New traffic law: Just taking a picture of your licence and showing on your phone is not enough

[webfact]

New traffic law: Just taking a picture of your licence and showing on your phone is not enough

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The policeman responsible for the new law about driving licences that will start in Thailand on September 20th has given details about three ways drivers can show their licenses when requested by an officer. 

 

One of them is NOT a simple picture of a licence on the driver's phone. 

 

The new law announced on August 20th is that police can no longer keep a motorist's license as of next month. 

 

Pol Maj-Gen Ekkalak Limsangkat told Thai Rath there are three ways to show your licence

 

1. Your regular license just like before.

2. An electronic version or digital license via the application of the Department of Land Transport QR Licence.

3. A certified copy in accordance with DLT forms

 

Thus a picture on a phone is not good enough. 

 

Maj-Gen Ekkalak said the new measures are all about convenience for the public and everything will now be online.

 

He also explained the points system for violations of traffic rules. 

 

Everyone will get 12 points and when these are used up there will be a 90 day suspension. 

 

The offender will then have to pay to undergo training for the 12 points to be reinstated. 

 

If over a three year period the points are used up more than two times there will be a one year ban. 

 

A fourth using of all of the 12 points will see the licence taken away. Thai Rath did not explain how long that would be in their story. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-08-22

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[CharlieH]

So you lose the licence if you have 48 offences!! .........what possible deterrent or effect do they think that will have........48 times ...????????????????

 

Undergo training ? Another envelope then, ok got it.

[JonnyF]

16 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

So you lose the licence if you have 48 offences!! .........what possible deterrent or effect do they think that will have........48 times ...????????????????

 

Undergo training ? Another envelope then, ok got it.

I assume it will be similar to the UK system where you get 3 points for being a bit over the speed limit, 6 points for being a lot over the speed limit and so on.

 

So in theory, a couple of offences could be enough for a 90 day suspension. Unless of course, they are kind enough to accept paying the fine directly to the policeman who stops you. They tend to be very considerate like that.

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

1. Your regular license just like before.

2. An electronic version or digital license via the application of the Department of Land Transport QR Licence.

3. A certified copy in accordance with DLT forms

so the app is on your phone? and you hand your unlocked phone to a so called Thai policeman. And he is not going to start looking through your phone just like they search your car or scooter? and of course the so called policeman will just keep your phone to extort whatever cash he wants.  

[NCC1701A]

"Yes new law, we can no longer keep your license, but now we keep your phone. Better than before."

 

 

[BobBKK]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

I assume it will be similar to the UK system where you get 3 points for being a bit over the speed limit, 6 points for being a lot over the speed limit and so on.

 

So in theory, a couple of offences could be enough for a 90 day suspension. Unless of course, they are kind enough to accept paying the fine directly to the policeman who stops you. They tend to be very considerate like that.

No, no

3 points = 500 THB

6 points = 1,000 THB etc.

 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

3. A certified copy in accordance with DLT forms

Does anyone have any detailed info about the above option?

e.g. 'forms' - does that mean a paper form that neds to be filled in and then possibly stamped by the DLT?

Is there a cost, can you request numerous certified copies?

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Does anyone have any detailed info about the above option?

e.g. 'forms' - does that mean a paper form that neds to be filled in and then possibly stamped by the DLT?

Is there a cost, can you request numerous certified copies?

Thinking exactly the same .. Paper forms like that are open to forgery .. And how would roadside plod determine if it's gen' or fake .. And what happens if its genuine but they claim fake .. Will traffic officer then require some financial inducement to be on you're way .. Hmmm lot of unanswered with this .. 

[mok199]

Sitting on your butt and texting 6 hours,then harassing motorists for 2 hours, just isn't enough officer.

[Chassa]

I've always carried my licence for 57 years, never had a problem.

It's not too heavy!

[kotsak]

Damn, that means this method won't work anymore?

 

[legend49]

Welcome to the 19th century. Where aircraft boarding tickets and passport pages are acceptable on smart phones in most developed countries.

[jumbo]

19 minutes ago, legend49 said:

Welcome to the 19th century. Where aircraft boarding tickets and passport pages are acceptable on smart phones in most developed countries.

