DUI and BIB

[wokkawombat]

I was breathalysed last night on Tahan road just past the Prince Prajak roundabout. I blew positive but the BIB said 'Nid Noi" and sent me on my way. I will take heed and cut my consumption.

John

[laphanphon]

a lucky man, to have a reasonable, using rational discretion officer, instead of the dreaded baht for me, that sadly are the only ones we hear about. excellent self advice......warning heeded. have those last couple closer to home, corner market.

another fine reason to be a cheap charlie and take advantage of thai corner markets near the abode. though i have none, but 652 is a straight shot home, with a back road almost to my door. though ree is always there as designated driver, usually.

[laphanphon]

seems some people are as cooperative when arriving at checkpoint.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Drunk driver chows on cops

UDON THANI: A drunk driver bit two police officers who asked him to take a breathalyser test.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/queernews/

[Khun Paul]

Just a sobering thought, as with all things, the p[olice have rightly guessed that many farangs are driving and at night have been drinking, also my information is that Ins coys are also now jumping on the bandwagon, of doing the same as in most western countries, drunk and accident equals no insurance. now for from telling people that drinking and driving is stupid, which i wont as you are all grown -up, costs of not adhering are bad in the UK and over here could reult in a jail term, which would not neccessarily mena you have to leave Thailand, but having visited the prisons, it is NOT a place I would like to visit as a permanent guest for any lenght of timeand I am sure others would agree.
So nudge is a good as a wink, DON'T DO IT.

[JimboPSM]

I now make it a practice never to have any alcoholic drinks if I’m driving – not trying to be a goody goody, but I find I need all my faculties when driving (especially when in Thailand).

This has become easy for me as it is not uncommon in the Isle of Man for both prison sentences and heavy fines to be imposed even on first offences for drinking and driving – it is not an idle threat either, more than one acquaintance of mine has been imprisoned for a first offence (and without any injuries being incurred).

It has been alleged that certain people have managed to get away with it in the past – but obviously that would have to be taken with a pinch of salt because such corruption could never happen in a western country

[Stef]

Got stopped the other night near Karin Hotel heading towards Ruy-suk, blew 78 (apparently 50 is limit) cost me 500bt. I'm confused by the 50pts though cos I was stopped in UK some 10yrs ago and ha a 40 reading limit was 35, but that day I had drunk a lot (A LOT), whereas this time I had only drunk 3 large leo. Does anyone know what the 50 relates to Alc in breath? Alc in blood? and what units?

I had not drunk for 3 whole days (zilch), so there was no carryover.

[rct]

Agree with Jimbo, no drinking and driving period. Reason enough motorcycles passing on all sides with students and babies, and on top are plenty of yahoos with cars and trucks and their fancy driving, running red lights, leap frogging to get one car length ahead before the next stoplight, and aggressive right turns into oncoming traffic, all of which seems to happen especially in front of the downtown police station opposite the prison.

Have known people who down a dozen beers nightly and drive home. Hearing some in Udon consume "Only three large Leo's" and then drive should also encourage those police stops.

[pompui]

I think the local farang should encourage their other 'arf to do the driving home if they insist on indulging in more than one or two large alcoholic drinks.
For me,get the samlaw back at night,hate to think how many drunks,Thai and Farang,are roaming about every night with a potential to cause an accident.
If that desperate to need to mix with farang in town and drink all day or just all night driving in by m/b or car,then at least look at a possibility of having a cheap overnight accomodation as an option.Sure an inconvenience to your drinking habits and a cost factor but safer for everyone.

[laphanphon]

designated driver or hotel, when breaking that 1 large per hour thing. except for NY bar/grill grand opening, can't remember last time i needed a hotel. actually very rare now, where before it was at least twice a month. since i hate udon at night. for me, there isn't much worth the hassle of driving past 3:30 pm, along with weekends. the risk of someone committing suicide on your car just isn't worth it, along with non existent parking.

[Khun Paul]

I had not drunk for 3 whole days (zilch), so there was no carryover

The carryover as you have said is a contentious point, many many people who if they imbibe a lot of alcohol on a regular basis, build up a resistance to the alcohol, insofar as they do not appear drunk, nor do they even feel if they have had a lot to drink, but the body seems to manage to maintain a higher than normal level in the breath and the blood.
if you drink say once a week ( not excessively) then after two days everything would probably back to normal, however if you drink occasionally excessively two or more times a week over a long period of time, then the body would over a period of time never return to normality in blood or breath.
I have dealt with many people in the past who said they had not drunk for 3-5 dyas yet under UK law they were still under the influence with both machines and blood if it was borerline and were disqualified for one year and fined.
The new breed of breath machines are fairly accurate more so than the original I used, there may still be technical problems, but on the whole if it is calibrated correctly and checked on a regular basis then it is pretty accurate.
So the warning if any,is that even though you regular drinkers may not have drunk anything the day before or even that night, there could stil be a trace in the system which could be detected, so no alcohol at all is the way forward if you are thinking of driving.
The downside in the UK is your ins goes through the roof and unemployability irses, but here also if the Insurance coys are reacting to Thai Govt Pressure, then they may well follow that line as well, so please be careful.
Just a piece of advice.

[jackspratt]

The carryover as you have said is a contentious point....

If, in a previous life, you were a copper in the UK, thank god you never pulled me over for a breath test.

2 or 3 days

BAC Level Metabolism Time in Hours
.10 6.66
.08 5.33
.05 3.33
.02 1.33

BAC is blood alcohol content. Metabolism Time is how long it takes to dissipate from the body.

Read the above as BAC .10, Metabolism Time 6.66 hours.

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Drivin ... 27453.html

[laphanphon]

agree with that jack, i don't think you can drink that much and not die, to fail a breath test 3-5 days after not drinking.

think maybe his friends had some denial issues............i swear..hic... that i haven't.....hic....had a drink in days officer

[wazza]

Sorry KP , those figures dont match up medically, even if u allow for differences in boddy mass, liver disease, etc

Jack's figures that he has posted are the norms.

Drugs, different kettle of fish,

PS i just had all the Draeger hand held units in my work place calibrated last week, as we test all passengers on the chopper flights for a 0.00 tolerance prior to flight and even if u have 2-3 beers the night before, the 0800 flight next day shows ur cleared to fly.