Alcohol checkpoint stop mostly white people

[bazza40]

An American bank robber - think his name was Willie Sutton - was asked why he robbed only banks. His response was because that's where the money is. Hardly surprising in Thailand police should target falangs.

Having said that, IMHO the OP is being somewhat precious. He was tested and passed. The first reading, as another poster as noted, could have been related to mouth alcohol derived from beer, or other volatile organic compounds. Breathalysers don't discriminate.

Over 100 kg may have some influence on blood alcohol; however, everyone's ability to metabolize alcohol is different and that is the most important factor.

By all means leave if you don't like the rules/laws here. Sensible people seem to cope with them OK, even if they may differ from Western expectations.

[pegman]

If you are drinking and driving the amount is irrelevant. Your ability to have 100% control of your vehicle is impaired. You are endangering not only my life but that of others. Harsh punishments are well deserved.

If you are that poor you can't shell out a few baht for a moto during the festive season but can buy booze, try drinking close to home, namely in your garden.

Do gooders like you are the problem with the over sensitive society we live in today.

I feel it is more than safe to drive after one or two beers. Or after a couple of drinks with a meal.

There is a big difference in being drunk and just having a few beers.

No, your driving ability becomes impaired as soon as you start drinking alcohol.

I always find it strange that so many choirboys decided to call this place home.

[NoshowJones]

Pegman, better to be a choirboy than a drunk, now stagger along.

[sawadee1947]

Easy solution, next time if you are going to drive don't drink anything, then you are sure that you will pass their test when you get stopped.

most Scandinavian countries and others allow you only 0,0 Promille, means no alcohol. Don't complain. Drunk driving is stupid. Same stupid to complain for being tested.

[smotherb]

I don't know what is so unusual about farangs being checked instead of Thais. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen farangs with no helmets stopped while Thais ride by seemingly unnoticed without helmets.

Not so unusual, my first encounter with the police was as a kid, my step-father was stopped for speeding. He was in a group of four cars running together along the highway; a cop pulled-over my step-father only. It seems the others had local license plates on their cars.

[louse1953]

No problem if you don't drink and drive/ride.As far as prejudice is concerned,he smelt alcohol on your breath and he didn't smell it on the Thai's.

[louse1953]

If i do as you folks suggest you will have done me a huge favor will save me some 50,000 baht a month will cost nothing to live here then not thats a smart idea !! Everyone should do it so all the bars close down.

I am with you on this. Everyone quit drinking and driving. Shutter all the bars. Tourism, the sex trade will dry up and peace and tranquility will return again to paradise. Oh happy days.

You don't need beer to have sex do you.Even teetotalers have sex.

[1FinickyOne]

No, I do not drink and drive - someone may get hurt and it may not be me…

First you drink and drive, then complain that you were stopped when others weren't, you complain that though you were guilty, it was frightening for you… and then you complain about living in Thailand…

I hope you can find a way to see more clearly… and maybe try AA.

[Transporter]

going to by my own alcohol meter let me know if you want one .

Quite a few on lazada. Just got one. Went to lunch with a few friends, had 2 beers the first hour, water the only the next 90 minutes along with a massive lunch. Tested just before I left and it showed .03. I'm keeping it in my car. Cost about 800B, but I got one of the better ones. Just tested it again, another hour later and it's .022. Wifey hasn't had a drink and it showed .00.

Throw that thing away and let her drive then, or at least get her to jump over into the driving seat quickly if you get stopped, usually works even if they are watching.

[Transporter]

I cannot understand anyone being stupid enough to drink and drive when its so cheap to get a taxi. Absolute madness to do it as any accident happens and it will be your fault regardless. The reason the police target Falangs is obvious...More money = More beer = More likely to pay up. If you dont like it DONT DRINK AND DRIVE!

Keep Thailand's Roads Safe.

[Lucifer]

going to by my own alcohol meter let me know if you want one .

Quite a few on lazada. Just got one. Went to lunch with a few friends, had 2 beers the first hour, water the only the next 90 minutes along with a massive lunch. Tested just before I left and it showed .03. I'm keeping it in my car. Cost about 800B, but I got one of the better ones. Just tested it again, another hour later and it's .022. Wifey hasn't had a drink and it showed .00.

Throw that thing away and let her drive then, or at least get her to jump over into the driving seat quickly if you get stopped, usually works even if they are watching.

Also, works after you've run someone over.

Some of you need to go back home. Please.

[NightRider70]

Easy solution, next time if you are going to drive don't drink anything, then you are sure that you will pass their test when you get stopped.

most Scandinavian countries and others allow you only 0,0 Promille, means no alcohol. Don't complain. Drunk driving is stupid. Same stupid to complain for being tested.

