It's Highway Robbery! Thais scream in protest at new fines calling them an excuse for more police corruption

[webfact]

It's Highway Robbery! Thais scream in protest at new fines calling them an excuse for more police corruption

 

Pictures: Daily News

 

Thai social media has gone ballistic about plans to massively increase fines for not having a driving license.

 

Thais have deemed it nothing short of highway robbery, an excuse to rob money from the poor.

 

In addition they have slammed the proposals as playing into the hands of the police giving them an excuse to extort more money from road users.

 

While people including a top online lawyer are demanding:

 

Have any studies been done? Will it work in reducing road accidents?

 

And,specifically, will it stop drunk drivers?

 

The message is clear: the answer to all these questions in the hearts and minds of a weary Thai public is a resounding "No way!"

 

Daily News - who are trying to improve matters on the Thai roads with a long running campaign that reports the carnage that has made Thailand number one in the world - reported on the online furore.

 

Protest banners were going up everywhere on social media, they said, saying that plans to fine people 50,000 baht rather than the current 1,000 baht were robbery pure and simple.

 

Demanding fines of 10,000 baht for being unable to present a license were just as bad, Thais were saying.

 

People were complaining that the police would just extort more money.

 

Others were complaining more about the long and misguided process in getting a license. Yet more said it would have zero affect on road accidents.

 

And it would have a similar lack of effect in deterring the real menace - drunks on the road.

 

Online lawyer Ratchaphon - who runs the Sai Trong Kotmai page - said that the new laws were an attempt to scare the public into obeying the law.

 

Bangkok's top traffic cop also agreed that it was a scare tactic in an earlier interview revealed on Thaivisa. But unlike the Thai public he denied it would lead to more bribery and corruption and defended his "honest and upright" officers.

 

Lawyer Ratchaphon wondered if it was really going to work or whether like countless campaigns in the past it would flounder due to "interpretation" and lack of viable enforcement.

 

He also joined in the chorus of complaints asking whether any study had been done to see if it would actually have any effect in reducing accidents.

 

His message and that of thousands of others was clear.

 

No it wouldn't.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-08-22

[Darcula]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai social media has gone ballistic about plans to massively increase fines for not having a driving license.

 

Concerned about high fines? Don't break the law.

[stanleycoin]

oh no.

Thais' complaining about corruption !!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a big long look in the mirror somchai and lady somchai.

Big fines, yes,    way to go.  

 

Ps hope they start confiscating  vehicles and crushing them .

that would be just perfect. get that big stick out  

 

[rkidlad]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai social media has gone ballistic about plans to massively increase fines for not having a driving license

Imagine if people went ballistic about plans to massively increase prison sentences for murder. Most rational people would be asking, "What's wrong with you?" 

[sup3r1or]

They will find any excuse for this. Don't give them an option of a fine, just jail time! That will sober them all up! Easy, don't break the law if you don't want to pay. They all seem to feel they are entitled to be above the law. 

Now we only need fines and jail time for sh...t driving!!! That actually kills people!

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, Darcula said:

 

Concerned about high fines? Don't break the law.

Hmm, anywhere else sure. Although here it might be more appropriate:

Don't get caught breaking the law, or, avoid being fitted up for not breaking the law.

 

[colinneil]

 Well i didnt take Ratchpon long to hitch a lift on this 1.

He sounds to me like an ambulance chasing lawyer, but he is an internet hanger on.

[Vacuum]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Protest banners were going up everywhere on social media, they said, saying that plans to fine people 50,000 baht rather than the current 1,000 baht were robbery pure and simple.

Well, just get a license then!

 

 

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Others were complaining more about the long and misguided process in getting a license.

Long process!  It normally takes 1-2 days, compare that to other countries....

[Misterwhisper]

All these "screaming protests" only make one thing crystal clear: There must be tons of people out there who think it's their god-given right to drive motor vehicles without having a license, although they shouldn't be on the roads to begin with. And countless others apparently find it perfectly alright to be irresponsible enough to let their 10-year-olds drive motorcycles to school or down the village road to buy dad's daily dose of "lao khao".

 

If these people had licenses, they wouldn't need to be so outraged, would they? It's the prospect of finally having to follow the law or otherwise being hit in the pocket that is the true reason behind all that "screaming protest" ruckus, nothing else.

 

And as for the drunks: Do away with that silly point system that drops back to zero every 12 months. Instead, slap the drunkards with a fine of 100,000 baht every time they're caught behind the wheel while being over the limit. But that of course would trigger yet another round of "screaming protests", I guess.

[quadperfect]

This will just scam the tourists. Its never going to work on thais.

Thailand is in decline. Big time

[webfact]

New driving laws almost ready to take to Cabinet, says source

By The Nation

 

 

A revamping of fines and jail terms for Thai motorists driving without a licence will soon be submitted to the Cabinet and then on to the National Legislative Assembly for approval, a source at the Department of Land Transport clarified on Wednesday.

 

The proposal to update the law has drawn much criticism in Thai social media, where a controversy rages over potentially hefty fine increases and longer prison terms for offenders.

 

The update is intended to bring more discipline to on-the-road behaviour and improve overall administrative procedures by amending and then combining the Vehicle Act 1979 and the Land Transport Act 1979.

 

Some netizens have suggested amendments could leave loopholes that would enable rogue traffic police to prey on motorists.

