Public Penalty Act: no imprisonment for minor offences, fines only

[snoop1130]

 

Police across Thailand today will begin implementing the Public Penalty Act, which allows for fines instead of criminal punishments.

 

The new mandate, signed by the National Police Chief, ensures that individuals won’t face imprisonment or detention in lieu of fines and that their offences will not be recorded in their criminal history. This move took effect today at the National Police Office, where Torsak Sukwimol, the police chief, signed off on a written order dated yesterday, October 24.

 

The Public Penalty Act, enacted in 2023, came into force on June 22, 2023. It was established that laws under Schedule 1 and Schedule 3 of the Act would be implemented from today, October 25 onward. Thus, to ensure the smooth and comprehensive implementation of the law, the police force is directed to follow the order of the modus operandi under the Public Penalty Act, 2023. The order can be downloaded using the QR code provided at the end of this document, reported KhaoSod.

 

The Public Penalty Act is a law that determines appropriate penalties or punishments in line with the severity of the offence.

 

It aims to prevent individuals from facing undue punishment. The Act, which came into force in 2023, replaces criminal and administrative fines with “public penalties”—monetary fines payable to the state.

 

By Nattapong Westwood

Caption: Picture courtesy of Thairath

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-25

 

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[MartinBangkok]

As we all know, the men in brown's racket of extorting people by jailing them without support in the law, is an integral part of their fabric. This hot air announcement is worth zilch.

[Funkymover]

fines , or brown envelopes ?

[HappyExpat57]

Gawd, they're publicly legalizing extortion!

[IndomitableSpirit]

Cha-ching...cha-ching...chaaaa-chingg! 🤑 🤑 🤑

[Martyjustice]

So what is the fine for murder?

[spidermike007]

Any sort of reform with regard to the RTP is a good thing, much change is needed, much improvement is needed, to reign these guys in, on their lifelong pursuit of the Golden calf. So hopefully this is just one tiny little baby step. 

 

Or it could just be a lot of hot air. 

[kwilco]

does this man rich people will be happy?

[wombat]

So nothing changes just rearranges...

SNAFU.

[jacko45k]

46 minutes ago, Martyjustice said:

So what is the fine for murder?

Probably a spell in hospital if you can afford it!

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Funkymover said:

fines , or brown envelopes ?

Road side tips just increased, we won't send you to court, we won't record your misdemeanors, but you can pay us to stay at large?

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Gawd, they're publicly legalizing extortion!

That's hit the nail on the head.. police can now decide the appropriate size of the fine... JEEZZZZZ

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Need details here - what exact offences would have their punishment replaced from arrest to a fine??

[HappyExpat57]

Just now, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Need details here - what exact offences would have their punishment replaced from arrest to a fine??

I imagine that's up to the professional discretion of the arresting officer.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

I imagine that's up to the professional discretion of the arresting officer.

So basically legalizing what's already happening in many cases?🤣

[HappyExpat57]

1 minute ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

So basically legalizing what's already happening in many cases?🤣

This is MY opinion, nothing to really back it up, but I think the BiB were getting sick of having videos taken when they were extorting cash on the roads and being called out for it. This now makes it OK.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, HappyExpat57 said:

This is MY opinion, nothing to really back it up, but I think the BiB were getting sick of having videos taken when they were extorting cash on the roads and being called out for it. This now makes it OK.

Everyone seems to be focusing on traffic offences and those police, I thought this was more about non-traffic related matters. I am still of the impression if I get pulled over for a traffic offence, I should NOT pay the officer, but would need to go pay at the police station.

[rwill]

This link explains it much better:  Disciplinary fine in Thailand

[Henk Langeweg]

Good idea if you have the money ...

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, Martyjustice said:

So what is the fine for murder?

 

Probably about a million baht and a quick wai.

[Big Bert]

Expect a smooth transition from the brow envelope act.

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Any sort of reform with regard to the RTP is a good thing, much change is needed, much improvement is needed, to reign these guys in, on their lifelong pursuit of the Golden calf. So hopefully this is just one tiny little baby step. 

 

Or it could just be a lot of hot air. 

Don't be so impatient. Only in the last couple of weeks have they not allowed longer hair and Hi-viz jackets? This is police reform.😉

[observer90210]

But was this racket rule not already in practice for ages by the BiB's on DUI roadblocks ? 😁

[nobodysfriend]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

ensures that individuals won’t face imprisonment or detention in lieu of fines and that their offences will not be recorded in their criminal history.

That is a good thing .

Everybody should be happy about this .

If , ever , you've committed a misdemeanor or felony , you'd be happy to just pay and stay out of the jailhouse with no criminal records , I guess ... ?

 

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Public Penalty Act is a law that determines appropriate penalties or punishments in line with the severity of the offence.

 The severity of the offense ... that means , fines only for minor offenses , jail time for more severe ...?

Edited October 26, 2023 by nobodysfriend

[stoner]

another step in the right direction...for those in power. 

[scottiejohn]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

their offences will not be recorded........

If the offence is not recorded then neither will the fine I assume!

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I imagine that's up to the professional discretion of the arresting officer.

I like it, You used professional, and officer in the same sentence......

[fredwiggy]

Makes complete sense if it's regarding cases that will go to court. A person shoplifting, having one joint in possession or spitting on the street (examples) would be fined and not jailed, leaving more room in jails for those arrested for harder crimes. Why waste taxpayers money incarcerating some when they can pay a fine and (maybe) learn a lesson? People in the US went to jail for possession of weed, and now it's legal in many states, and eventually will be in all. Money talks, and ignorance doesn't last forever.

[RichardColeman]

13 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Makes complete sense if it's regarding cases that will go to court. A person shoplifting,

Considering some US cities you do not get arrested for less than $1,000 (UK I think £200) I'd say chuck ALL thieves in the clink for a week for every $100/£80 they steal - if they know that the penalty is basically nothing , they'll carry on doing it all day ! First time , sure, fine them - then if they have not learned, lock them up until they do

[WildBillHiccup]

Ker - Ching!!!