New traffic regulation to deal with drunk driving

[webfact]

New traffic regulation to deal with drunk driving

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Drivers who are under 20 years of age and are tested with over 20 milligram percent alcohol will be regarded as drunk and will face charge of drunk driving if caught behind the steering wheel under an amended ministerial regulation approved by the cabinet on Tuesday.

 

The amended regulation issued in compliance with the land traffic act was proposed by the Royal Thai Office to deal with drunk driving which was blamed as one of the major reasons for numerous car accidents besides speeding.

 

The amended ministerial regulation also treats drivers who do not have a driving license or who have a temporary driving license and are tested with more than 20 milligram percent alcohol will also be regarded as drunk.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/new-traffic-regulation-deal-drunk-driving/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-03-29

[shanesox]

Using phones behind the wheel with the darkened windows another way of causing accidents and injury to other road users, random checks of these along with possible drunks is the only way forward and of course tough penalties . But will it happen ? Hmmm

 

 

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[chrisinth]

1 hour ago, shanesox said:

Using phones behind the wheel with the darkened windows another way of causing accidents and injury to other road users, random checks of these along with possible drunks is the only way forward and of course tough penalties . But will it happen ? Hmmm

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

 

 

Agree with what you say but a little bit hard to prove or carry out random checks if behind tinted windows...............

[Nigeone]

Not new rules they need it's a new police force !!! 

[naboo]

So the temporary licence limit is now 20mg. That will affect the expats here on tourist visas who cannot get a 5 year licence, as well as all expats in there first year or two in the country until they get a full licence.

[akampa]

How to deal with drunk driving if caught and are over the limit get a heavy fine and licensed revoked for 3,6,or12 months, as regards tinted windows 40% maximum tint and just ban the sale of any tint higher and fine the seller also , but as always the police must enforce . Good luck and be careful out there the killing season is starting soon.  

[stevenl]

So the temporary licence limit is now 20mg. That will affect the expats here on tourist visas who cannot get a 5 year licence, as well as all expats in there first year or two in the country until they get a full licence.

As well as everybody in there (their) first year or two ...

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[NE1]

I remember years ago they tried to enforce a tint law , only to find out all police cars were breaking the law , so it was scrapped.

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Drivers who are under 20 years of age and are tested with over 20 milligram percent alcohol will be regarded as drunk and will face charge of drunk driving

Unless of course your very rich and have killed someone. Then never mind. 

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, shanesox said:

Using phones behind the wheel with the darkened windows another way of causing accidents and injury to other road users, random checks of these along with possible drunks is the only way forward and of course tough penalties . But will it happen ? Hmmm

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

 

A police chief in Australia owned up to using a phone in his car and posting the photo on social media. He was stopped at roadworks and took a photo of said activity. The fine was over 300 dollars. Apparently you are not allowed to touch the phone when behind the wheel. He should have gotten out the car to take the photo. I guess you would also be fined if sitting behind the wheel in a stationary car with no seatbelt on....talk about a police state!

[ezzra]

 

With millions of cars on the roads and so few visible police doing

the actual checking, the chances you get caught is very slim,

penalties should be very stiff to severe, enough to serve as real

deterrent and not a few thousand baht joke....

[darksidedog]

So this reduces by 60% the level for all tourists, who don't have a Thai licence and a fair few more who have the Temporary one in their first two years.

The limit now then is about one beer. Given that a fair few farang are getting nicked already, dropping the limit so much is going to see more arrests of people who are in reality sober.

Secondly of course, the bars that sell the beer are going to find themselves even more short of customers.

The Under 20 bit seemed quite sensible, as inexperienced drinkers combined with limited driving experience isn't a good combination.

But, while road safety here is appalling and measures need to be taken to improve it, this seems to me to be a hastily introduced and not well thought out policy.

 

[Deli]

And drunk hi-so people won't even be tested....

[Swiss1960]

So the temporary licence limit is now 20mg. That will affect the expats here on tourist visas who cannot get a 5 year licence, as well as all expats in there first year or two in the country until they get a full licence.

It will only affect the idiots who drink and drive.. May they all be caught.

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[bandito]

1 hour ago, NE1 said:

I remember years ago they tried to enforce a tint law , only to find out all police cars were breaking the law , so it was scrapped.

 

This law is still in existence.

