Stiffer penalties for drunk drivers and helmets

As you may well imagine I was pretty angry but my wife cooled me down but apparently if she had hurt herself or damaged the bike I would have been held liable, even to the extent of paying for the beer if they broke.

What are the blood alcohol levels that define "drunk" here? I have never seen one mentioned. Do they do Breathalyzer or require a blood draw (like the Germans)?

.5 for drunk driving, actually kind of strict (that was mentioned in ariticle about norwegian in pattaya). in PA, USA it used to be 1.0, then a big stink about trying to lower it to .8. in states most are .8 -1, i think, i may be wrong.

muscle wrote:We were in Pattaya for New Year's Eve. I was surprised at how compliant motorbike drivers have become there with the law. The bike taxi guy even gave me a helmet to wear as a passenger. I was impressed.

Hmmm..... Guess you didn't get around Pattaya that much... The motorbike taxis will give you a helmet, but the rest can't care less. If anyone want to drive unlegal they should do so in rush-hours, then the police are busy reading the daily news... And all the kids can drive "safe" to and from school without fear for the boys-in-brown

I belive all this never mind style is nothing more then lack of education. Education in common sence.

We (farrangs) see their (Thais) needs for it every day, wether it is driving without a helmet, walking on the left side of the road with the kid on the roadside, throwing garbage anywhere or trying to kiss farrang husband after eating Durian
It is all lack of knowledge, they where never thought and are still not tought. I say it is up to the goverrment to start with kids in school...

But Hey! It is a bunch of Farrangs that are no better. Not at all...

[quote="Seaserpent
Hmmm..... Guess you didn't get around Pattaya that much... The motorbike taxis will give you a helmet, but the rest can't care less. quote]

Actually, I have been going to Pattaya at least once a year for the past 8 years. I have watched driving patterns and safety (lack of it) behavior carefully due to my years in EMS. I have my own stats on "brain bucket" survivors from first hand paramedic and ER experience.
There was a dramatic change in the Beach Road/Second Road areas from even three months ago when I was there last. No, I did not hit all the surroundinga areas, but in the core area, where there is the strongest police presence, there was a marked improvement by the locals. It was a surprising change.

Have any of you been fined for not wearing a helmet since this new law has been passed? Do you know of anyone who has been fined? What was the amount of the fine? Did it pertain to the passengers as well as the driver?

I can confirm from personal experience that the new 500 baht fine is in place for parking offences, not wearing a helmet and not having a driving licence.

Before someone asks I parked in a row of specially marked motorbike bays (in Patong) along with 20+ other motorbikes, and returned to find that as today is an odd number, we were all on the wrong side of the road!

The fines for the other offences I mentioned were listed in English at the Police Station.

Very surprised after this trip to Vientiane. Helmet compliance is probably running 75% by drivers and riders. We got stopped and it cost us 400 baht as the wife dislikes wearing a brain bucket but had it in the front basket. And our registration had expired as we had left the motorbike with the family and they had not renewed it. Probably didn't help that we were both dressed in business clothing and she was driving a new KoLao Click with me on the back. They smelled the $ a block away on that one.
The helmet compliance is a nice thing to see though.

I must say the wife and I both always wear helmets when on m/bike (and I wouldn't have it any other way) and we rarely get pulled in at the spot checks. I assume that they assume that if we know enough to both be wearing helmets, we also know enough to be carrying driving licences etc.

For those that like the feel of the wind through their hair, (or across their scalp) may I relate what happened to me when I was about 10 years old, riding my bicycle home from school, I had the sun in my eyes, so looked down at the ground.

In the distance I heard the clatter of my bicycle falling to the ground, and suddenly realised I was on the ground too. As I slowly struggled to my feet, I felt this warm liquid running down my face (my own blood). I had cycled into the back of a parked coal lorry. I had a trip to hospital with the bell ringing all the way, 13 stitches in the top of my head and a crushed disc in my spine.

Over the years since, I have suffered very many problems with stiff necks, neck muscles going into spasm and frequent backache, including everytime I sit at the computer for more than a few minutes.

I learnt my lesson the hard way. I don't need legislation to make me wear a helmet. They would have to legislate to stop me from wearing one.

arjay wrote:may I relate what happened to me when I was about 10 years old, riding my bicycle home from school,

Yes i was told that Penny Farthings were notoriously difficult to control,in a history lesson we had at school once.




......................................................................................

Those were the days eh, a penny farthing!

That was when people didn't have two ha'pennies to rub together.

Difficult to do a "wheelie" on one of those.!

I should have added "in Udon" in my earlier question. I ask again below:

Have any of you been fined for not wearing a helmet "in Udon" since this new law has been passed? Do you know of anyone who has been fined? What was the amount of the fine? Did it pertain to the passengers as well as the driver?

Right now, the fines are still 200 Baht for driver + 200 Baht for passenger. I see people getting fined on a regular basis.

I suspect that the 200 Baht fines will stay in effect here in Udon because of the poverty of this area. Let's face it - most of the locals couldn't afford 500 baht - they have trouble affording the 200 baht.

Doc wrote:I suspect that the 200 Baht fines will stay in effect here in Udon because of the poverty of this area. Let's face it - most of the locals couldn't afford 500 baht - they have trouble affording the 200 baht.

Yes, but hasn't the fine been increased to get more people to wear helmets? A helmet can be purchased for 200 Baht. I have known some to have paid the 200 baht many times.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30027132

don't know what the fine and jail term would be for us non celebs, but doubt if any time in the monkey house would be suspended, and 2 months sounds like a long time.

if correct, one small beer per hour is enough to stay under 100 blood alcoho content, but 50, that's pushing it. that hotel is sounding way too practical and inexpensive.

has anyone heard of the drunk driving law being enforced for locals or foreigners? i'm guessing enforced more so if involved in accident.

Siwa Taesang fined Bt4,000, gets suspended jail term for drunk driving


Siwa Taesang, a well-known entertainer, was Saturday convicted in drunk driving and fined Bt4,000.

The North Bangkok District Court also handed down
two monthSiwa Taesang fined Bt4,000, gets suspended jail term for drunk driving


Siwa Taesang, a well-known entertainer, was Saturday convicted in drunk driving and fined Bt4,000.

The North Bangkok District Court also handed down
50milligrammes per cent.

The Nation