Tricks of drinkers in Ho Chi Minh City to deal with traffic police when being checked for alcohol concentration

"After work, the homeowner invited the construction workers to drink a few cans of beer. Everyone drank, if I didn't drink, what would they think? I drank exactly 3 cans, sober as if I hadn't drunk yet, but the fine of 4.5 million is too high a price to pay," said Mr. LTT (43 years old, from Lam Dong ) when he was tested for alcohol concentration by the Da Phuoc Traffic Police Station more than 20 days ago.

Mr. T. is one of thousands of cases that the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police (CSGT) has fined on the way home from drinking over the past 3 months. According to the Traffic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police (PC08), the implementation of alcohol concentration testing is aimed at preventing people who have consumed alcohol and beer from driving and causing traffic accidents.

Dealing with traffic police by "driving an old car"

One weekend in early November, after finishing painting a 3-story house in District 8, Mr. T. and 5 workers were taken by the homeowner to a cheap restaurant at the foot of the Y-shaped bridge (District 5) for dinner. After the small party, Mr. T. got on an old motorbike and drove back to his rented room on the other side of Nguyen Van Linh Avenue (Binh Chanh District).

However, when he arrived at Highway 50 (Binh Hung Commune), he was stopped by officers at the Da Phuoc Traffic Police Station for inspection. After a few conversations, Mr. T.'s breath reeked of beer, but the traffic police used a measuring device to check his breath alcohol concentration. After a while, the traffic police discovered that Mr. T. only inhaled the breath into the measuring tube and did not blow it out.

"You have to blow out, not suck in like that," the traffic police officer reminded, but every time Mr. T. put the tube in his mouth, he kept sucking in, not cooperating. Only when the traffic police attached the funnel-shaped tube to the machine did the driver blow and discover that his alcohol concentration was 0.253 mg/liter of breath.

Mr. T. was fined 4.5 million VND by the working group, had his driver's license revoked for 17 months, and had his vehicle impounded for 7 days. While the ticket was being drawn up, the male driver did not present any documents to the traffic police and insisted on abandoning his vehicle because the fine was too high.

"I bought this car for 1.5 million VND. If the traffic police fined me that much, I would just give up the car," said Mr. T.

Chiêu trò của dân nhậu ở TPHCM đối phó CSGT khi bị kiểm tra nồng độ cồn - 1 — The LTT driver held the measuring tube in his mouth and inhaled instead of blowing it out, causing difficulty for the traffic police (Photo: An Huy).

Over many nights, Dan Tri reporters followed the traffic police teams and stations to record alcohol concentration tests. Mr. T. was one of many cases that dealt with the working group by abandoning his car and not showing his papers. These cars were mostly old models and not of high value.

Similar to Mr. T., on the night of November 14, Mr. NQV (39 years old) drove an Attila scooter on Hoang Sa Street and was checked by the Traffic Police - Order Team of District 1 Police, and found to have an alcohol concentration exceeding the maximum limit.

Mr. V. said he drank two cans of beer and did not present any relevant documents. The driver confirmed that he abandoned his vehicle and said that whenever he went out drinking, he usually drove old cars like this.

"These cars are only worth a few hundred thousand. I knew the traffic police had set up a checkpoint here, but I still drove through. I was happy tonight and accepted the fine from the traffic police and then abandoned my car. I have many old cars at home," Mr. V. said indifferently when the traffic police fined him 7 million VND.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (29 years old, living in District 11) chose a safe solution: before each drinking session, he would proactively take a motorbike taxi to the bar. He drank beer with his friends and then took a motorbike taxi home, which was both safe for himself and did not cost much money.

When asked what he would do if he had to drive home, the young man said that in that situation, he would drink just enough, not too drunk to be able to control the vehicle. He would drive very slowly and try to observe ahead. If he discovered a traffic police checkpoint, he would proactively turn the vehicle around to avoid it. In the case of force majeure and a traffic police officer coming from behind to stop the vehicle, he would accept the penalty.

"Each drinking party costs several million dong, so why would you be stingy with spending a few tens of thousands on a motorbike taxi and putting yourself in a difficult situation? Those who get drunk and still insist on driving are too foolish. If you are unlucky enough to be stopped by the traffic police and fined several million to several tens of millions or get into an accident, it will be too late to regret it," said Mr. Hung.

Chiêu trò của dân nhậu ở TPHCM đối phó CSGT khi bị kiểm tra nồng độ cồn - 2 — Mr. NQV took personal belongings from the trunk of the Attila car and abandoned the vehicle (Photo: An Huy).

Eat and drink near home and choose a motorbike taxi

With his special job, Mr. NVT (38 years old, living in Thu Duc City), a sales employee of a real estate company in Ho Chi Minh City, has to regularly entertain customers. In addition to going to the market, he also has to hang out at restaurants with customers to close contracts. Of which, his drinking parties take up most of his time.

Recently, Mr. T. expressed his concern about the peak period of alcohol concentration testing in the whole city. With his current job, he mainly seeks customers who want to buy real estate. After discussing, the customers agreed that he would take them to see the house and advise them.

"Usually, people don't close a deal right away after viewing it, they think about it and make a choice right away. To make things go more smoothly, I also often pay attention to my customers, chat and invite them to eat and drink with suitable customers. Usually after drinking parties, my contract closing rate is higher," said Mr. T.

However, after the pandemic, the economic situation was difficult, the real estate business seemed to be in trouble, Mr. T's work was not very smooth. Besides, in the last months of the year, when alcohol concentration testing was at its peak, Mr. T. rarely met customers at the drinking table.

"Honestly, I don't feel comfortable going out drinking because I'm afraid of being tested for alcohol. Now I go out drinking less often than before. If I do go out, I'll book a motorbike taxi or choose a restaurant near my house.

I agree and comply with the law because it is right, ensuring the safety of my life and health as well as that of others when participating in traffic," Mr. T. confided.

Chiêu trò của dân nhậu ở TPHCM đối phó CSGT khi bị kiểm tra nồng độ cồn - 3 — Mr. LVT chose to go drinking at a pub near his house (Photo: Hoang Huong).

Similarly, Mr. LVT (40 years old, living in District 1) said that the traffic police's high-intensity alcohol concentration testing campaign to reduce traffic accidents at the end of the year was correct.

In my personal opinion, if you drink, you should not drive. Driving after consuming alcohol is very dangerous for both the driver and other road users.

"During the current alcohol testing campaign, my drinking habits have also changed. I choose to book a motorbike taxi, and if I drink too much, I choose a taxi to get home more safely.

I think pubs should have new services to serve customers such as picking up and dropping off customers who have consumed alcohol or allowing customers to park their cars and book a car to take them home," said Mr. LVT.

Recently in Ho Chi Minh City, many serious traffic accidents related to alcohol concentration have occurred, leaving tragic consequences.

Regarding the incident, on the morning of November 14, Thu Duc City Police organized a general inspection and control of drivers on the road who violated alcohol concentration and other stimulants. This campaign is expected to last until December 31.