Which Scandinavian countries are you talking about?

Finland 0.5‰

Iceland 0.5‰

Denmark 0.5‰

Sweden 0.2‰

Norway 0.2‰

[Alwyn]

Easy solution, next time if you are going to drive don't drink anything, then you are sure that you will pass their test when you get stopped.

He hadn't drank and had passed the test. He was complaining because he was being repeatedly tested even though he'd passed the test and all the while, Thais were riding past with no helmets and not getting stopped. So just to recap, he hadn't drank, had passed the test but was getting repeatedly tested. I hope that clears it up for you

[hobobo]

You say you only had one beer an hour. How many hours were you drinking - given it was 2am.

I share the view that you should not drink and drive at all, anywhere. Sorry if that sounds 'holier than thou' as another poster indicated, but this Pattaya is so dangerous for driving in daylight, let alone 2am, that it is unwise to touch any alcohol.

I share emilymat's view - you may be lucky 1000 times, but just once that one drink will ruin your life, or end it! And better the latter than former!

[lcp0761]

If you look at any of the local newspaper they are covered with "Thai Police looking for drivers under the influence and will be assessed a hefty fine and jail time".

Not sure if found if the Thai police officer would get a kick-back or just an "at-a-boy"?

Summary --- for any falang or other, are you willing to test the Thai police system with the chance of being fined or thrown in jail?

Also, if I am the Thai police, I would probably pull over the falang (versus Thais) as in Pattaya at 2AM I would bet there is a higher probability that the falang was drinking.

[rws85]

Not sure if people actually believe what they right on this forum or your just trolls.

[rws85]

The OP passed the first test and should of been let go, if you are not over the limit at the time of being tested why should they be allowed to make you wait and retest.

I am aware people are going to say you BAC can continue to go up but at the time you were pulled over you are doing nothing wrong. Maybe 10 minutes later you could have a higher reading but most journeys inside Pattaya on a bike would take you less than 10 minutes meaning you'd already be home by the time your reading was over the limit.

[Jip99]

If you look at any of the local newspaper they are covered with "Thai Police looking for drivers under the influence and will be assessed a hefty fine and jail time".

Not sure if found if the Thai police officer would get a kick-back or just an "at-a-boy"?

Summary --- for any falang or other, are you willing to test the Thai police system with the chance of being fined or thrown in jail?

Also, if I am the Thai police, I would probably pull over the falang (versus Thais) as in Pattaya at 2AM I would bet there is a higher probability that the falang was drinking.

??

Have you actually ever been to Thailand ?

[onemorechang]

If you look at any of the local newspaper they are covered with "Thai Police looking for drivers under the influence and will be assessed a hefty fine and jail time".

Not sure if found if the Thai police officer would get a kick-back or just an "at-a-boy"?

Summary --- for any falang or other, are you willing to test the Thai police system with the chance of being fined or thrown in jail?

Also, if I am the Thai police, I would probably pull over the falang (versus Thais) as in Pattaya at 2AM I would bet there is a higher probability that the falang was drinking.

Right on man.

[sanukjim]

"Been drinking and driving for 30 years no problem here."

Hypocrite

Hope you get your karma Dummy

[onemorechang]

Think this Over the top Drink driving non seance, directed at Farangs

could be a good thing for some people. ?

Fined , Imprisoned , deported, Black listed

Great get out clause, get rid of the wife and not come backs !!!

Face saved all round for all, win win situation.

Drink and be merry

Edited December 30, 2015 by onemorechang

[tropo]

Your the guy in an other post that admitted to drinking and driving and now your complaining you got tested. You got off no problems at all and you still moan like a little girl. Just don't drink and drive and you will be ok.

I didn't get that from his post. He was complaining that he was the only one pulled over and was tested 3 times. His complaint is reasonable.

He was under the limit, so he didn't break the law.

The disconcerting part of his story was that they only pulled over the "white guy" and let the Thais riding near him, even without helmets, through.

Were you not concerned they tested him 3 times. It was an obvious "commission" seeking event by the cops who showed no real interest in drunk-driving other than what they could make out of it. They knew they wouldn't have scored any cash from the Thais they let through.

[Cereal]

If you are drinking and driving the amount is irrelevant. Your ability to have 100% control of your vehicle is impaired. You are endangering not only my life but that of others. Harsh punishments are well deserved.

If you are that poor you can't shell out a few baht for a moto during the festive season but can buy booze, try drinking close to home, namely in your garden.

