D-Day today for points system: Taxis get just 30 points for DUI, 20 for not using meter or refusing fares

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Full details have emerged for the Department of Land Transport's new demerit system that kicks off today for all taxis, tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, trucks and public buses and coaches. 

 

Each driver will get 100 points starting today and then have 10,20 or 30 points subtracted depending on the seriousness of the offence. 

 

This is after fines are levied.

 

Once down to zero points, licences can be suspended and after multiple times even removed. 

 

But in what has been described as absurd leniency drivers can easily top up their points by passing just 2 or 4 hours of free "training" available nationwide.

 

ASEAN NOW has delved deeper into the points system to reveal the full extent of this leniency.

 

This despite Daily News quoting the head of the DLT, Jirut Wisanjit, as saying today marks the start of a new era in public transport safety and efficiency in Thailand. 

 

Daily News pointed out that the DLT system is separate from the demerit system operated by the Royal Thai Police. This one is for public transport vehicles and truckers.

 

So things like red lights and going the wrong way are not specifically mentioned. 

 

Among the points penalties for taxis, tuk-tuk and motorcycle drivers are:

 

10 pts: Not displaying driver ID, using an unregistered vehicle, using a private motorcycle unregistered for public service, annoying passengers.

 

20 pts: Not using the meter, refusing passengers, not taking passengers to the place agreed or abandoning them, impoliteness, taking intoxicating substances while driving, using out of date vehicles.

 

30 pts: Displaying obscene behavior, negligent and dangerous driving, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, driving on an expired, suspended or confiscated licence, or OVERCHARGING. 

 

The points system for buses and trucks is different but includes the following:

 

10 pts for driving over the limit up to 100 kmph

 

20pts for 101-110 kmph

 

and 

 

30 points for going faster than 110 kmph. 

 

Bus drivers also get 20 points for overloading their vehicles with too many passengers.

 

It was unclear as to whether some of the points deducted applied to all drivers of public vehicles, such as the DUI deductions, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

What was clear was the leniency.

 

Jirut told Daily News that drivers would lose their licence for just 90 days if they went down to zero points.

 

Doing that again within a three year period meant a 180 day suspension. 

 

BUT....

 

If drivers wanted to top up their points all they needed to get 50 points extra was pass a couple of hours of training.

 

They could get ALL their points back by passing 4 hours.

 

And they would have THREE stabs at getting it right in a week. 

 

ASEAN NOW notes that it appears that drivers could drive drunk several times and still keep their licences. 

 

And that is if they are caught each time. 

 

Taxi drivers reported for annoying passengers, not using the meter and refusing fares could be reported FIVE times before anything is done - even then a spot of "training" would top up their points.

 

They could fleece passengers four times before they went over the 100 point ceiling. 

 

All points are given after fines are levied for each offence. 

 

Many people online commenting about the issue have said it is time to throw the book at bad taxi drivers, "wins" (motorcyle taxis) and tuk-tuk drivers as well as speeding bus drivers. 

 

But these rules despite the DLT rhetoric that it is the start of a new era look more like "same old, same old", suggests ASEAN NOW. 

 

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[Thaiwrath]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS,

In a normal country that would be an automatic ban and loss of licence, but T.I.T. !

[CelticBhoy]

"Each driver will get 100 points starting today and then have 10,20 or 30 points subtracted depending on the seriousness of the offence."

 

And if they eat in class, or speak when the teacher is speaking, then it's detention straight away.

 

Come on Thailand. Grow up.  

[worgeordie]

It just shows the powers that be ,are not serious about improving

drivers habits and cutting the carnage that is happening everyday

on Thai roads, you can have 3 DUI's and still don't loose your license,

that is not a deterrent for anyone , 

regards worgeordie

[lujanit]

Who is going to police these absurd laws.  Not the RTP for sure.  The DLT doesn't have a policing unit to my knowledge.

[fangless]

And if they don't have a licence in the first place?

[MadMuhammad]

11 minutes ago, fangless said:

And if they don't have a licence in the first place?

And there lies the biggest conundrum 

[Crusader]

Did in fact ask a Thai policeman once why he was not stopping the motorcyles going past three-up and helmetless...his reply was, "not my job today".

