Huge increase in fines and jail terms for drivers without licenses

[webfact]

Huge increase in fines and jail terms for drivers without licenses

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that proposals are in the pipeline for a large scale revamp of fines and jail terms for Thais without driving licenses.

 

They said that the behavior needs to change and the authorities have had enough.

 

The department of transport of the Transport Ministry is recommending the changes for two out of date laws stretching back to 1979.

 

This would mean drivers without licenses could now be fined up to 50,000 baht and go to jail for three months. The previous penalty was a 1,000 baht slap on the wrist and a possible jail term of one month.

 

Motorists driving while suspended or who have had their licence confiscated can also face 3 months inside or a 50,000 baht fine. Previously this has been a 2,000 baht fine only.

 

The proposals further state that drivers who fail to produce a valid licence when requested can be fined 10,000 baht up from the previous 1,000 baht.

 

Department director Sanit Phromwong revealed to Thai Rath online about the proposals that will now go forward for consideration to ministerial committees.

 

The proposals also include modernization of procedures and other licensing matters.

 

They are seen as bringing the law up to date and are designed to change the behavior of Thais for the better.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-08-21

[Prairieboy]

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

This would mean drivers without licenses could now be fined up to 50,000 baht and go to jail for three months. The previous penalty was a 1,000 baht slap on the wrist and a possible jail term of one month.

 

Motorists driving while suspended or who have had their licence confiscated can also face 3 months inside or a 50,000 baht fine. Previously this has been a 2,000 baht fine only.

 

The proposals further state that drivers who fail to produce a valid licence when requested can be fined 10,000 baht up from the previous 1,000 baht.

Now to enact the changes then to find someone to enforce them. (or will it simply open the door for more lucrative handouts to the BIB!)

[AGareth2]

this could work out to be a nice earner for the boys

[darksidedog]

Excellent. Now all that needs to be done is to actually implement and enforce this. Oh, and for more than three days please!

[wgdanson]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

up to 50,000 baht

Same wording as the investment scam.

[ThreeEyedRaven]

That will slow the bike rental people down a bit. I suspect very few will want to rent a bike with no license with those sort of fines.

[Wiggy]

I was in an office supplies shop the other day and they had run out of larger-sized brown envelopes; I guess in anticipation of the above.

[BestB]

Fines already have increased .

 

yesterday 1 staff was pulled over

 

1 no license 

2 rego expired

3 using Mobile phone

4 argue with police

 

4500 baht 

[tracker1]

It's only a proposal ! has to go in front of one of those many committees they have here !!!!

[madmitch]

Sounds good but only with the following provisos:

 

1. It's enforced

2. No "negotiations" with the police

3. Same law for all, regardless of nationality, class or position

 

Any chance of this happening?

[transam]

So all the parents that give the zillion under age  kids the keys to bikes to go to school on are now going to be in deep shit, including cops...?

[jaltsc]

"Huge increase in fines..."

They'll need to use both hands now. Perhaps they'll be able to afford the same cars as their "donors" drive. 

 

 

[stanleycoin]

Bring it on. 

But don't forget to get the new police force to go with it.

[inThailand]

For 50k the police will actually get off their fat ass? They may pop a bulging shirt button which could blind you. 

[Small Joke]

19 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Sounds good but only with the following provisos:

 

1. It's enforced

2. No "negotiations" with the police

3. Same law for all, regardless of nationality, class or position

 

Any chance of this happening?

Snowballs chance in hell. 

I saw one of those shimmering Chiang Mai Highway Patrol cars on the weekend. And it wasn't even parked outside the Duangtawan Hotel during the governors lunch hour,  it was on the streets.  

Maybe it was going for it's annual lube and service... 

 

Edited August 21, 2018 by Small Joke

[Dmaxdan]

Why not go the whole hog and slap 200,000 baht fines and/or long term jail sentences on all the drink drivers caught every year, many of whom won't have a license. 

[BestB]

Before everyone gets over excited , these are maximum penalties that would be allowed by law, does not mean max would be given out to each and everyone .

[Pilotman]

It will never happen. Even if  by some miracle it is enforced,  the drivers with licences are still lethal, it will have no impact on road safety. 

[chopin2]

Does a counterfeit license at least give a discount? After all, those licenses are quite expensive now days, after the crackdowns.

[Small Joke]

If they implement this even half-heartedly,  the already full jails.  Bursting with young victimless drug use 'offenders',  and democratically minded people with 'bad attitudes' -and aggrieved complainants guilty of 'defaming' some rich arsehat, he system won't be able to cope. 

 

[Small Joke]

12 minutes ago, BestB said:

Before everyone gets over excited , these are maximum penalties that would be allowed by law, does not mean max would be given out to each and everyone .

Or even anyone.  Particularly the entitled with a note from their Mam. 

 

[nong38]

The real game changer would be to confiscate the vehicle and crush it!

[chrisinth]

35 minutes ago, transam said:

So all the parents that give the zillion under age  kids the keys to bikes to go to school on are now going to be in deep shit, including cops...?

That will be a good indicator if and when the proposed amendments are approved and how it will affect the current situation.

 

It used to be up here (in Phits) that the reason no action was taken against underage/non-licensed kids on motorbikes by the police was the excuse that it was the only means of transport from their homes to their place of education. Always been a BS excuse anyway IMO.

[ezzra]

Most of the people on Thai roads are hard sloggers with a menial job for a life time and are so poor and don't even have a pot to piss in, good luck getting 50K and any other imaginary amount from those folks....

[spidermike007]

So you have a choice. Pay the 50,000 baht fine, go to jail for 3 months, or let's drive to an ATM, and you give me 10,000 baht right now. Which do you choose sir? If anything it makes the police franchises even more profitable, without having much impact on traffic safety. 

 

The possibility of this legislation being passed, and implemented, is lower than the possibility that they will start importing wild alaskan salmon, and selling it for 20 baht per kilo. Just not going to happen. The entire culture would have to change, for them to start taking traffic safety seriously. I would love to see it happen. But, I am highly skeptical. 

[holy cow cm]

50k is a wallop. The police will be on this like flies on ****.

[Pilotman]

Um but why don't people just get a licence, or is that too simple a solution?  My daughter came over from the UK for an extended holiday and had a licence within a week, including the training.  Its not hard to do. 

[inThailand]

6 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

50k is a wallop. The police will be on this like flies on ****.

Yup... An increase in fines means more corruption. BIB is loving it all the way to the bank. 

Edited August 21, 2018 by inThailand

[holy cow cm]

3 minutes ago, inThailand said:

Yup... An increase in fines means more corruption. BIB is loving it all the way to the bank. 

Yeah, but in this instance the corruption padding the pocket is better than the end fine.

[sammieuk1]

And the ones that can't drive even with a licence carry on killing?