Breathalyized

[smoooth2]

Little bit of waffle about getting breathalyized last night. My first time ever in Thailand.

Have been asked dozens of times for licence check etc ... but never "blow in the stick"

11pm outskirts of M Buriram. Major 4 way intersection. All 4 roads blocked by cops. Checking every vehicle.

I was returning some friends back to their house after a beaut dinner+drinks at my place. The car probably smelled like a brewery, as one of my friends had 2 plastic bags of empty Leo bottles to give her Mum for recycling.

Anyway ... "Good evening sir ... step out of the car. Come for a walk across the highway to "the table".  I stepped barefoot into a pile of fresh buffalo shit on the road. Was told later it's good for your skin.

All I'm thinking is "Have I got 200 baht in my pocket ...?"

My GF walked over the road with me to translate. The cop waffled on for 5mins, presumeably about the proceedure to blow into the breathalyizer. I just wanted to puff & go. At least my feet were pleasantly warm.

GF was horrified that I puffed into a stick that "1000's of people have used before "  She wasn't convinced he used a new plastic thingy. Maybe she was right. Strange tingly feeling in my mouth this morning ... stale Leo perhaps ? or something else I blew into last night ? I'll get it checked on Monday.

Back on topic ... I was mortified ... the breathalizer read 0.24  I thought "Shit ... I'm screwed BIGTIME ... have I got 6000 baht in my pocket ? ..."

Magically ... the cop smiled and showed me the readout.  PASS !!   WOOHOOOO !!

Was not asked to show licence or passport etc. That was a bit of a surprise.

Goodnight Sir. Drive careful. Yes officer. Took a different route coming home.

In a previous life in another country, 0.24 would have seen me sleeping overnight with several undesirables in a very small room with shared facilities, and an appointment at a later date with some guy wearing a funny wig.

Apparently 0.5 is the limit in Thailand. This will come as no surprise to many pissheads I guess, but it was my first experience. Thailand uses breathalizers that are calibrated differently to what I grew up with.

Turns out to be the same as many countries that have 0.05 BAC as the max limit. (eg. Australia)

Anyway ... was an interesting experience.

Ummmm ... anyone know how to remove buffalo shit from car mats ?

[erik68]

The limit in Thailand is 0.05% ( not 0.5% )

Best not to drive at all if you have been drinking 

[Antonio]

Best not to drive at all if you have been drinking 

[smoooth2]

I'm happy to stand corrected if the Thai limit is 0.05

Bit confused now though, as I'm sure his breathalyizer readout was 0.24 which would have been very bad news for me.

Must have been 0.024 I guess ??

Maybe I was distracted by the numerous dung beetles showing an interest in my feet.

[erik68]

I'm happy to stand corrected if the Thai limit is 0.05

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunk_driving_law_by_country

Must have been 0.024 I guess ??

I can be confusing.
 
http://www.lionlaboratories.com/testing-for-alcohol/alcohol-measurement-units/

[dundeemk6]

maybe the copper doesn"t know the difference

[urleft]

I got breathalized leaving Buriram at the North East just past the RR tracks.  He just stuck it in my face through the car window.  Didn't see what it registered but he waved me on. 

Was caught there again coming into town 2 weeks later after I had a few beers at home, however, they waved me on without checking as the grandfather in the back seat was having a heart attack (we were headed to the emergency room).  Luckily it was a false alarm for the old guy.  Took a different route back home. 

[smoooth2]

maybe the copper doesn"t know the difference

After having puffed into the breathalyizer for 5 secs, the cop held the unit up for me to see the display. Took about 6 secs for the read out, which I thought said 0.24 (?), then a few moments later the word PASS appeared on the screen.

I saw no Thai script at any stage. He was quite happy for me to look at the screen.

Thinking about it now, it does seem unusual that their units would display English ? Maybe he pressed a language button from Thai to English because I was farang ?

Anyway ... a happy ending.

[Antonio]

 

maybe the copper doesn"t know the difference

After having puffed into the breathalyizer for 5 secs, the cop held the unit up for me to see the display. Took about 6 secs for the read out, which I thought said 0.24 (?), then a few moments later the word PASS appeared on the screen.

I saw no Thai script at any stage. He was quite happy for me to look at the screen.

Thinking about it now, it does seem unusual that their units would display English ? Maybe he pressed a language button from Thai to English because I was farang ?

Anyway ... a happy ending.

A happy ending to some of the members on this forum means something entirely different.

[candy]

I got breathalized leaving Buriram at the North East just past the RR tracks. He just stuck it in my face through the car window.  Didn't see what it registered but he waved me on. 

Was caught there again coming into town 2 weeks later after I had a few beers at home, however, they waved me on without checking as the grandfather in the back seat was having a heart attack (we were headed to the emergency room).  Luckily it was a false alarm for the old guy.  Took a different route back home.

Probably that's why he didn't book you.

[rufusredtail]

PENALTY IN AUSTRALIA

BAC

Licence type
 
Fine

Licence action / points


Less than .05 Zero BAC licence (e.g. professional drivers, P licence, L permit) 2.5 penalty units
 
10 demerit points
 
.05 to less than .07 Zero BAC licence (e.g. professional drivers, P licence, L permit) and full licence (under 26 years)
 3 penalty units Cancellation of licence/permit and disqualification for 6 months
.05 to less than .07 Full licence (26 years or older) 3 penalty units 10 demerit points

.07 to less than .15
 All drivers 3 to 4.25 penalty units Cancellation of licence/permit and disqualification for 6-14 months depending on BAC 
.15 or above;

or for a  subsequent offence All drivers
Traffic infringement notices are not issued for BAC of .15 or above, or for subsequent offences. Charges are laid for the offence and the matter is dealt with at court.
 Attend Magistrates’ Court
(see notes below)

[rufusredtail]

Compulsory court appearance:
For offences with a BAC of .15 or more, where the case must be heard by the Magistrates’ Court, if found guilty, your licence or learner permit will be cancelled for at least 15 to 48 months, and higher financial penalties will apply. Those committing the most serious offences and repeat offenders face possible imprisonment. The penalties for repeat drink driving offenders have been substantially increased with the maximum penalty now 18 months in prison. Offenders in these categories may have an alcohol interlock licence condition imposed when they are relicensed.

[Antonio]

Compulsory court appearance:
For offences with a BAC of .15 or more, where the case must be heard by the Magistrates’ Court, if found guilty, your licence or learner permit will be cancelled for at least 15 to 48 months, and higher financial penalties will apply. Those committing the most serious offences and repeat offenders face possible imprisonment. The penalties for repeat drink driving offenders have been substantially increased with the maximum penalty now 18 months in prison. Offenders in these categories may have an alcohol interlock licence condition imposed when they are relicensed.

Glad i don't live there then,it would play havoc with your social life.

Drinking and driving is wrong,you spill far to much beer.