Courts, not police, would punish drivers without licences, public assured

By SURIYA PATATHAYO 
THE NATION WEEKEND

 

File photo

 

Court judges, not police officers, will determine the punishment for people caught driving without required licences, the police and Department of Land Transport (DLT) affirmed on Friday.

 

The authorities were responding to public concerns that a new regime of hefty fine increases and longer prison terms for motorists without licences would enable rogue traffic cops to prey on motorists. New fines of Bt10,000 to Bt50,000 and prison terms of up to five years – depending on the violation – will be sharply increased from previous penalties.

 

The tougher penalties raise the crimes above the standard of a petty offences and so out of the jurisdiction of police and into the hands of the courts, explained Pol Maj-General Ekkarat Limsangkat, commander of the Special Police Branch’s division 3, in a press conference.

 

If these proposed legal changes go into effect, the charge of driving without a licence will no longer be a petty offence, for which police can impose a fine.

 

 

Under the new regulations, officers will have to file the case in court and a judge will use his or her discretion to hand down punishment.

 

“The old laws that let police impose fines on drivers without licences over the past 39 years have never been effective in changing driving behaviour,” said Ekkarat. The number of people driving without a licence has only increased, as have road accidents, he noted.

 

Since police will no longer have the authority to fine violators, there will also be fewer rogue police officers preying on motorists, he said.

In any case, he added, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) will not protect any bribe-collecting or corrupt officers and will subject them to the appropriate disciplinary and criminal code punishments.

 

DLT deputy director-general Kamol Buranapong said the proposed amendments would combine and update outdated laws under the Vehicle Act 1979 and the Land Transport Act 1979. 

 

He said the old laws had set the fine rates quite high for the time they were implemented nearly 40 years ago – as is the case in other countries. It is common for countries to also have a process of keeping score related to driving behaviour, along with vehicle seizures and imprisonment for violations.

 

Kamol cited statistics by related agencies, including the Academic Centre for Road Safety and the Thailand Accident Research Centre, that found up to 8 million motorists and motorcyclists on Thailand’s roads drove without a licences. 

 

Moreover, the average age at which Thais first ride motorcycles was nine, and because most are taught by family members or close acquaintances, and they often lack accurate knowledge and proper driving skills, he said.

 

According to DLT regulations, those aged 18 and above can get a driver’s licence to drive a motorcycle or car, and those over 15 may get a temporary licence to ride a motorcycle with a 110cc or less engine.

 

Citing road-accident statistics, Kamol noted that nearly 60 per cent of motorists in a crash did not have or did not carry a driver’s licence. Those without a licence were found to have double the risk of an accident, and many were under 24 years old.

 

The statistics clearly point to the need to implement strict driving licence-related laws to boost road safety and promote motorists’ discipline, he said. 

 

The DLT aimed to live by the motto: “Difficult to issue, easy to confiscate”.

 

Kamol said the proposal was now before the Secretariat of the Cabinet which will then forward it to the National Legislative Assembly for approval. 

 

A report outlining opinions expressed on social media about the proposed laws was also attached. 

 

If the amended law is approved, it will be published in the Royal Gazette and come into effect one year after the publication date, giving people lots of time to get educated about the changes, he said. 

 

Another speaker, police deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Patanacharoen said the RTP had since August 21 applied the requirement that police officers staffing checkpoints carry an ID card. They are also not permitted to wear facemasks or sunglasses when presenting themselves to search vehicles or talking with people. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30352911

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-25

Yes but for it to go to court it would have to be reported. Now I'm not sure what the judges think but I am sure the police could figure out a to deal with it " on the spot" without having to worry about all that messy paperwork and court appearance time, maybe?? 

"...Since police will no longer have the authority to fine violators, there will also be fewer rogue police officers preying on motorists, he said..."

 

The 'Tea Money' will come in response to a threat to send the case to court. 'Pay me now or go through the hassle...'

 

"...In any case, he added, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) will not protect any bribe-collecting or corrupt officers and will subject them to the appropriate disciplinary and criminal code punishments..."

 

 

You can change the law. You can change the regulations. You can change the methods.

 

However, if you don't change the ethics of the people giving the ticket (the Police), nothing changes.

 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

9 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Citing road-accident statistics, Kamol noted that nearly 60 per cent of motorists in a crash did not have or did not carry a driver’s licence

perhaps if they had a helmet instead of a licence it might help  more, why not issues  all licences stamped onto the helmet and must be displayed at all times.......and not in the basket?

If you get stopped just make sure the officer files the correct paperwork.

27 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Since police will no longer have the authority to fine violators, there will also be fewer rogue police officers preying on motorists, he said.

Always nice to start the day with some comedy!

23 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The statistics clearly point to the need to implement strict driving licence-related laws to boost road safety and promote motorists’ discipline, he said. 

20 million drivers issued licenses without any test of driving knowledge or proficiency are suddenly going to know how to drive and obey the law. Really?

 

26 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

there will also be fewer rogue police officers preying on motorists,

And at the same time the RTP are going to change the habits of the past 30 years and cease their corruption. This really does stretch the imagination! 

Looks like a pay rise for the BIB.

thai police are corrupt, they will offer on-the-spot-discounts

That the authorities went from the sublime to the rediciules with those penalties is one thing but to burden the courts that are already overloaded with work up to a one year wait for something that the police has the powers to take care of, is another stupid and unnecessary move...

28 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

Yes, you must have seen the t shirt...…...Same, Same but Different.

I renewed my 5 year licences yesterday...it took 9 hours and a more convoluted method could hardly be devised...the DLT was overrun with "customers"
No wonder so many can't be bothered to take (at least) 1 whole day off work and junp through all the bureaucratic hoops
Why not extend the renewal time to 10 years (insted of 5)
and just require updated photo..maybe in 4.0 it could all be done online and new license delivered to your door ?

