A woman drink-driver who refused to take a breathalyser test yesterday received a suspended three-month prison sentence and an 8,500 baht fine.
The Bangkok South Municipal Court convicted Chutima Kunnang, 28, from Nakhon Phanom, after she refused to cooperate with the Bang Pong Pang police in taking a breathalyser test at a checkpoint on Narathiwat-Ratchanakarin Road early on Wednesday.
While the jail term is suspended, Ms Chutima is required to report to the Department of Probation every three months for one year and participate twice in community service. Her driving licence has been suspended for six months.
Police filed charges against Ms Chutima for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while impaired, refusing to cooperate and failing to produce her driving licence and ID card.
After the ruling, Ms Chutima admitted to her wrongdoings and pledged to follow the court's orders.
She was stopped at the Bang Pong Pang police's nighttime checkpoint at 2am on Wednesday while driving home.
She told police she had a drink with friends before getting behind the wheel of her Brio Honda, and was in control of the vehicle.
Police demanded she take a breathalyser test when they smelled alcohol on her, but she refused and was promptly arrested. However, she declined to exit the vehicle for four hours, from 2am to 6am.
She told police she did not want to get out of the vehicle because she was wearing inappropriate clothing and her driving licence and ID card were in another handbag.
Ms Chutima is the first person prosecuted under the drink-driving law for refusing to take a breathalyser test.
Under the new tougher law, those who refuse to cooperate by taking a breathalyser test will be assumed to be drunk and face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.