Checks for airport visitors

Checkpoints will screen visitors to Suvarnabhumi airport through five road access points to boost security and stop illegal taxi services. Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri said yesterday he wanted checkpoints that would look like toll gates but, instead of tolls, they would collect data on visitors and their vehicles via scanners. Visitors will be allowed to park their vehicles in the airport compound only for a few hours, except air passengers who leave their vehicles overnight to take flights. Suvarnabhumi airport was open to any visitors as they can drive into the compound through as many as five access points: the Bangkok-Chon Buri motorway, Lat Krabang road, Rom Klao road, the Bang Na-Trat highway and the elevated road above the highway.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/280708_News/28Jul2008_news014.php

I guess even more additional time will now be needed for trips to the airport.

Cynic in me thinks that the "non-collecting tollbooths" will somehow end up costing money in some form.

Last time I went to the Airport every car entering was given a plastic Tag – presumably with the intention that the driver would keep it on his person after he parked the car and hand it back on exit to prove it was his vehicle.

Unfortunately the Tag is so large it will not fit conveniently in a pocket so I am pretty sure most drivers simply leave it in the vehicle – thus defeating the whole object of the exercise.

Oh, and they have also closed most of the entry / exit rotating doors on the arrivals level, and everyone is forced to use Doors 1 to 3, resulting in the same crowded chaos as there was at Don Muang with arriving passengers obliged to walk the length of the airport and, as usual, stop with their baggage trolly in the middle of the small exit channel to be greeted by waiting friends and relatives, blocking others from getting out.

Another Thai “security measure” I guess.

Patrick

I assumed it was to keep the unoficial taxi touts as far away as possible from the arriving passengers and not steal business from the official taxi touts in yellow.

I had no trouble finding my ride and getting out.

Thailand, the Hub of security