Thailand to introduce new road checkpoints from 1 April - here’s what you need to know

[webfact]

Picture: Naew Na

 

The D-Day for the new style Royal Thai Police checkpoints on the Thai roads is tomorrow - April 1st. 

 

And Thaivisa reports that it is no joke - the RTP will be keeping a watch on themselves as much as the public.

 

Naew Na reported in their headline that drunks, drug users and street racers would need to watch out.

 

But the police would also need to make sure they are following new RTP chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk's new checkpoint regulations to the letter.

 

His deputy in charge of special ops Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat said that it was all about transparency and public confidence.

 

Mobile CCTV cameras will be in operation to make sure that everything is above board.

 

This along with tech like helmet and body cams will ensure the police are doing their job properly and the public who are caught won't have loopholes to escape justice. 

 

In addition to clear signage at the stops, there will be the 1599 hotline number clearly visiible so the public can report any RTP wrongdoing. The number of the local chief will also be on display. 

 

All traffic, alcohol, pollution and crime checkpoints will follow Suwat's new policies, part of the TPCC - Traffic Police Checkpoint Control measures. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-31

 

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[ThreeEyedRaven]

here’s what you need to know

It's going to cost you money.

[MartinL]

Can I phone the 1599 number to report police waving through vehicles that are obviously overloaded/dangerously loaded or unfit for the road? It'd be a "RTP wrongdoing" so I guess it'd be welcomed.

[Wiggy]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mobile CCTV cameras will be in operation to make sure that everything is above board.

I assume these will be the type that never seem to work?

[ParkerN]

7 minutes ago, MartinL said:

Can I phone the 1599 number to report police waving through vehicles that are obviously overloaded/dangerously loaded or unfit for the road? It'd be a "RTP wrongdoing" so I guess it'd be welcomed.

 

Worth a try, no shortage of offenders in the categories you mention. Should keep the buggers busy but I have my doubts...

[metisdead]

A post with nothing other than a trolling image has been removed.

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Mobile CCTV cameras will be in operation to make sure that everything is above board.

That is surely a joke, like the camera that covered the place i had my accident, the time of the accident coverage managed to disappear.

[cyril sneer]

It was nice whilst it lasted

[LoliLoso]

Hope it's not a April Fool's joke????

[Starmocihc]

If you see a red blob on Google maps outside of the normal hrs of traffic congestion, immediately take an alternate route. Learned that from a Thai relative. ????????

[digger70]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The D-Day for the new style Royal Thai Police checkpoints on the Thai roads is tomorrow - April 1st. 

Fake News it is .They do what they want no matter April 1 or not .

[digger70]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Mobile CCTV cameras will be in operation to make sure that everything is above board.

Yea Right, they can be turned of for the collection of Donations .

[Humpy]

We have checkpoints in our area twice a day . Same time in the morning , same time in late afternoon, same place, Monday to Friday lasting 2 hours each. All 'dodgy' drivers know this and take an alternative route to avoid the checkpoint. Durrr.

[gunderhill]

Only about 6-12 months  ago they announced their  would be no more checkpoints.

[Golden Triangle]

The usual crackdown ' For one day only ' ????

[spidermike007]

Really bad news. Really bad idea. Patrolling the highways, and pulling over reckless drivers would be far more effective. Assuming traffic safety was actually the agenda. 

 

All the checkpoints do is clog traffic on the highways, and put alot of cash into the pockets of the toy police. It is all about catching people performing moving violations. That is what causes most accidents. And herein lies the lack of a deterrent. As long as everyone is allowed to get away with extremely reckless driving, entering the highway in front of an oncoming vehicle that is only 100 meters away, going 100kph, cutting in front of vehicles within one meter at high speeds, swerving like crazy idiots all over the highway, trucks and 40 year old cars occupying the fast lane doing 40kph, when other vehicles are approaching doing 120kph, drunk driving, etc, accidents, major injuries and deaths will continue to happen, and no amount of rhetoric and platitudes by the fabulously incompetent and insincere authorities are going to make any difference.

 

The police are not here to protect you. They do not care one iota about your well being, your safety, or traffic safety. Expect that. Do not employ them, unless absolutely necessary.