[BusyB]

It's like they really just do not care or have absolutely no grasp of how bad things really are. And even worse, how much better they could be for everyone involved - especially the innocent victims.

[henry213]

1 hour ago, fangless said:

And if they don't have a licence in the first place?

Well as most don't then your ok no points taken and your on your merry way

[JonnyF]

4 DUI's before you get suspended?

 

Does this apply to all drivers, or just the ones that we entrust to drive the public around all day?

[BusyB]

15 minutes ago, Crusader said:

Did in fact ask a Thai policeman once why he was not stopping the motorcyles going past three-up and helmetless...his reply was, "not my job today".

I once had a 'policeman' in Pran Buri city centre tell me it was OK to ride a motorbike without a helmet, I said it's not, and argued.  He said 'no-one cares', I said 'I care' and walked instead.

[henry213]

You can only laugh at possibly the dumbest country on the planet ????????????????

[klauskunkel]

Drunk Driver: "Gonna top me up my points today, hic. Watch the video, catch me some zzz's, hic."

[Andrew65]

They can bring in all the laws they want, but law enforcement is their big problem.
As "The Economist" would say, they have a 'weak rule of law'.

[Mark17AA]

And whom will enforce it?

 

Or will it be another income stream for certain BIB.

[Maejo Man]

Any comment on this inane system would be superfluous ????

[Guderian]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

30 pts: Displaying obscene behavior

Truly, the mind boggles...

[vandeventer]

3 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

In a normal country that would be an automatic ban and loss of licence, but T.I.T. !

Soon all the roads will be empty! Great for the tourist!

[BostonRob2]

2 hours ago, fangless said:

And if they don't have a licence in the first place?

They have to have a licence to be in the points system.

[BostonRob2]

35 minutes ago, Mark17AA said:

And whom will enforce it?

 

Or will it be another income stream for certain BIB.

Its enforced by the DLT, nothing to do with the police. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

If drivers wanted to top up their points all they needed to get 50 points extra was pass a couple of hours of training.

 

They could get ALL their points back by passing 4 hours.

Just goes to show how NOT serious they are about cleaning up the roads.

[sead]

Finally the good coops can get som brown enveloped again..i can see in the future, where i got 20 points left and i get caught driving 98 on a 90 road and then suddenly get the option to either loose my drivers license or pay 3000bht

[kuzmabruk]

3 hours ago, CelticBhoy said:

"Each driver will get 100 points starting today and then have 10,20 or 30 points subtracted depending on the seriousness of the offence."

 

And if they eat in class, or speak when the teacher is speaking, then it's detention straight away.

 

Come on Thailand. Grow up.  

Thailand is a never ending Monty Python show.  That is why I love it here and that is why I live here.  

[ukrules]

If enforced there's going to be a taxi crisis within a month or two anyway, all of them will be suspended for one reason or another.

[SAFETY FIRST]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

10pts: annoying passengers.

Geeze, I know a few taxi drivers who would lose their license in 1 day 

Annoying all his 10 fares 

[tomacht8]

20 pts:  taking intoxicating substances while driving.

30 pts: driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

 

Where is the difference?

 

[terryofcrete]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Once down to zero points, licences can be suspended and after multiple times even removed. 

How severe is that ! ..... plenty of room for negotiation there...negotiation ...lol ! 

[welshguy]

Just when I think Thailand , cant get any more ridiculous.

 

Seriously. 4!!!!!!!!!!! time you can get done for drink driving before you lose your license? (just one of the many points topping up procedures!)... Amazing Thailand?  No,  more like pathetic, ridiculous, laughing stock (of the modern world) Thailand.

 

The mind boggles. it really does, who in the name of all that's holy comes up with these ridiculous suggestions/plans/laws,   Truly incredible.

 

 

[SuwadeeS]

Absolutly useless.

If the government really interested in make some changes,

then they should follow the German or Swiss model. 

 

What do you think, why they have only few traffic fatalities?

Because in Germany and Switzerland they have a strict traffic

law enforcement.

Very easy to get the driving license suspended.

 

In Thailand... just 200 or 500 Baht tea money.