 

The proposed update carries much harsher punishments, including a maximum fine of Bt50,000 and a possible jail term of up to three months for those driving without a licence, which compares with the current penalty of a maximum Bt1,000 fine and a possible jail term of up to one month.

 

Those caught driving after their licences were invalidated or revoked or had been suspended or confiscated would face the same fine as those driving without licences, compared to the current penalty of a Bt2,000 fine.

 

Drivers who failed to present a valid licence when requested would be fined up to Bt10,000 – 10-times higher than the current penalty.

 

Deputy national police spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen on Tuesday said the changes would be better able to address current driving behaviour.

 

He said police were ready to enforce the amended law, which he also hailed as being useful in promoting road safety and effective in disciplining motorists.

 

Krissana said the initial period after the law was implemented would see an emphasis on public education about the new regulations.

 

Krissana said the amended law, once approved by the National Legislative Assembly, would be published in the Royal Gazette and come into effect one year after the publication date.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30352716

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-22

[jimmyyy]

10 year olds on motorbikes, try 6 years old up here.  Damn kids are always hitting stuff and falling over.,

[trainman34014]

Pity they don't put as much energy and enthusiastic gusto into learning to drive properly, getting a valid driving licence and obeying the law !

[Small Joke]

No one screaming about the death toll?

Not even the literally millions of bereaved relatives?

Let's face it,  "east is east,  and west is west,  and never the twain shall meet."

I think that was Kipling... whoever it was, described the situation to a T.  

 

[johng]

31 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Have a big long look in the mirror somchai and lady somchai.

Somchai  and somjit...there is a song  about  loong and bpar. ?

[Small Joke]

33 minutes ago, sup3r1or said:

They will find any excuse for this. Don't give them an option of a fine, just jail time! That will sober them all up! Easy, don't break the law if you don't want to pay. They all seem to feel they are entitled to be above the law. 

Now we only need fines and jail time for sh...t driving!!! That actually kills people!

Agree with you,  but you unwittingly hit a Thai nerve 'they all... feel entitled to be above the Law' 

Absolutely.  And Why?  Because the arsehat elite set the example.  

Suddenly,  their thinking makes sense.  They (the so called netizens -what a stupid word) know that those who can most afford the fines will never have to pay them,  and therein lies the rub. 

[darksidedog]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

People were complaining that the police would just extort more money.

And therein lies the big problem. Thais are more concerned with the amount of money they are already being fleeced of by the cops, than they are about the amount of death on the roads. It says to me that while the carnage on the roads is a terrible issue, that needs to be addressed, your average citizen here thinks that the police are a bigger problem. And that is with current fine levels. Trying to defend his officers as "honest and upright" is just laughable, as from the reaction to the new fine levels, it is obvious that the entire population clearly believes that totally the opposite is true.

[RotMahKid]

Next step raising the fines for red light and over speeding.

[Lungstib]

Would these same people be as happy with untrained dentists and doctors as they appear to be with an untrained taxi driver? Its an amazing insight into the Thai idea that being allowed to take a vehicle on to the road is a right they should never be denied.

[CGW]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But unlike the Thai public he denied it would lead to more bribery and corruption and defended his "honest and upright" officers.

Bookmark this comment, first time I have seen the Thai Police referred to in this manner & if truth prevails, it will be the last 

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

And,specifically, will it stop drunk drivers?

 

Doubt it .. For some will only learn the lesson the hard way ..

[Myran]

I fail to see the problem. Get a license and always bring it with you – "problem" solved.

[NCC1701A]

the police arrested that major league documents forger a few weeks ago. this could be a serious problem for the Thais.

[kekalot]

they should use minimum charges and prices going up with repeated offenses up to seizure of vehicle (and license) and then sell those vehicles at auctions

 

 

no license? 250-500-750-1000 each time going up and paid at the police station so its recorded.

 

when i lived up North near where I lived there was some police stop near a little booth but everyone knew how to avoid it and it was announced on a Facebook group with 8000 members if they were ever out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Small Joke]

1 hour ago, Vacuum said:

Well, just get a license then!

 

 

Long process!  It normally takes 1-2 days, compare that to other countries....

In Singapore it's like getting a Uni degree!  

I believe for teens in Australia,  3-4 years with several stages to pass and zero tolerance for virtually any offences. 

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

defended his "honest and upright" officers.

This police cop is in class with Baghdad Bob (Comical Ali)

[JohnC]

What about the HiSo that mowed down a policeman then left the country ? He will undoubtably return when the charges are time expired! 

[Lunchbob]

If you have a license or not you will be sitting in long lines at roadblocks waiting. Here, they have a roadblock all day every day on the same road. Seems weird to me. I am sure there are many other important jobs the police have to do.

[300sd]

Yeh and while your at getting that license for the first time, even though you've been driving for years, (well I wouldn't call it driving) also learn to drive with your innocent child in a car seat instead of on someones lap. Oh and by the way, get some glasses, following one meter behind someone at 100 km/hour means you don't have a brain. Get one somewhere.

[Sir Dude]

Despite the authorities being right on this and on the one they tried to do before about no people in the back of pickups etc...the locals have shown their complete contempt again for safety and their willingness to accept the awful road situation and it's human casualties and results. In both case the authorities have made a swift 180 in fear of upsetting people who are completely unqualified to give a sensible answer on almost anything. Until the local population start to collectively give a sh%t about anything then it will remain lost.