Really? I have never seen anyone pass the customs or pass the check in with a non-paper/plastic passport or ID

[dcnx]

14 minutes ago, jumbo said:

Really? I have never seen anyone pass the customs or pass the check in with a non-paper/plastic passport or ID

Boarding pass.... do it all the time. Only my passport comes out once for immigration. I don’t even use it for checking in. Photos of everything, online check-in, and QR codes.

[dcnx]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

2. An electronic version or digital license via the application of the Department of Land Transport QR Licence.

The police already said this would not be accepted. That news was here a few months ago.

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, dcnx said:

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

2. An electronic version or digital license via the application of the Department of Land Transport QR Licence.

The police already said this would not be accepted. That news was here a few months ago.

Didn't the police say that because at the time the law had not yet been amended and the DLT had jumped the gun?

I'm assuming this new law will be the amended one?

[Khun Paul]

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I assume it will be similar to the UK system where you get 3 points for being a bit over the speed limit, 6 points for being a lot over the speed limit and so on.

 

So in theory, a couple of offences could be enough for a 90 day suspension. Unless of course, they are kind enough to accept paying the fine directly to the policeman who stops you. They tend to be very considerate like that.

Unlike the UK where the INSURANCE Companies will up your Insurance costs. Here that does not apply PLUS as agoodly proportion of drivers do not have a licence it is rather pointless. 

[Chazar]

42 minutes ago, Khun Paul said:

Unlike the UK where the INSURANCE Companies will up your Insurance costs. Here that does not apply PLUS as agoodly proportion of drivers do not have a licence it is rather pointless. 

and  where you have  7  days to show  your licence to  police if asked to avoid the stupidity of  having to carry  all that <deleted> with you and the potential for  loss  damage etc

[mikebell]

All new traffic laws are designed to help RTP part road-users from their money.

[richard_smith237]

This is all good and well... but what about those motorists without a licence, what about those motorists who continue to drive when on their 90 day ban?

 

This is a positive step, but a point system already existed but never implemented. This is just more of the same, rehashed to copy a system which works in another country - but it doesn't work because the 'system' is any better it works in other country's because the system is adequately enforced and this is where this 'new traffic law' starts to fall on its face....  there will be no enforcement, policemen will still take bribes, people will continue to ignore the rules because they don't care. 

 

And then..... there is the real issue at hand, it doesn't matter who has a licence when there is no real driver education anyway....  

 

 

[Ramdas]

I wonder if this applies to everyone or just the foreigners as usual ????

 

[Lancashirelad]

Would it not be more sensible to do as the UK does and start with zero points?

[Grumpy John]

So, I have a car license and a motorcycle license which should mean I have 2 lots of 12 points......

[LukKrueng]

19 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

so the app is on your phone? and you hand your unlocked phone to a so called Thai policeman. And he is not going to start looking through your phone just like they search your car or scooter? and of course the so called policeman will just keep your phone to extort whatever cash he wants.  

ummmm, yap, I see your point. Wouldn't it be better if they just allow you to show the real driver's license? even better if they would make those driver's licenses from some sort of plastic, about the size of an ATM, just a thought. Maybe someones should suggest that to the government....

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I assume it will be similar to the UK system where you get 3 points for being a bit over the speed limit, 6 points for being a lot over the speed limit and so on.

It's nothing like the the UK system which works as a deterrent....
think of it like the UK system, then water it down, then drench it again, then drown it in the ocean....

you will then have the Thai system

It was recently stated that a typical speeding/red light jumping offence would only incur one point..

which unlike the UK system does not stay on your license for 3 years.. it's a lot less.

which means you can offend multiple times with virtual impunity!

 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

It's nothing like the the UK system which works as a deterrent....
think of it like the UK system, then water it down, then drench it again, then drown it in the ocean....

you will then have the Thai system

It was recently stated that a typical speeding/red light jumping offence would only incur one point..

which unlike the UK system does not stay on your license for 3 years.. it's a lot less.

which means you can offend multiple times with virtual impunity!

That's lucky - I'm colour blind!