Breathalyser & Blood - fair test?

[Pleng]

So a couple of weeks ago I got on my bike to go home, having had 3 small bottles of Chang over a period of 2 hours.

A policeman stopped me outside the station and I was told that I needed to go in and take a test. If I failed, I would be on my way to Pranburi to pay a 4000bt fine. Considering the amount of alcohol I had taken, and the time period, part of me felt like taking the guy up on the test as I reckon I'd have probably been just about ok (well, ok under UK legislation, I think it's actually a bit stricter here?). However the sensible part of me kicked in, and I of course we came to an amicable arrangement.

The whole scenario led me to wonder, though. Is there any guarantee that the tests would have been fair tests in the first place? Or can they simply miscalibrate the breathalyser equipment? If I'd taken the test was I pretty much in a loose loose situation regardless of the quantity of alcohol I had consumed?

[BingoBango]

I am sure if the police had to get out some equipment and involve a couple more officers to perform the test and paperwork at the station then you would have failed the test and had to pay the 4000bt.

In England we trust that the equipment is calibrated correctly but who is to say this is correct.

It is not only Thailand where police power is abused.

Just this past week a police officer in England has just got off with killing a protester at the G20 summit after being accused of using excessive force, the copper in question had a history of using excessive force and got off basically due to the fact the victim had medical issues.

Fact is though that if the victim had not have been struck round the head with the coppers baton then the victim would have gone home that night.

If this was a drunk out on town on a saturday night that punched a copper and killed them, then they would be sent down for a good ten stretch

[caller]

It is not only Thailand where police power is abused.

Just this past week a police officer in England has just got off with killing a protester at the G20 summit after being accused of using excessive force, the copper in question had a history of using excessive force and got off basically due to the fact the victim had medical issues.

Fact is though that if the victim had not have been struck round the head with the coppers baton then the victim would have gone home that night.

Well, nearly right, apart from the fact he wasn't a protester, most of that history is unproved allegations, he wasn't struck around the head and he died from internal bleeding from his liver and kidney's based on his alcoholism. I do agreee it was excessive action to shove him over and not the actions of a fit for purpose PC, and had that not happened, he probably would have got home that night, but he had been drinking from early morning as he seemingly did every day and it was only a matter of time.

[komfortablynumb]

In Paknampran they were given a few breathalyser machines from Bangkok a year or so ago. Unfortunately or fortunately they practised so much on each other and I suspect some policemen may have been a little bit positive. They used all the mouth pieces with no replacements.
So feel free to drink and drive here of course if you fall off your bike. As we all do here, no helmet and shorts
it's going to hurt... Or kill.
A lot of us leave our brain at the airport. If someone is passing through swampy could you give mine a meal

[richard]

Welcome back KN

[Arlo]

That sounds cheap. I got stopped on the canal road last year and was told to pay 10,000 on the spot or blow and if I fail will have to go to court and pay 20,000. My wife did some talking and we were sent on our way, with the cop saying we wouldn't be so lucky next time. I only had a couple beers with dinner and thought I was alright but I didn't trust the breathalyzer either.

[sandman67]

Radio Sandman adds a musical tangent to the thread



my attitude is that when you are getting buttfracked you may as well have a laugh and insist on a reach round

..... pull up and sneer....Stand And Deliver!

tip 1 - have a pocket where you keep 1000bht. Pull it out and wave it in his face and say that is all you have on you. Guess what the greedy piggy does then......

tip 2 - you stopped???????

[GLCQuantum]

That sounds cheap. I got stopped on the canal road last year and was told to pay 10,000 on the spot or blow and if I fail will have to go to court and pay 20,000. My wife did some talking and we were sent on our way, with the cop saying we wouldn't be so lucky next time. I only had a couple beers with dinner and thought I was alright but I didn't trust the breathalyzer either.

That sounds about right. I have a couple of Thai friends who were both done for 10 grand. Both were driving pick ups.

[Pleng]

That sounds cheap. I got stopped on the canal road last year and was told to pay 10,000 on the spot or blow and if I fail will have to go to court and pay 20,000. My wife did some talking and we were sent on our way, with the cop saying we wouldn't be so lucky next time. I only had a couple beers with dinner and thought I was alright but I didn't trust the breathalyzer either.

That sounds about right. I have a couple of Thai friends who were both done for 10 grand. Both were driving pick ups.

But how much were you had? Was it just a couple, or were you swerving all over the place and slurring your words when stopped?

[lomuamart]

Don't treat this as gospel, but I was told years ago that the limit is 50 milligrams (or similar amount 0.5? depending on how it's measured). In the UK it's 80/0.8
So, the bar's set lower here. I would imagine that one large bottle of Chang at 6.4% would put a person close to the mark.

[GLCQuantum]

Pleng asked...

But how much were you had? Was it just a couple, or were you swerving all over the place and slurring your words when stopped?

It wasn't me so I'm not sure. I didn't ask my friends how much they had had. All I knows is that 2 of them were done for 10 grand. If they were real drunk then it serves 'em right.

[komfortablynumb]

Thanks R.
This is second hand and I am assured it is true.
Guy on a big bike in HH gets stopped by bib. By his own admission was pissed as a fart.
The loyal governemt workers demanded 20k baht for this sin obviously the money would go the lokal temple.
Didn't have all the cash so marched off to atm to make up difference.
Back to van for payment, kup khun krap.
Then they gave him a drink.
You have to love this insanity.

[Pleng]

Don't treat this as gospel, but I was told years ago that the limit is 50 milligrams (or similar amount 0.5? depending on how it's measured). In the UK it's 80/0.8
So, the bar's set lower here. I would imagine that one large bottle of Chang at 6.4% would put a person close to the mark.

Yes the policeman did say I would be heading to Pranburi if over 50mg, now I come to think of it.

I'd had 3 small bottles, so 1.5 big bottles worth over the period of two hours so, yeah, I would probably have failed the test on 'merit' (regardless of any behind the scenes corruption).

I am sure if the police had to get out some equipment and involve a couple more officers to perform the test and paperwork at the station then you would have failed the test and had to pay the 4000bt.

Yes this thought had occurred to me too. But where does it stop? This policeman has me marked now and there's only so many times you can do the "no eye contact" trick (and of course if there's any traffic that one doesn't work anyway). Recently (no beer) I was planning to turn right at the traffic lights and I noted he was there. I still haven't quite sorted my licence so I didn't fancy stopping and I had to find somewhere else to park the bike.

Point is, even sober, I've been pretty ill recently and was still possessing that mangey breath you get when you're not well. Could that have been enough for me to be asked to come in and be tested? And if that's the case should I still have to 'make a deal' even though I'm totally straight??

[bsdk1960]

Point is, even sober, I've been pretty ill recently and was still possessing that mangey breath you get when you're not well. Could that have been enough for me to be asked to come in and be tested? And if that's the case should I still have to 'make a deal' even though I'm totally straight?

I think ,that if they wants your money , they will get them one way or another....

[Frank Hovis]

I still haven't quite sorted my licence so I didn't fancy stopping

So what licence are you driving on? What insurance covers you (and any third party) if you don't have a legal driving licence?