicle for the week. When Somchai's pick-up is taken away, the 27 passengers forced to start walking will give him grief he will remember for a loooong time.

Yeah, impounding the vehicle will have a far better punitive effect than a fine or a few days in the clink, and would be logistically easier in the long run for the police.

And it should be year-round, not just for one week of the year.

IMNSHO, I think they should do both, in the following manner; jail them for 7 days, charge them with a criminal offense with possible jail time, upon conviction they attend a mandatory driver's ed class and a class on drinking and driving, tow the vehicle, charge them for the towing, and charge them for the daily storage of said vehicle. If they can't pay, auction the vehicle.

Watch how f'n fast the <deleted> changes here.

[Thian]

My friend just had a brand new CRV. Then he got caught driving drunk for the 2nd time and they took his license for 3 months.

He had to go to work by taxi and won't let it happen again for sure.

[honoluludave]

Fine idea, but do they even have enough jail space for everybody they would catch?

[NongKhaiKid]

Section 44 gives the PM absolute power but that doesn't include making the BIB do their job properly and in this instance not allowing drunk drivers to continue on having paid an ' on the spot ' fine.

[mancub]

Applicable to off-duty policemen also.....?

[whatproblem]

The police are too scared to do their job ,scared of the repercussions,bullet in the head

[robblok]

My friend just had a brand new CRV. Then he got caught driving drunk for the 2nd time and they took his license for 3 months.

He had to go to work by taxi and won't let it happen again for sure.

Like he would worry about the police checking it again. Had they taken his CRV it would be a different story. Not having a drivers license only cost a few 100 baht as a fine. They should lock up people who drink and drive.

[Pib]

There's not enough jail space to house half of the population for 3 to 7 days.

[arminbkk]

I guess K. Prayuth did not communicate this with

the Bangkok police commander who will only fine

offenders with a lower fine at THB 100 and a signed promise to not do it again, as a New Year's gift.

[DavisH]

A drunk rich hi-so goes to jail for the holidays....unlikely. They wouldn't have a problem chucking a farang in the slammer though...

[smedly]

While the suggestion has merit, wouldn't it be better to seize their vehicle for the week. When Somchai's pick-up is taken away, the 27 passengers forced to start walking will give him grief he will remember for a loooong time.

jail them and seize their vehicle along with a driving ban of at least one year required to retake driving test (yes I know) and a fine of at least 100,000 baht, this should apply to all vehicles including motorbikes

you want to get serious then "get serious"

Edited December 23, 2015 by smedly

[DavisH]

Section 44 gives the PM absolute power but that doesn't include making the BIB do their job properly and in this instance not allowing drunk drivers to continue on having paid an ' on the spot ' fine.

It's unbelievable they would be allowed to continue driving. They keys should be taken and pay for the cost of towing the car to the police impoundment. Nothing will change until police take their jobs seriously.

[stephenterry]

While the suggestion has merit, wouldn't it be better to seize their vehicle for the week. When Somchai's pick-up is taken away, the 27 passengers forced to start walking will give him grief he will remember for a loooong time.

jail them and seize their vehicle along with a driving ban of at least one year required to retake driving test (yes I know) and a fine of at least 100,000 baht, this should apply to all vehicles including motorbikes

you want to get serious then "get serious"

About as likely as your solution.

[Khun Paul]

While we all think this idea will go nowhere, let us not forget that the Roadside breath Test is ONLY an indication that you have consumed alcohol, it does NOT show if you are over the statutory limit, nor does it say you are unfit to drive.

True there are many who do drink to excess and those should be fined a lot and incarcerated and stopped from driving any further, but thopse who like my friend who had one small whiskey in 48 hrs was not drunk but still had to pay a fine , was wrongly fined and prosecuted .

The law is quite clear but the RTP use is for nefarious reasons and it has nothing to do with safe driving I am sure .

[naboo]

My friend just had a brand new CRV. Then he got caught driving drunk for the 2nd time and they took his license for 3 months.

He had to go to work by taxi and won't let it happen again for sure.

Why does he go to work by taxi? Just drive without a licence like everyone else.

[Mot Dang]

Why not ? The rest of the world does it.

Oh sorry, that's right your Thai, I didn't mean to sound like I was telling you what to do. Only if you feel like it then.

[hansnl]

Drunk driving?

In the slammer for 10 days;

Impound the car for that time;

A fine of at least 10,000 baht;

Take away the driving license, permanently.

For first time offenders........

[exalll]

I guess K. Prayuth did not communicate this with

the Bangkok police commander who will only fine

offenders with a lower fine at THB 100 and a signed promise to not do it again, as a New Year's gift.

That's not what the Bangkok police commander is proposing!

[worgeordie]

3-7 days in jail is not long enough,when drunk people get in their

cars and trucks,they know (unless they are extremely stupid) that

they are taking the lives of themselves,passengers,and other

road users in their hands,so if anyone is hurt or killed,its premeditated,

a motor vehicle in their hands is a dangerous weapon,no different to

a gun or knife.and should be taken a LOT more seriously,BUT wont.

regards Worgeordie

[Oziex1]

They can't drive a greasy stick up a dogs bum.

Drunk or sober.

[phoenixdoglover]

Are there no laws?

Yes - enforce

Weak - strengthen

No - legislate

[NoshowJones]

and also confiscate their vehicles and motorbikes.

Think of all the tea money when they go up for auction.

More than enough to help employ and educate more traffic police.

[NoshowJones]

While the suggestion has merit, wouldn't it be better to seize their vehicle for the week. When Somchai's pick-up is taken away, the 27 passengers forced to start walking will give him grief he will remember for a loooong time.

Yeah, impounding the vehicle will have a far better punitive effect than a fine or a few days in the clink, and would be logistically easier in the long run for the police.

And it should be year-round, not just for one week of the year.

IMNSHO, I think they should do both, in the following manner; jail them for 7 days, charge them with a criminal offense with possible jail time, upon conviction they attend a mandatory driver's ed class and a class on drinking and driving, tow the vehicle, charge them for the towing, and charge them for the daily storage of said vehicle. If they can't pay, auction the vehicle.

Watch how f'n fast the <deleted> changes here.

Why go through all that? Just take the vehicle to the auction place and sell it. Job done.

[NoshowJones]

My friend just had a brand new CRV. Then he got caught driving drunk for the 2nd time and they took his license for 3 months.

He had to go to work by taxi and won't let it happen again for sure.

What! Only three months?? Ridiculous.

[siamcrut]

Does anyone know, where I can buy one of these brass badges, some thais put on their car front grille? Not saying that I'm driving drunk, just want to get waved throw as these cars usually do....