Rich driver who deliberately blocked ambulance carrying patient gets fined a paltry 500 baht!

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

The rich and entitled BMW driver who played an extraordinary cat and mouse game with a desperate ambulance driver trying to pass with a sick patient in the back has been fined by the Muang Phuket police.

 

ASEAN NOW suggested last week when the story hit the internet via a dashcam video posted by Kusontham Phuket Rescue chief Anit Jenphop that 500 baht was all the police could fine the driver.

 

And so it proved under Article 76, "blocking traffic".

 

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Yet the video showed clearly that the BMW 320i driver had deliberately braked as they refused to get out of the way of the ambulance with its siren blaring and Anit pleading over the loudspeaker.

 

Some netizens thought this might constitute dangerous driving.

 

The driver was named only as "A" and said they were prepared to pay the fine, reported Daily News.

 

500 baht is little more than $15.

 

A BMW Series 3 sedan costs between 2.5M and 3.3 million baht in Thailand. That's up to $100,000. 

 

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[RandiRona]

Like everyone else predicted! What a surprise...NOT!!

Edited May 2, 2022 by RandiRona

[Mac Mickmanus]

He will get a 500 Baht fine and a Wai for doing that .

Finally, I can post that first on a thread

[petermik]

He should be named and shamed.....pratt.

[seajae]

once again we see the rich and well to do getting away being arrogant bastar&s and the police doing nothing about it, loss if licence a huge fine and even crushing the car should all be on the table for what this animal did, they risked someone elses life to get their jollies and show their arrogance. Typical Thailand really, these rich/well to do idiots can kill people and the police just lie down or should I say bend over for them, shows again how pathetic thai police really are  

[Dmaxdan]

Well this paltry "fine" certainly won't deter others from doing the same. The police once again showing they don't have to balls to punish someone for their crimes. 

[sanuk711]

19 minutes ago, petermik said:

He should be named and shamed.....pratt.

And a photo---with the obligatory pointing at him....................

[vinci]

500baht fine, that will be a lesson for him ????

[ezzra]

We can only wish that he of his loved be  the next ambulance that some  douche bag like him will block...

[worgeordie]

500 Baht fine  !, that's going to deter other @seholes  doing

the same , and getting their 15 mins of fame , changes to

the law needed ,peoples lives at risk .but it's going to take

an MP to die on the way to hospital ,blocked by a BMW ,Merc

or Fortuner driver .

regards worgeordie

 

 

[spidermike007]

The lack of a deterrent is the cause for so many ills that affect Thai society. Anemic and pathetically poor law enforcement is the primary culprit, along with a highly deficient justice system. Sluggards have an excuse for their horrible behavior. They can get away with it!

 

Shame on Thai society for not being able to do better than this. 

[Jerno]

So where is Pray-hoot on this?  Oh, busy buying planes and subs.  Ambulances, medical care, fairness to the common people?  Later.....too busy spending billions on the Military. 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Jerno
...

[klauskunkel]

I think the patient should be able to sue this creature at least for reckless endangerment, if there is something like that in Thailand.

[mahtin]

21 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

I think the patient should be able to sue this creature at least for reckless endangerment, if there is something like that in Thailand.

No shortage of reckless endangerment, but little one can do about it.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Like everyone else predicted! What a surprise...NOT!!

And won't be surprised when the next "entitled" driver does the same.

[Pmbkk]

 

One of the problems here is that the ambulances go with sirens - even if they go out for lunch, so it devalues their impact.

 

My missus is a doctor and she often says the same. They should only be used in emergencies.

 

She's very impressed the way in the UK that the cars always get out of the way immediately at the sound of a siren.

Edited May 2, 2022 by Pmbkk

[xtrnuno41]

In "my" country, police will act and bring in code 5.

Meaning you instantly loose your drivers licence and cant drive any further.

If you do so, then it becomes a crime and you are really in trouble.

Also if you get away and there is dashboard evidence, they will come and get you. 

You will have to go to court and be judged. Mostly those fines are  a 1000 euro or higher.

You MUST follow a special course, so you have to take days off from work.

You MUST pay for the course and they are high in costs, over 1000 euro's.

Then, depending on what judge ruled, you can do exam again for new licence.

