Over 3,700 drunk-driving cases reported in first 5 days of Songkran
More than 3,700 drivers have been caught driving under the influence (DUI) during the first five days of the long Songkran holiday.
The Department of Probation reports that from April 10 to 14, a total of 3,741 drivers were handed suspended sentences for DUI offences.
“Defendants in 3,730 DUI cases had consumed alcohol, while in the other 11 offenders had taken narcotic substances,” said department director-general Witthawan Sunthornkajit. April 14 saw the highest number of cases at 1,648, he added.
Provinces with the most Songkran DUI cases are Chaiyaphum (290), followed by Chiang Rai (264) and Buri Ram (251).
“Nineteen defendants were ordered to wear electronic monitoring tags and banned from leaving home between 11pm and 4am for 15 days, while their driver’s licences have been suspended for six months,” Witthawan said.
Those who show signs of alcoholism during their probation will be sent to court-mandated therapy, he added.
Witthawan said his department has deployed 439 volunteers – staff and DIU offenders under probation – at 65 police checkpoints nationwide to hand out drinking water and pamphlets on Covid-19 prevention to motorists.