Latest crackdown on illegal street racing sees nearly 20,000 bikes seized - law changes on way

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The policeman in charge of ridding Thailand of the perennial problem of street racing motorcyclists reported the latest arrests and confiscations yesterday, reported Thai Rath.

 

Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, also a deputy commander of the RTP, has been tasked by his chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk to end the scourge of racing on Thailand's roads.

 

The orders came from the top with PM Prayuth Chan-ocha determined to stamp out racing as the curfew powers came to an end and the country began opening up. 

 

Racing on the highways was seen as not just being dangerous for other road users and annoying in terms of noise pollution for residents but also as a chance for Covid-19 to spread.

 

The latest crackdown from November 10th to 20th saw 19,046 motorcycles confiscated and 118 cars seized nationwide.

 

More than 2,500 parents were prosecuted for letting underage children race.

 

182 shops were prosecuted with 26,670 shops were part of a PR and warning drive about adapting bikes.

 

Thirteen admin were prosecuted for advertising races.

 

More than 50,000 tickets for driving misdemeanors were handed out.

 

Now comes the next stage in the battle against road racing.

 

Thai Rath reported that moves are afoot to change the law so that prosecution could be made well ahead of racing events at the stage when races are being planned. 

 

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[keith101]

They will just go out and steal more bikes and modify them to race again .

[OneMoreFarang]

Does anybody have a statistic about how many racing cars were confiscated from the owners in the last years? Or do all those luxury car drivers only use them to stay in the traffic jam?

And how about all those drivers who cause accidents because the play with their phones while they are supposed to concentrate on the road?

 

I understand that bikes are a problem. But they are not the only problem. The difference seems to be that the relative cheap bikes and the not HiSo owners are an easy target for the police.

[bdenner]

The BiB are more than welcome to get out here into our Tambon and do their thing, but alas, it will not happen.

 

"I'm not arresting my son!"

[asiam110]

I have the same attitude to street racing as I do to london gang-on-gang knife crime.. As long as they don't put innocent people at risk, i.e. they do at night somewhere away from traffic flows, then lets them kill themselves and each other through their own willful stupidity.. natural selection at it's finest..

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Does anybody have a statistic about how many racing cars were confiscated from the owners in the last years? Or do all those luxury car drivers only use them to stay in the traffic jam?

And how about all those drivers who cause accidents because the play with their phones while they are supposed to concentrate on the road?

 

I understand that bikes are a problem. But they are not the only problem. The difference seems to be that the relative cheap bikes and the not HiSo owners are an easy target for the police.

No, bikes are not the only problem, but it is one they are targetting and seeking to stiffen the law about. The police are dealing with the problem of bike racing, and there are still some who find a reason to complain.

[OneMoreFarang]

20 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

No, bikes are not the only problem, but it is one they are targetting and seeking to stiffen the law about. The police are dealing with the problem of bike racing, and there are still some who find a reason to complain.

The police are doing something so that they can say they do something. And they ignore a lot of other problems because it might be more difficult for them to tell i.e. that Mercedes driver that she shouldn't play with facebook while driving.

[aussiexpat]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Does anybody have a statistic about how many racing cars were confiscated from the owners in the last years? Or do all those luxury car drivers only use them to stay in the traffic jam?

And how about all those drivers who cause accidents because the play with their phones while they are supposed to concentrate on the road?

 

I understand that bikes are a problem. But they are not the only problem. The difference seems to be that the relative cheap bikes and the not HiSo owners are an easy target for the police.

OP says Cars are being done as well. 

 

"The latest crackdown from November 10th to 20th saw 19,046 motorcycles confiscated and 118 cars seized nationwide."

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by aussiexpat

[richard_smith237]

22 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

45 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

No, bikes are not the only problem, but it is one they are targetting and seeking to stiffen the law about. The police are dealing with the problem of bike racing, and there are still some who find a reason to complain.