If you're drinking anything you are less than 100% in control of your vehicle, significantly less so if you're texting on your phone.

One drink for a 100kg guy an hour before driving is meaningless. The cop was out for a payday and didn't get one.

[BuriramDevelopers]

Go live in Isan. There it is just the other way around. They mostly stop Thai or others. The blacker they are , the sooner they get stopped.

[robblok]

Your the guy in an other post that admitted to drinking and driving and now your complaining you got tested. You got off no problems at all and you still moan like a little girl. Just don't drink and drive and you will be ok.

I didn't get that from his post. He was complaining that he was the only one pulled over and was tested 3 times. His complaint is reasonable.

He was under the limit, so he didn't break the law.

The disconcerting part of his story was that they only pulled over the "white guy" and let the Thais riding near him, even without helmets, through.

Were you not concerned they tested him 3 times. It was an obvious "commission" seeking event by the cops who showed no real interest in drunk-driving other than what they could make out of it. They knew they wouldn't have scored any cash from the Thais they let through.

I put it into context of all his other stories and his 50.000 a month spending on beer. The fact that he was tested 3 times was not good but you have to remember the alcohol test machines are not all of top quality. They just wanted to be sure. The other remark about letting Thais go, can't comment on that normally I am let go as a whitey. It could be different in Pattaya, but if you look country wide there are far more Thais tested as foreigners.

The helmet thing, i seen it too its a Thai thing when they are checking for helmets they let all others go. I have had them check for tax and they did not care about people without helmets. Its like when they are on a certain mission like tax / helmets ect they don't look into other stuff. Once they were just going after cars here and all the motorbikes were let go even those without helmets. Not saying it is right just saying its the norm.

But maybe racial profiling and money are more common in Pattaya here I am far more likely to be send on my way then the Thais. I have sailed through countless of motorbike checks without them having the slightest interest in me. I even made an error crossing a certain line (that was their mission that day checking people who used an illegal entry to the main road) and was let go because I was white while the (ex) wife in the car was fined and me on the bike not.

[onemorechang]

Cant wait for our own to help them do this fantastic service to the community at the side of the road.

Get them naughty Farangs,

[robblok]

Cant wait for our own to help them do this fantastic service to the community at the side of the road.

Get them naughty Farangs,

Yes get those guys that seem to think that their drinking is more important as the lives of those around them. Drink yourself to dead that your choice, do all the drugs you want. Just don't operate a vehicle and put others at risk.

Selfishness seems to be a big thing among those foreigners. I don't really care what people do as long as they don't endanger others.

But but I drive better with a drink as all those Thais.. and the rules should not apply to me I am white. ... and and they only target foreigners.

And the best of all, you foreigners that want to change Thailand should go home to your police state.. since when has the Thai government ever listened to foreigners on anything. This is a Thai initiative not a foreign one.

[onemorechang]

If the police and general public think Drink driving buy Farangs

is the big issue on the roads around pattaya,

Your all Bonkers, out of touch , don't drive or ride.

Drink driving is just a symptom of a much bigger issue.

And i care not for the Thai Visa Kangaroo court brigade on here.

Amazing Pattaya.

Bottoms up.

[sawadee1947]

Easy solution, next time if you are going to drive don't drink anything, then you are sure that you will pass their test when you get stopped.

most Scandinavian countries and others allow you only 0,0 Promille, means no alcohol. Don't complain. Drunk driving is stupid. Same stupid to complain for being tested.

Which Scandinavian countries are you talking about?

Finland 0.5‰

Iceland 0.5‰

Denmark 0.5‰

Sweden 0.2‰

Norway 0.2‰

ok, it's more or less the East European countries with 0,0 Promille and only a few others.

Most Middle European contries allow you to have a glass or two....unfortunately

[Heng]

If you look at any of the local newspaper they are covered with "Thai Police looking for drivers under the influence and will be assessed a hefty fine and jail time".

Not sure if found if the Thai police officer would get a kick-back or just an "at-a-boy"?

Summary --- for any falang or other, are you willing to test the Thai police system with the chance of being fined or thrown in jail?

Also, if I am the Thai police, I would probably pull over the falang (versus Thais) as in Pattaya at 2AM I would bet there is a higher probability that the falang was drinking.

Foreigners get pulled over more often PERIOD, two of the main reasons are that they are less likely to have driver licenses (residents aside, how many tourists bother to get one while on vacation?) and only 1 out of a thousand maybe will be connected enough to be waived through. Even low level cops don't want to have to 'salute and waive on' some politician's or influential businessman's maid or landscaper.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Heng