Permanent secretary for Justice Charan Phakdithanakul said yesterday at the launch of the "Young People Against Drink Driving" campaign the ministry had drafted two amendments to the Land Transportation Act 1979.

The proposals would be presented to the Cabinet before being submitted to the National Legislative Assembly. They should be in effect for the next Songkran Festival, which is notorious for its annual road carnage caused by drink-driving.

The first amendment would force suspected drunk drivers to take a breath or a blood-alcohol test. Anyone who refuses can be automatically considered by police officers as being drunk, punishable by up to three months in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt10,000. Currently, refusal to take a test draws the lighter penalty of obstructing police, punishable by a fine of Bt1,000, compared to Bt4,000 and a year in jail for drink-drivers.

The second amendment makes it mandatory for all involved in motor accidents to submit to alcohol tests instead of leaving it to a police officer's assessment, Charan said. Later, a fund would be established to help victims of drunk driving accidents.

Deputy permanent secretary for Justice Kittipong Kittayarak said the losses from road accidents had become more severe each year, and the law needed to reflect the seriousness of the situation.

The ministry would propose community service as part of the punishment instead of just allowing drunk drivers to pay a fine and walk away, he said.

Kittipong said the ministry would try to enforce the law as effectively as possible by suggesting to public prosecutors that they demand the maximum punishment in drink-driving accidents.