The police are doing something so that they can say they do something. And they ignore a lot of other problems because it might be more difficult for them to tell i.e. that Mercedes driver that she shouldn't play with facebook while driving.

You are both correct....   Something needs to be done, its a good thing that something is being done. 

But, they BiB are doing something only because of a ‘drive from above’ not because its their job. 

 

This crack down will be over, and the kids will just go on to racing bikes again, perhaps we will see bike theft increase now that more bikes have been confiscated. 

 

Additionally, this is a ’soft target’ - a little bit of focused leg work and those without connections can be rounded up.. meanwhile Ning is free to potter about in her Merc C180 while playing candy-crush and is ignored, the BiB are just sick of pulling people over and them being shoved onto a phone call with Nings Gik who then informs them he’s a military general and to leave the girl alone !!!.... 

 

The reality is, a lot of those riding around in a car may have a connection who ultimately gets called and just makes extra hassle for the BiB... thus targeting the simple work is simple work, but can they be bothered... only when there is a crack down !!!

 

Crack down on emissions ?... it won’t work. Its always the business trucks and busses... these guys are connected. Pull over a company pickup truck, bus or lorry - the policeman is soon called by someone with a ‘connection’... its just the way it is.... 

 

.... Lawlessness is ignored, the easily targeted targeted easily when it suits them. 

 

Its good that something is being done, but lets not pretend its because the police want to do their jobs... 

 

 

 

 

 

[snowgard]

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Does anybody have a statistic about how many racing cars were confiscated from the owners in the last years? Or do all those luxury car drivers only use them to stay in the traffic jam?

And how about all those drivers who cause accidents because the play with their phones while they are supposed to concentrate on the road?

 

I understand that bikes are a problem. But they are not the only problem. The difference seems to be that the relative cheap bikes and the not HiSo owners are an easy target for the police.

They're talking about nightly street races what are annoying the people in the near who can't sleep!!!
Sometimes there are somehundred racers and spectators and all on public roads with normal traffic.
Nothing to do with luxury cars & people play on their phones.

If you live in the near of of a racing point you will know what they're talking about.

The most younger drivers of luxury cars use it to catch girls & not for racing.

Edited November 23, 2021 by snowgard

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, snowgard said:

They're talking about nightly street races what are annoying the people in the near who can't sleep!!!
Sometimes there are somehundred racers and spectators and all on public roads with normal traffic.
Nothing to do with luxury cars & people play on their phones.

If you live in the near of of a racing point you will know what they're talking about.

The most younger drivers of luxury cars use it to catch girls & not for racing.

I live in Sukhumvit I and see every day many annoying drivers who try to drive their cars while they play with their phones. And the police does nothing! I wonder how more motorcycle riders get killed from racing or because some smart phone playing drivers can't be bothered to watch the street and traffic.

[Deli]

2 hours ago, snowgard said:

They're talking about nightly street races what are annoying the people in the near who can't sleep!!!
Sometimes there are somehundred racers and spectators and all on public roads with normal traffic.
Nothing to do with luxury cars & people play on their phones.

If you live in the near of of a racing point you will know what they're talking about.

The most younger drivers of luxury cars use it to catch girls & not for racing.

Obviously there Willys are too small then ?

[RobU]

Excellent news

[sniggie]

How many bikes make one Ferrari?

[snowgard]

14 hours ago, Deli said:

Obviously there Willys are too small then ?

No, they are just not so handsome like you, but the luxury car enchants the girls and makes up for it.
????

[NoshowJones]

Is this the unelected soldier posing as a PM doing something right for a change? What is going to happen to all the confiscated motorbikes? They should auction them off and use the money to help those who are unemployed because of this Cvirus.

[Sticky Rice Balls]

dangit  what am i supposed to do now!!!!?????  im too fast n too furious--at least is what my GF said last night! ????

[DowntownAl]

When's the auction? Could be some great deals