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, chrisinth said:

 

Agree with what you say but a little bit hard to prove or carry out random checks if behind tinted windows...............

Many tinted windows here are actually illegal.  But nothing is done about it.

[chrisinth]

17 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Many tinted windows here are actually illegal.  But nothing is done about it.

Yep, it wasn't that long ago that guidelines were released about the percentage of tint that would be allowed to be used.

 

As you say, nothing seems to have been followed up with this after the original two week 'honeymoon enforcement'.

[Sydebolle]

Naaaahhhh, dont panic!

The regulation is one thing, the implementation another one and we all know, how the latter is handled! 

[sanukjim]

2 hours ago, Nigeone said:

Not new rules they need it's a new police force !!! 

The idea of the police in LOS in any change of their policy of actual properly enforcing the law will never happen in the next foreseeable future.For years if a Thai wanted to be a policeman he had to have connections or pay money to be accepted in the academy.They are expected to supplement their pay with the on the road fines given by the drivers to not get a ticket.They will be included in a small amount of the bribes collected by their station's officers.Rarely will you see them on the road actually enforcing the speed laws ,over loaded pickups,or reckless driving as it requires too much effort for so little money.The BIB department of LOS are just another way for the lower end of the well-to-do to show their power and collect their money with out having to actual work that requires much effort.Go to small towns like Nxng Hxn about 42 ks outside of Udxn  and see what demi gods the BIB station is .

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

tested with more than 20 milligram percent alcohol

New regulation should also include that a mandatory test be performed immediately at the scene of the violation. Failure of police to do so will result in an immediate 7-day suspension without pay for the police. No more allowing suspects to defer or completely avoid the test. I think there is a law that provides that a suspect who refuses a sobriety test is presumed guilty but doesn't seem to be enforced.

[Destiny1990]

In Pattaya they are checking drivers for alchohol consumption every night.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

13 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

In Pattaya they are checking drivers for alchohol consumption every night.

 

And always in the same handful of spots?

[little mary sunshine]

Drunk police, Wealthy Families and other 

so called Hi-So trash....Disregard!!!!

[Destiny1990]

10 minutes ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

 

And always in the same handful of spots?

Well about the same 5 Different spots but always on junctions either near walking street or near Sukumvit rd.No idea what happens if you are drunk.Its just 3 cops that knock on your window and make u do a test.

Edited March 29, 2017 by Destiny1990

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, chrisinth said:

 

Agree with what you say but a little bit hard to prove or carry out random checks if behind tinted windows...............

Those very dark windows are illegal but well, you know.............................

[gwynt]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

So this reduces by 60% the level for all tourists, who don't have a Thai licence and a fair few more who have the Temporary one in their first two years.

The limit now then is about one beer. Given that a fair few farang are getting nicked already, dropping the limit so much is going to see more arrests of people who are in reality sober.

Secondly of course, the bars that sell the beer are going to find themselves even more short of customers.

The Under 20 bit seemed quite sensible, as inexperienced drinkers combined with limited driving experience isn't a good combination.

But, while road safety here is appalling and measures need to be taken to improve it, this seems to me to be a hastily introduced and not well thought out policy.

 

Just another way of making tea money.

 

I know 2 expats stopped within the last weeks who walked after negotiating a 5k "fine"

[Wilsonandson]

So the temporary licence limit is now 20mg. That will affect the expats here on tourist visas who cannot get a 5 year licence, as well as all expats in there first year or two in the country until they get a full licence.

It will affect you.
If you are caught drink driving in Thailand, you can be fined up to 20,000 baht and possibly spend a night in a cell. A second drink driving offence could result in a prison sentence or deportation.

[muzmurray]

3 hours ago, naboo said:

So the temporary licence limit is now 20mg. That will affect the expats here on tourist visas who cannot get a 5 year licence, as well as all expats in there first year or two in the country until they get a full licence.

 

Why would a tourist need a 5 year licence? Nobody goes on holiday for that long.

 

[Happyman58]

New rules means if u are drunk make sure you get to the car to drive away If you fall down because you are so drunk and cant get to car to drive them we might ( I mean we might) Have to arrest you Please dont make us do that Rule is make the car and drive away

[WinnieTheKhwai]

48 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Well about the same 5 Different spots but always on junctions either near walking street or near Sukumvit rd.No idea what happens if you are drunk.

 

Then you take the back sois. 

 

Or so I hear.