Anyone know the reason for the police check points that have been thrown up around the island the past couple days? They are on the main roads at the entrance to each main town...not  stopped yet and the police seem mainly interested in playing with their phones. 

Edited April 11, 20215 yr by Pattaya Spotter

Any different from the xxx checkpoints nationwide?

Songkran?

The yearly ritual.

Roadside tent, sitting and wait for the time to go by.

 

52 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Any different from the xxx checkpoints nationwide?

Songkran?

The yearly ritual.

Roadside tent, sitting and wait for the time to go by.

 

They all sprang up rather suddenly, along with the virus case spike, so I was wondering if there was any connection, e.g., if there were any inter-island travel restrictions I wasn't aware of. But you are probably right, probably a part of a sober driving zero road deaths over Songkran campaign. 

Believe there was something about return to check points nation wide after them being suspended for many months.  

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Believe there was something about return to check points nation wide after them being suspended for many months.  

Check points for what? Are there official inter-provincial travel restrictions in place...if so, why are there different checkpoints all around Phuket? My understanding is Phuket is still open to domestic tourists without any quarantine. If it wasn't, checkpoints at the Sarasin Bridge crossing and at the airport would be the place for them. I think they must be part of the islands Songkran driving sobriety campaign.

7 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Check points for what? Are there official inter-provincial travel restrictions in place...if so, why are there different checkpoints all around Phuket? My understanding is Phuket is still open to domestic tourists without any quarantine. If it wasn't, checkpoints at the Sarasin Bridge crossing and at the airport would be the place for them. I think they must be part of the islands Songkran driving sobriety campaign.

 

The annual budget for each single police station never covers it's full cost.

Every now and again, they will hold a "fund-raising" event at the side of the road so that they can collect money for copy paper, staples, replace the burnt out coffee machine and pay other bills.

Either that, or some important people are in town.

Just another waste of time exercise, nothing to worry about, road death rates will continue to climb, and of course Covid will spread like a wildfire, nothing to see here, move along and keep smiling in the land of smiles, will we take shelter under the tents and play with our mobiles, our citizens are used to our presence this way, did you forget, this is Thailand, Cop Koon Krup.

Edited April 11, 20215 yr by 4MyEgo

27 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Check points for what? Are there official inter-provincial travel restrictions in place...if so, why are there different checkpoints all around Phuket? My understanding is Phuket is still open to domestic tourists without any quarantine. If it wasn't, checkpoints at the Sarasin Bridge crossing and at the airport would be the place for them. I think they must be part of the islands Songkran driving sobriety campaign.

Quote

 

Police road checkpoints to return nationwide
THAILAND: Police checkpoints will be back on roads nationwide from tomorrow (Apr 1), with an emphasis on transparency and public scrutiny, Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, deputy national police chief, said.

policeSafetycrime

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/police-road-checkpoints-to-return-nationwide-79519.php

26 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

https://www.thephuketnews.com/police-road-checkpoints-to-return-nationwide-79519.php

Well it was a very hot day today and all I saw were various uniformed personnel sitting under very large tents looking at their phones (in Patong, Karon, and Rawai). 

14 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

all I saw were various uniformed personnel sitting under very large tents

Two typical indicators for Songkran checkpoint.

Large roadside tent.

Various uniforms, not only police but emergency medical (phone 1669), civil service helpers (don't know what they are called). Sometimes ambulance car stationed.

23 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Two typical indicators for Songkran checkpoint.

Large roadside tent.

Various uniforms, not only police but emergency medical (phone 1669), civil service helpers (don't know what they are called). Sometimes ambulance car stationed.

Yes, there were definitely personnel from different agencies (different uniforms) and some looked like the rescue jockeys. They also had cones out and narrowed down the roads to one lane of traffic.

6 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Anyone know the reason for the police check points that have been thrown up around the island the past couple days?

What island?

Pattaya is not an island.

Went about four times today in front of the check point beetween Lotus and Makro in Rawai. Never saw one of the 20 people there moving away from their seats. Same as last year.

Edited April 11, 20215 yr by Chalong circle

Yesterday, on a half hour trip, I passed 10 village checkpoints, all fully manned, all fully asleep. Cones placed haphazardly, actually causing obstruction to traffic. Our village has cones now to filter traffic down to a single lane, causing delays. 

Years ago in the USA, every major holiday saw civic organizations and local gub'ments setting up comfort stations along the busy roads.  The goal was to give people on opportunity to stop, stretch their legs, take a rest, pee, and get some free coffee.  Since they were on major highways, there was usually a police presence to insure security (and probably look for drunk drivers).

 

I don't have a clue what's happening in Phuket, but something like that would be a welcome activity during Songkran.  I wouldn't expect them to be too energetic, as opposed to playing on their phones.  In my years past, they'd just sit behind a table and chat with each other between visitors.

 

Edited April 11, 20215 yr by impulse

Same every year at Songkran and usually outside the orbortor at the junction in Rawai 

over the years i have never seen any activity at the check points maned by people siting there during the day
Their active at night

I bought a bottle of Amaretto at Friendship around noon, then started off to see my friends. I got stopped on 3rd road where Exzite used to be. When I lifted my motorbike seat to get my papers, the BiB started to salivate, seeing the bottle. I showed him how the seal was still intact, handed him the receipt for it, and it took the wind out of his sail.

what do you expect, they are doing there job(ha-ha)as expected!!

Every year the same, just the usual pointless Songkran exercise, where they setup checkpoints without checking anyone.

I was stopped yesterday and asked to put on my mask politely. Then on I went. 

2 hours ago, notasmartassknowitallfarag said:

I was stopped yesterday and asked to put on my mask politely. Then on I went. 

You were the only person in your car right ????????????

SONGKRAN that’s the reason

Drunk Driving and Temp checks 

Do you not read the newspapers, Thaivisa, Facebook etc Best to start to keep with the times

20 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Well it was a very hot day today and all I saw were various uniformed personnel sitting under very large tents looking at their phones (in Patong, Karon, and Rawai). 

Today they where there facing makro and stopping people, couple of cars and bikes, when I was coming back around 12-15 pm they had gone

Most are looking for expired road tax stickers. Someone's gotta pay those bills.

16 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

You were the only person in your car right ????????????

That happened to us in Patong a couple of weeks ago when they stopped us, I was with my wife and they told us to wear a mask in the car 

On 4/11/2021 at 9:15 PM, foreverlomsak said:

What island?

Pattaya is not an island.

No, but it should be.....................

21 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

No, but it should be.....................

Funny you should show that picture, my friend referred to his ASQ in Pattaya as "Alcatraz without the sea view".