“Phuket will continue with the campaign against drink-driving as ordered by the NCPO (National Council for Peace and Order) to enable people to travel safely over Songkran,” he told The Phuket News today (Mar 22).
“Drunk drivers will be arrested and punished in accordance with the law” he added.
However, unlike as announced in the capital Bangkok (see here), police in Phuket will not be impounding cars for set periods under their own authority.
“We will carry out our normal procedure in case of drunk driving here,” Col Teeraphol said.
“Drunk drivers will be arrested if their alcohol level is over the limit. We’ll temporarily seize their vehicles while they are taken to the station.
“But the court will decide how long their vehicles will be impounded and how long their driving licenses will be suspended,” he added.
Police have yet to announce the annual Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for this coming Songkran, which will be celebrated by Thais around the world from Wednesday, April 13 to Friday, April 15.
Last year, Phuket was one of four provinces in the country to record zero road fatalities during the Songkran Seven Days campaign. (See story here.)