Nine motorists were placed on parole and strapped with ankle monitors for 15 days by the court on Thursday after they were found guilty of drunk driving, said Mr Prasarn Mahaleetrakul, director-general of the Probation Department, today.

The nine convicted drunk drivers were among 313 offenders who were caught for drunk driving on the first day of the 7-day road safety campaign during the New Year’s festival.

Besides the ankle monitors, the nine convicted drunk drivers were barred from leaving their houses or from where they are living from 10 pm until 4 am the next morning for 15 days and to undertake community service for 24 hours and have their driving licenses suspended for six months.

Three provinces with the highest rate of drunk driving for the first day of the campaign were Bangkok, 60 cases; Maha Sarakham province, 40 cases and Ubon Ratchathani, 33 cases.