Many more police officers will now, thanks to these knew laws, be able to afford Mia Noys, Giks, European and American educations for their children and luxury automobiles.  Ah, the use of force over intellect. 

1 hour ago, starky said:

Yes but for it to go to court it would have to be reported. Now I'm not sure what the judges think but I am sure the police could figure out a to deal with it " on the spot" without having to worry about all that messy paperwork and court appearance time, maybe?? 

And this is a good thing. Conviction for us foreigners means get a couple of them and you are kicked out of here. 

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Since police will no longer have the authority to fine violators, there will also be fewer rogue police officers preying on motorists, he said..."

 

The 'Tea Money' will come in response to a threat to send the case to court. 'Pay me now or go through the hassle...'

 

"...In any case, he added, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) will not protect any bribe-collecting or corrupt officers and will subject them to the appropriate disciplinary and criminal code punishments..."

 

 

You can change the law. You can change the regulations. You can change the methods.

 

However, if you don't change the ethics of the people giving the ticket (the Police), nothing changes.

 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

and again, the tea money or get you off the hook money is the best scenario 

1 hour ago, Lunchbob said:

If you get stopped just make sure the officer files the correct paperwork.

You can go that way and to court, not me. Pay on the spot if ever in the situation. But I have a license, it is getting caught without it is the problem

 

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

thai police are corrupt, they will offer on-the-spot-discounts

I hope so in many cases if you choose to go that way. 

36 minutes ago, johng said:

I renewed my 5 year licences yesterday...it took 9 hours and a more convoluted method could hardly be devised...the DLT was overrun with "customers"
No wonder so many can't be bothered to take (at least) 1 whole day off work and junp through all the bureaucratic hoops
Why not extend the renewal time to 10 years (insted of 5)
and just require updated photo..maybe in 4.0 it could all be done online and new license delivered to your door ?

Sounds like Chiang Mai immigration now. My 24 year old daughter just went the other day to get her first car license. She said there were soooooooo many Chinese there getting licenses, and the majority failing too. She said they were the clear majority by numbers of people at the DMV. ZOO. Here is the next saga for Thailand. Chinese drivers. 

22 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

You can go that way and to court, not me. Pay on the spot if ever in the situation. But I have a license, it is getting caught without it is the problem

 

I doubt they will follow through and file the paperwork, but not sure really.

58 minutes ago, johng said:

I renewed my 5 year licences yesterday...it took 9 hours and a more convoluted method could hardly be devised...the DLT was overrun with "customers"
No wonder so many can't be bothered to take (at least) 1 whole day off work and junp through all the bureaucratic hoops
Why not extend the renewal time to 10 years (insted of 5)
and just require updated photo..maybe in 4.0 it could all be done online and new license delivered to your door ?

I went to the DLT Bkk about 2 years back to convert my old paper laminated basic photo lifetime licenses to the new plastic cards.

 

All done in 30 minutes.

 

I went with a Thai buddy wanting to do the exact same thing. But it was discovered his lifetime license was bogus and had been since issue some 20+ years ago. But never mind, just 200Baht fee with receipt and all fixed, 30 minutes later all completed. 

1 hour ago, johng said:

I renewed my 5 year licences yesterday...it took 9 hours and a more convoluted method could hardly be devised...the DLT was overrun with "customers"
No wonder so many can't be bothered to take (at least) 1 whole day off work and junp through all the bureaucratic hoops
Why not extend the renewal time to 10 years (insted of 5)
and just require updated photo..maybe in 4.0 it could all be done online and new license delivered to your door ?

in the uk one renews driving licence at age of 70

 

it should ALWAYS be the courts that set a fine NOT police.....they fine one any figure they want

1 hour ago, holy cow cm said:

and again, the tea money or get you off the hook money is the best scenario 

No, carry your license with you is best. How hard is that!

Yep, 50,000 baht or 3 months in jail for no license,

 

500 baht fine and a big wai for waving samurai sword in road rage incident.

3 hours ago, johng said:

I renewed my 5 year licences yesterday...it took 9 hours and a more convoluted method could hardly be devised...the DLT was overrun with "customers"
No wonder so many can't be bothered to take (at least) 1 whole day off work and junp through all the bureaucratic hoops
Why not extend the renewal time to 10 years (insted of 5)
and just require updated photo..maybe in 4.0 it could all be done online and new license delivered to your door ?

You're right. Renewal every five years is a waste of time and it's hardly a money spinner for anyone.

 

And if all this unlicensed drivers are suddenly going to be spurred into action following this announcement can you imagine the chaos at every DLT office?

1 hour ago, 300sd said:

No, carry your license with you is best. How hard is that!

happens sometimes

Anytime there is a assurances made in thailand you know its baloni. Its going to be a complete cluster bomb

I  can see bikers making a run for freedome at every check point.

Its just too harsh a statement to think they can change thai culture with fines and jail.

Better start building bigger prisons now. Maybe thats why its a year away. They are actually planning for the day.

2 hours ago, essox essox said:

in the uk one renews driving licence at age of 70

 

Ok semantics, since the introduction of the plastic  licence they make you "renew"  every 10 years

(new photograph)

if you kept the old paper licence its still valid  but can't be used for ID ?

 or some other reason maybe need to update address or get points removed   they will give you a plastic licence "once you go plastic you can never go back"

Haha the public are so stupid. Now there is no getting or the system. Rather than a spot fine they shall probably pay the full amount and go to prison 

 

well done very clever 

Why do people pay the police now? so they don't have to go to court. Do the Math