Of course after the time, you were not allowed to drive anymore according to judge ruling.

If you do, then again you are in trouble and have to go to court and be judged as a criminal.

 

If you do this, like in this case an ambulance, the punishment will be more bigger.

If you do this and an accident happens, well then you have way more trouble.

No, it never happened to me, im not like that.

 

[GroveHillWanderer]

5 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Well this paltry "fine" certainly won't deter others from doing the same. The police once again showing they don't have to balls to punish someone for their crimes. 

It's not a question of the police not having the balls. As clearly pointed out in the article it's a case of them being constrained by the law from any stronger action.

 

The law needs to be changed.

Edited May 2, 2022 by GroveHillWanderer

[superal]

18 minutes ago, Pmbkk said:

 

One of the problems here is that the ambulances go with sirens - even if they go out for lunch, so it devalues their impact.

 

My missus is a doctor and she often says the same. They should only be used in emergencies.

 

She's very impressed the way in the UK that the cars always get out of the way immediately at the sound of a siren.

My thoughts exactly and not so far from where I live here in Thailand , these ambulances can be seen driving dangerously in towns with sirens blasting out and I have seen them arrive at hospitals without patients and joining up with their pals for lunch and so that is part of the reason that they do not command too much respect from some of the public . I can only quote the UK ambulance crews who are well trained medically wise and driving to high standards ,plus they are well respected by the UK public and all traffic pulls over to let them pass . 

The petty fine in this case demonstrates the almost lawless society with one law for us and one for them . Each case should be dealt with on merit or on the wealth of the guilty party . In this case a couple of more noughts on the end i.e. 50,000 baht fine or time in a prison of repute .

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Well this paltry "fine" certainly won't deter others from doing the same. The police once again showing they don't have to balls to punish someone for their crimes. 

You and countless others are pointing the finger in the wrong direction. It has nothing at all to do with the police. It has everything to do with the lawmakers who set the level of fine that can be imposed. The police do not make the laws.

[toho]

1 hour ago, Pmbkk said:

 

One of the problems here is that the ambulances go with sirens - even if they go out for lunch, so it devalues their impact.

 

My missus is a doctor and she often says the same. They should only be used in emergencies.

 

She's very impressed the way in the UK that the cars always get out of the way immediately at the sound of a siren.

Like in every country with civilised, empathetic and law-abiding people.

The way this is handled here in Thailand shows a lack of respect for fellow human beings. The driver should be prosecuted, get a big fine, lose his license for at least one year and be an assistant in an ambulance at least for 100 hours.

[Will B Good]

Someone should slip a sticker on to his rear bumper......something along the lines of "I hate the ******* family".

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

It's not a question of the police not having the balls. As clearly pointed out in the article it's a case of them being constrained by the law from any stronger action.

 

The law needs to be changed.

Other charges could have been brought, dangerous/reckless driving/driving without due care and attention, putting others at  risk and given a court appearance.

[brianthainess]

500 baht fine how Dare They ! don't they know who he is.

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Other charges could have been brought, dangerous/reckless driving/driving without due care and attention, putting others at  risk and given a court appearance.

That sounds like an awful lot of work.

[Patanawet]

2 hours ago, Pmbkk said:

 

She's very impressed the way in the UK that the cars always get out of the way immediately at the sound of a siren.

And incidentally stop for pedestrians on zebra crossings.

[Grusa]

4 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I think the patient should be able to sue this creature at least for reckless endangerment, if there is something like that in Thailand.

If I remember correctly (and I am sure I will be corrected if not!!!) the patient died. In my view a manslaughter charge is appropriate, " if there is something like that in Thailand."

[brianthainess]

13 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

And incidentally stop for pedestrians on zebra crossings.

And they have signs you can see from a distance, here no signs as should be,

 

[RandiRona]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

the video showed clearly that the BMW 320i driver had deliberately braked as they refused to get out of the way of the ambulance with its siren blaring

What if had behaved this way in front of any Royal or Minister cavalcade? Would courts have done the same?

I think we all know the answer.

[blackshadow]

8 hours ago, petermik said:

He should be named and shamed.....pratt.

NO car should be crushed in front of his eyes