If driving, especially on a motorbike, treat the activity as an act of war, in a sense that you may be mowed down or killed at any moment. Maintain eyes in the back of your head. Watch everyone. Expect craziness, insanity, lack of reason, and a complete lack of courtesy and respect on the roads, at all times.

 

Expect cars and trucks to be coming at you in the wrong lane.

 

Expect people to overtake you with the slimmest of margins.

 

Whether there is a train crossing warning signal or not, when you are crossing railroad tracks, especially when you are responsible for many lives, you slow down, look both ways, and then proceed. 

[Guderian]

I assume if you've got the right sort of badge or decal fixed to your radiator grille then you'll simply be waved through, as before. 

[Albert Zweistein]

13 hours ago, MartinL said:

Can I phone the 1599 number to report police waving through vehicles that are obviously overloaded/dangerously loaded or unfit for the road? It'd be a "RTP wrongdoing" so I guess it'd be welcomed.

Or mom, dad, mia noi and 4 children on one  motorbike ?

[Curt1591]

"Can I phone the 1599 number to report police waving through vehicles that are obviously overloaded/dangerously loaded or unfit for the road? It'd be a "RTP wrongdoing" so I guess it'd be welcomed."

 

------------------------

Be sure to use a burner phone!

[brianthainess]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

The number of the local chief will also be on display. 

Well If they don't know who I am, I'll give him a call I'm sure he'll help.

[kickstart]

On 3/31/2021 at 11:24 AM, webfact said:

This along with tech like helmet and body cams will ensure the police are doing their job properly and the public who are caught won't have loopholes to escape justice. 

 

In addition to clear signage at the stops, there will be the 1599 hotline number clearly visiible so the public can report any RTP wrongdoing. The number of the local chief will also be on display. 

They did not hang about in my area out at 9 am this morning .

Re the above,no body and helmet cams on anyone , no 1599 on display, they did have one  CCTV  camera 

Quite a few unhappy looking people about ,getting fined for what ever the infringement was.  

[herfiehandbag]

They were out in my patch this morning. No signs, just a pick up and a bike parked in a lay by, half a dozen cones in the road, with a copper at each end waving those red batons to direct those selected into the lay by where a couple more waited to collect the cash. No signage, no video cameras, business as usual!

[overherebc]

On 3/31/2021 at 11:44 AM, MartinL said:

Can I phone the 1599 number to report police waving through vehicles that are obviously overloaded/dangerously loaded or unfit for the road? It'd be a "RTP wrongdoing" so I guess it'd be welcomed.

 

Can you afford the phone bill??

[bloodyholly]

Happy to see these new road checkpoints are not being applied in Phuket????

[Surelynot]

On 3/31/2021 at 5:49 AM, Wiggy said:

I assume these will be the type that never seem to work?

Nope...definitely working

[Kenneth White]

No matter what I am glad to see the Thai police are making an effort to curb the traffic fatalities here. Get the drunks and drugys off the roads, check the motor bikes that all lights are functioning and all passenger's have a helmet with no more than three passengers per bike, this I believe is most important to the safety of the motorbike riders. All vehicles must be road worthy and have had the vehicle checked at an inspection station when ten years has passed and a windshield sticker in place. 

[bt2017]

Everyday I see quite a few cars with the rear number plate removed obviously so that if they're involved in an accident they cannot be identified. They can hardly claim the plate has been stolen as most of them replace the screws hmm... very thoughtful thieves??

[samtab]

22 hours ago, bt2017 said:

Everyday I see quite a few cars with the rear number plate removed obviously so that if they're involved in an accident they cannot be identified. They can hardly claim the plate has been stolen as most of them replace the screws hmm... very thoughtful thieves??

 

 

nobody remove black color on plates but car wash. It happened to me on different cars, so get your facts right before speaking or you might look ridiculous.

 

 

[Pattaya Spotter]

I hope they will still accept on the spot "express" payment of traffic fines; these are a real time and money saver. 

[hanuman2543]

23 hours ago, samtab said:

 

 

nobody remove black color on plates but car wash. It happened to me on different cars, so get your facts right before speaking or you might look ridiculous.

 

 

Proper reading can go a long way.