Traffic police cannot confiscate driver’s license under a new traffic law in effect from Aug 20th

 

 

Effective 20th August, traffic police have no authority to confiscate the driving license of the driver of an automobile or motorcycle when being stopped for a traffic violation under the new Land Traffic Act B.E. 2562.

 

Traffic police still have the authority to issue penalty tickets on the spot to a motorist or a motorcyclist for violating traffic laws.

 

When the driver is not present, such as in the case of illegal parking, the ticket can be attached to the vehicle or, alternatively, sent by registered mail to the address of the driver or the car owner together with evidence of the violation. Under the new law, a driver must carry a driving license, a photo copy of the license or electronic information about the license with him or her and must produce it to a police officer on request.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/traffic-police-cannot-confiscate-drivers-license-under-a-new-traffic-law-in-effect-from-aug-20th/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-08-21

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12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Under the new law, a driver must carry a driving license, a photo copy of the license or electronic information about the license with him or her and must produce it to a police officer on request.

Let's see how that works out.

If motorists have a few photocopies of their licence to show the police, won't that reduce the chance of any "fine" being paid?

I can see if it was produced on a smartphone, their could possibly be some 'reluctance' by the police to return the phone.

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

in the case of illegal parking

With the new points system this should also be awarded points loss for breaches,  a blatant disregard for other road users that is all to common.

Someone better inform the traffic police of this and update they daily about it. 
 

That said, they will just take your keys so make sure YOU pull out your keys and put them away at a stop.

So they are not traffic cops, then? Highly paid boy scouts?

What about the licenses they have confiscated to date.

32 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

So they are not traffic cops, then? Highly paid boy scouts?

Girl Guides 

The nuttys will drive with or without license. And i take it cash will be accepted as usual, even with the new law?

This is good news indeed, and one less weapon in their arsenal ....

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

Someone better inform the traffic police of this and update they daily about it. 
 

That said, they will just take your keys so make sure YOU pull out your keys and put them away at a stop.

True statement who tells the monkey? Seeing the organ grinder recently stated many of these money collectors dont know the road rules and will be retested.

I have yet to see a mobile, traffic cop pull over any type moving vehicle in Pattaya for a moving violation. I drive a car here everyday and have driven across Thailand as well. The absence of trained, mobile police is evident and is a factor in the abysmal statistics of roadway deaths in this country.

What licence I don't know a Thai that has one  ????

44 minutes ago, mok199 said:

What about the licenses they have confiscated to date.

all fake

14 minutes ago, legend49 said:

True statement who tells the monkey? Seeing the organ grinder recently stated many of these money collectors dont know the road rules and will be retested.

Surely: and will pay to be retested in order to pass.

Tell that to the Thai police officer who stops you! Ha! 

9 minutes ago, Benmart said:

I have yet to see a mobile, traffic cop pull over any type moving vehicle in Pattaya for a moving violation. I drive a car here everyday and have driven across Thailand as well. The absence of trained, mobile police is evident and is a factor in the abysmal statistics of roadway deaths in this country.

Hard to see them when they don't exist!

34 minutes ago, Benmart said:

I have yet to see a mobile, traffic cop pull over any type moving vehicle in Pattaya for a moving violation. I drive a car here everyday and have driven across Thailand as well. The absence of trained, mobile police is evident and is a factor in the abysmal statistics of roadway deaths in this country.

I see highway police, both in cars and on powerful motorcycles, most times I am on a main highway. They often have a vehicle pulled over. There is a highway patrol police station 10 km from my home. I do however agree that they should do more. Then again it is all a bit pointless at the moment as there is no comeback if people don't pay fines.

good morning officer . i wuz just aving a cig in me car cos i cant smoke in me house . ears a copy of me licence and photo copy.a copy ov me passport and photo copy and a satalite tracking device for me TM30

That's sounds like a cash earner for someone to print off licenses...

i sent my agent to the cop shop as i had had 3 fines, for offences plus photo evidence, of me in my blue ford pick up, the only thing was i did not own a vehicle and did not even have a licence then, he had a hard time convincing them it was not me, anyhow he said there was a pile about 3 feet high of unpaid fines on the desk, as said they dont care a monkeys about the law. they need to start seizing vehicles until fines are paid

That makes sense (not). So you can be rotten drunk, get a ticket and keep driving. Just goes to show how many brains there are in this country.

Common sense (what the hell is that?)

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I can see if it was produced on a smartphone, their could possibly be some 'reluctance' by the police to return the phone.

But that would be theft !!!!!

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I can see if it was produced on a smartphone, their could possibly be some 'reluctance' by the police to return the phone.

But that would be theft !!!!!

Protective custody.

Another genius idea!
Let's see for how long this will stand.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Under the new law, a driver must carry a driving license, a photo copy of the license or electronic information about the license with him or her and must produce it to a police officer on request.

 

New law! So what was the 'old' law? Not necessary to carry, or even have a license, to drive/ride? No wonder so many Thais are driving/riding around without one.

 

I always wondered what they do with those 60% of drivers who never ever had a license? Different tariff structure for those little deals under the note pads they swing around and through the driver's window? 

1 hour ago, Benmart said:

I have yet to see a mobile, traffic cop pull over any type moving vehicle in Pattaya for a moving violation. I drive a car here everyday and have driven across Thailand as well. The absence of trained, mobile police is evident and is a factor in the abysmal statistics of roadway deaths in this country.

Spot on, I drove to Chiang Mai 11 hours from home, not one cop on the road, not one roadblock, on the way back as we left Chiang Mai, we noticed a cop every 100 or so metres on the opposite side of the road for so so so many kilometres, literally at every street coming to join the main road, Big C, petrol stations etc etc, no doubt some big brass was coming into town, might even be royalty, after that, again, not one cop for the remainder of the journey home, actually I tell a lie, there was one roadblock in the mountains, as I slowed down with the vehicles in front of me, this young kid (police), not real police my wife told me, looked at me when I stopped, stood back and saluted me, and of course I gave him the royal salute ????

 

Now if I was back in my country, I reckon I would have seen a fair few highway patrols on the road, if not, I would have been flashed a few times from their robotic brothers (speed cameras, both fixed and mobile).

 

Laws appear to have little to do with how the Police act or their decisions, they are a law unto themselves.

it should be a court that "takes" a licence not these BIBs....

1 hour ago, Benmart said:

I have yet to see a mobile, traffic cop pull over any type moving vehicle in Pattaya for a moving violation. I drive a car here everyday and have driven across Thailand as well. The absence of trained, mobile police is evident and is a factor in the abysmal statistics of roadway deaths in this country.

So you haven't ever been stuck in the gridlock caused by regular checkpoints on Sukhumvit, either by the traffic police depot or opposite Tesco just after Thepprasit. 

Every car is stopped to check road tax, occasionally licence.

Every bike is pulled over and thoroughly searched.