Thread: Drink drive law changes. BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As of the 1st of September, 2019 a new set of laws regarding driving in Thailand has been proposed especially with regard to drink driving.

1. A person with a driving licence covering 2 years may not have more than 0.02 alcohol reading. I was stopped at a check point yesterday and as I had drank only 2 small bottles of beer I assumed I had no problem. My reading was 0.031, well under the legal limit and then they checked my licence. As I had a 2 year licence I had to park the car and the head bloke explained as I was a novice driver I was over the limit and would have to go to the police station. I stood there in the sun for 2 hours and I called my lawyer and he suggested I just wait and see what happens. He also told me that I should get my licence back as the police could not retain it and I politely asked and my request was refused.

Anyway after 2 hours the police van mostly full of Yaba freaks drove off and I was left standing there with the head policeman and he told me to drive to Banglamaung police station. My wife was with me so she drove.

When I arrived I was told to sit on some cement garden furniture and wait for the head guy. He arrived and once again explained that 2 small beers was over the limit because I was a novice driver with only a 2 year licence. He finally agreed to retest me and my reading was 0.011 and he handed my licence back and apologised profusely for the inconvenience. No money changed hands.

2. A policeman may ask for your driving licence but after viewing it he must hand it back to you immediately. He/ She has no legal right to retain it as of the 01/09/2019.

You can download the new laws from the relevant government site but be careful.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

has been proposed

ok -

and good luck getting your licence back after the copper has it

what is the proposal for those with an IDP ?

Originally Posted by baldrick

and good luck getting your licence back after the copper has it

I have been informed that if they refuse to return it, and the case went to court all charges could be dropped because they did not return the licence.

And my normal maximum beer intake when driving is 3 small bottles of beer and I have been stopped regularly and they wave me on after my reading has been checked.

Yesterday was an eye opener!

When my Missus took her bogus test 3 years ago the guy doing the theory test told her the bib have no right to hold your license.
Try doing that in real life though and they will never give you your license back until you've been to the station and paid your fine.

2 bottles of 5% Leo will put your Blood alcohol at 0.04.
It takes half an hour to get into your bloodstream then 2 hours to get rid of every bottle thereafter, so you were lucky they kept you hanging around.
I see there's a big sign up by the lake now saying 'don't drive drunk' by the flyover.

Maybe get yourself a designated driver mate.

Originally Posted by baldrick

ok -

and good luck getting your licence back after the copper has it

what is the proposal for those with an IDP ?

Regardless of such situations, the cops do/act as they wish.
Don't expect any of them to follow the letter of the law.

Not subliminally referred to as a mafia for nothing.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Maybe get yourself a designated driver mate.

I have been pulled over dozens of times mate having drank 3 small bottles of Heineken and each time I have passed the test.

In fact the BIB admitted if I have had a 5 year licence no problems but as I only had a 2 year licence I was still on probation.

Yes a designated driver must be considered or drink at bars walking distance from home.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

2 bottles of 5% Leo will put your Blood alcohol at 0.04.

I think that varies on things like body weight, how long it took to drink those 2 bottles, if you ate during that time, and so on. But yeah, the law for BAC being .02 for 2 year license and .05 for 5 year licenses had already been in effect for a some time I thought?. Couldn't care less though, I never drive after drinking any amount of alcohol (any more).

^ Same. I've done some daft things in the past when I was younger and 'invincible', but no longer.

To my mind if you've had a drink and the police pull you, then they hold all the cards regardless of whether you're over the limit. How well are the breathalisers calibrated anyway?

I've heard that the police can get immigration involved if you're over the limit, but don't know how true that is. Is it a criminal offence? If it is true and they discover you have a life, family, house etc in Thailand then a small bribe to get out of a drink driving offence will get a whole lot bigger.

Originally Posted by Headworx

I never drive after drinking any amount of alcohol (any more).

That must be considered as being really wise these days.

And I had no idea about the 0.02 law for 2 year licence.

Anyway no damage done apart from sunburn and learning a lesson.

Originally Posted by Mendip

a small bribe to get out of a drink driving offence will get a whole lot bigger

After an hour of standing in the sun i told my wife to speak with the head honcho and offer him something so I could go have another beer.

He waved her away!

Must have been that the press was there and videos and pictures were being taken.

Fortunately I had a bucket on my head!

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Maybe get yourself a designated driver mate

I was a designated driver for LT once. Nevermind I was completely blotto after far more than a couple beers and couldn't even find my way from Smug Farang Bores bar to Soi Cowboy.

Quite a night that was.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

After an hour of standing in the sun i told my wife to speak with the head honcho and offer him something so I could go have another beer.

He waved her away!

Must have been that the press was there and videos and pictures were being taken.

There has to be a police general at road blocks nowadays, in Bangkok at least, so the days of bribing your way out are gone, I think

Originally Posted by Norton

I was a designated driver for LT once. Nevermind I was completely blotto after far more than a couple beers and couldn't even find my way from Smug Farang Bores bar to Soi Cowboy.

Quite a night that was

400 metres away

I used that word blotto just to LT in a pm regarding last Saturday

Originally Posted by Norton

Quite a night that was.

Yes it was a great night Norts! I was the designated drummer that night.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

400 metres away

I had to mention to Norton when we got to Prakanong that he was going the wrong way.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I have been pulled over dozens of times mate having drank 3 small bottles of Heineken and each time I have passed the test.

It says a lot that this is your only yardstick for how much alcohol you should drink before driving.

Frankly, you fit the profile perfectly for the selfish idiots who kill on the roads in this manner.

My wife just checked up at the licence office and you may show a picture of your licence on your telephone.

No need to show your actual licence as far as that government office is concerned.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Frankly, you fit the profile perfectly for the selfish idiots who kill on the roads in this manner.

33 years of driving here in Thailand and still not one illegal offence Simple.

Is there a drink drive limit for driving camels in the shit-hole sandpit you work?

Enjoy your recollections with Norton of endangering lives while completely plastered.

What a larf!

I just heard the BIB have set up another road block on the railway line and Soi Muslim (Nern Plub Wan) and as I have to drive that way I will test out the licence picture on my phone advice from the driver's licence department.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Loy Toy, I'm surprised you've only got a 2 year driving licence having lived in Tailand for so long.

I formerly drove on an international drivers permit in line with my Australian licence and never once had a problem.

It was only last December I decided to get a Thai licence.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Anyone with a link to the new rules???

There was an "edict" a few months back to stop coppers setting up their end of the month salary top up road blocks saying a senior officer had to be present.

It's Thailand, do you think this lasted longer than a month?

And are you going to be the ones to call a bunch of BiB chimps robbing bastards?

If so, please ask someone to video proceedings.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

It was only last December I decided to get a Thai licence.

Was it not after posters on here told you that you can only drive here on an 'International Permit' for 3 months? There after a Thai drivers licence must be obtained for insurance purposes. Not having a go at you LT but just a wake up call to others who think driving here on a IP is allowed indefinitely.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I formerly drove on an international drivers permit in line with my Australian licence and never once had a problem.

It was only last December I decided to get a Thai licence.

More accurately...you finally realised that you were mistaken in your ridiculous belief, as you posted here, that you were OK indefinitely with an Aussie licence and IDP despite not being in Thailand on a tourist visa.

I posted advising you of this years ago.

Good to see the penny finally dropped.

No need to thank me.