CHIANG RAI – The Royal Thai Police have announced a nationwide crackdown and reiterated a clear message about drunk driving: there will be no warning before a fine. They also stressed that refusing to take a breath alcohol test is treated the same as driving under the influence, and officers will move forward with legal action right away.
On February 21, 2026, Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, said the policy for the fiscal year 2026 calls for stricter traffic discipline nationwide. Under the direction of Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the Commissioner-General, traffic police across the country have been instructed to enforce the law firmly.
Most importantly, drunk driving violations won’t come with a verbal warning. If officers find a violation, they will proceed with charges immediately. He added that driving while intoxicated puts lives and property at serious risk. Because of that, police must enforce the law strictly, fairly, and transparently.
Police shared a recent example from February 20, 2026. A driver showed signs of intoxication and refused to take an alcohol test. The person also attempted to run and assaulted a traffic officer.
After officers gained control of the situation, testing found an alcohol level of 126 mg%, which is over the legal limit. Police said the incident may involve multiple offenses under the law, and they have already followed legal procedures to bring charges.
Drunk Driving Penalties under Thailand’s traffic law
Under the Road Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979), as amended, a driver with an alcohol level over the legal limit faces:
- A fine of 5,000 to 20,000 baht, or
- Up to 1 year in prison, or
- Both a fine and imprisonment
In addition, the court may suspend or revoke the driver’s license. If the drunk driving incident causes serious injury or death, penalties increase and may include up to 10 years in prison, along with license revocation.
If a driver commits the offense again within 2 years, the law sets tougher punishment:
- Up to 2 years in prison
- A fine of 50,000 to 100,000 baht
- License suspension or revocation as required by law
Failure to blow
Police also reminded the public that when a driver refuses a breath alcohol test, the law presumes the person was driving while intoxicated. That means the penalty is the same as a drunk driving charge. On top of that, the driver may face an additional charge for disobeying an official order.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nithithorn Jintakanon, Commissioner of Education and head of the working group focused on the image of traffic police at the Traffic Management Center, asked the public to follow the “don’t drink and drive” rule. He said it helps reduce crashes and losses. He also praised traffic officers who continue working with patience and follow the law, even when facing violence on duty.
The Royal Thai Police also urged everyone to respect traffic laws and help build a safer road culture. For traffic information or to report an incident, contact the Traffic Police hotline at 1197 or the Highway Police hotline at 1193, available 24 hours a day.
Drunk Driving Road Safety Crisis
In 2025, drunk driving remained a leading factor in Thailand’s ongoing road safety crisis. Officials and community groups continued to report about 40 road deaths each day nationwide, and alcohol impairment often sat at the center of the deadliest crashes.
During high-risk stretches, such as the New Year holidays running from late 2025 into early 2026, enforcement reports showed drink-driving taking up most violations. In targeted crackdowns, it made up more than 92-95% of recorded cases.
For example, authorities logged 1,366 drink-driving incidents out of 1,473 total violations on December 30-31, 2025. That number fell from the year before, yet it still showed how common the problem remained in places like Nonthaburi, Bangkok, and Samut Prakan.
At the same time, speeding often topped the list of overall crash causes. Still, alcohol-related offenses kept ranking near the top (about 20-30% in daily holiday tallies). As a result, the figures pointed to steady, gradual progress, but also clear limits in enforcement and public awareness efforts.
