No Tickets For First-Time Minor Traffic Violators: Thailand

[webfact]

No tickets for first-time minor traffic violators

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Under a change in police rules for traffic checkpoints, tickets will not be issued to motorists in their first violation of non-serious offences.

Instead, they will be given written warnings that will subject them to maximum fines the next time, a Bangkok deputy police chief said yesterday.

Police checkpoints must not be erected in the same locations or during daytime hours, said Pol Maj-General Worrasak Nopsitthiphorn, who is in charge of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's traffic affairs.

There will also be no more "ambushes", in which police set up checkpoints in blind spots and surprise motorists, Worrasak said.

Under new procedures, officers will be equipped with small video cameras, possibly in the form of a pen attached to their shirt pocket or in a shirt button, to record their traffic stops.

The videos would then be used as court evidence in cases where traffic-law violators plead innocent and seek trial instead of pleading guilty and paying the fine.

The deputy chief said that the operation of the recording devices will be supervised at checkpoints by the commanding officer in an aim to prevent a repeat of incidents, like volunteer traffic police who are rude or beat motorists, which have been widely reported in the media.

Checkpoints for crime suppression and traffic enforcement could also be combined, and can be set up from 9pm.

Motorists will be let off with verbal warnings for driving newly purchased vehicles with red license plates, which are not allowed on roads after dark. Enforcement of the red-plate law is being relaxed because the Land Transport Department is having problems supplying new plates, Worrasak said.

Twelve serious traffic offences will result in immediate fines: racing, speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunken driving, driving the wrong way on one-way streets, not wearing safety helmets, double parking, no license plates, excessively black fumes, parking violations, parking on sidewalks, and driving or riding on sidewalks.

-- The Nation 2012-08-16

[Thai at Heart]

Is this an apparent outbreak in common sense?

Especially the red plate law. Can't drive outside your locality after dark coz they can't make and distribute plates properly. Is like something from middle England.

[jerrysteve]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

[ratcatcher]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

That's assuming they have insurance.

[culicine]

Can you imagine the paperwork involved in recording all offences (first warnings) onto some database, and then having that database handy at all times at street level to catch second offenders... how is this going to work? At least you won't have to pay the bribe for the first offence, as you can't be fined anyway:)

[KireB]

How much would you have to pay the cops to get your second offence booked as a minor first offence? Shall we turn off the 'highly advanced' pen camera officer?

Just think about the size and maintenance of the needed database to separate first from second offenders! Very ingenious plan indeed!

[Mosha]

Another tea money opportunity.

[Thai at Heart]

Actually look at the list of offences that still get a ticket. Amy minor or major ones missing?

[JeremyBowskill]

Nothing for farang to see here, move along and keep yer bribe money handy!

[Tywais]

Have to admit, had to glance down at the bottom of the OP to see if it was from notthenation.

[draftvader]

I noticed that "Jit Sai" is not amongst them. I'm off out to ride in the right hand lane whilst waving at policemen.

The concept of this "first time offender" system is a world class demonstration of mouth opening, noises emanating, brain remaining firmly in neutral and nothing actually changing. I would suggest that, if they actually issue these cameras, all that is going to happen is www.thaicopporn.... will become a major player in the global porn industry.

[Kilgore Trout]

Is this an apparent outbreak in common sense?

Especially the red plate law. Can't drive outside your locality after dark coz they can't make and distribute plates properly. Is like something from middle England.

No kidding; its an obvious ploy to appease the rich who have probably been complaining about the BIB's recent vociferous activity on Suk. road lately.

So only people with a red license plate (rich enough to buy a new car) will be exempted, not those with a clean driving record (not like they have any way to check that at the checkpoint)

Ridiculous

[Thrilla]

I've always thought of the Thai Government and it's agencies, Police etc as a clown car...

tell me I'm wrong

[SuneeTH]

First time is always the best.

After than it is just another routine.

Edited August 16, 2012 by SuneeTH

[chiang mai]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

I don't know that there's any linkage between the police ticketing "system" and the insurance companies, I've renewed my insurance many many times and this has never been an issue. Any time I get a ticket it's usually a case of pay the officer a couple of hundred baht and the ticket then goes away. On the odd occaision when I've not been able to do that and I've had to pay at a police station, there's no evidence to suggest the ticket details were ever recorded anywhere.

[yourauntbob]

So after people realize they can lie and say its their first offense, they will start breaking the law more blatantly and the new rules will become counter productive. Another case of good intentions but poor thinking.

[Thai at Heart]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

I don't know that they even check if the individual has a valid license.

[chiang mai]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

I don't know that they even check if the individual has a valid license.

No they don't, not at the time of application for insurance, but certainly if and when you have an accident the first thing they want to see is the license else the insurance is void. So, you can buy insurance without a license but you can't claim against it without one.

[sunshine51]

No tickets for first-time minor traffic violators

Just whip out that EZBribe card and yer on yer way!

Edited August 16, 2012 by sunshine51

[zakk9]

Do they have a system for this? A central database with all tickets that the police has access to at the checkpoints?

[chiang mai]

Do they have a system for this? A central database with all tickets that the police has access to at the checkpoints?

Post 15 clarifies.

[JanKlaasen]

And how they gonna figure out if this is a first time offence or not?They have a database at the checkpoints nowadays?

[JanKlaasen]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

I don't know that there's any linkage between the police ticketing "system" and the insurance companies, I've renewed my insurance many many times and this has never been an issue. Any time I get a ticket it's usually a case of pay the officer a couple of hundred baht and the ticket then goes away. On the odd occaision when I've not been able to do that and I've had to pay at a police station, there's no evidence to suggest the ticket details were ever recorded anywhere.

If they don't hold on to your driving license they have no clue if the ticket is ever paid or not..............................and I can know it

[Ron19]

An excerpt from post #1 : " Twelve serious traffic offences will result in immediate fines: racing, speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunken driving, driving the wrong way on one-way streets, not wearing safety helmets, double parking, no license plates, excessively black fumes, parking violations, parking on sidewalks, and driving or riding on sidewalks ".

They would have to quadruple the police force to have any effect on the occurence of these offences.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Ron19

[animatic]

Tea money will be collected in the usual manner one way or another.

[Misterwhisper]

And yet another well thought-out plan that surely will be a smashing success. By the way: how does that traffic cop stopping you on the street determine whether the 'minor traffic violation' you allegedly committed is in fact your very first offence (thus, he's letting you off the hook) or your 985th one? Are all traffic cops from now on directly linked to a huge database with whose help they can check in an instant whether you're a first-time or repeat offender?

[BrianCR]

In the U.S. when you get traffic tickets for moving violations, the Insurance Companies start raising your rates.

Does anyone know if the Insurance companies in do that in Thailand also?

No they don't - they also do not have a no claim system where your premiums are reduced if you do not have any accidents

[givenall]

How much would you have to pay the cops to get your second offence booked as a minor first offence? Shall we turn off the 'highly advanced' pen camera officer?

Just think about the size and maintenance of the needed database to separate first from second offenders! Very ingenious plan indeed!

This is a joke anyways. here in Petchburi road in the front of my condo the police come everyday like is normal business hours and in another place near the same place they hid behind the post to catch drivers. I guess this does not apply to what the sicnce violate both rules of ambushing and not having check point in the same place

[Tywais]

how does that traffic cop stopping you on the street determine whether the 'minor traffic violation' you allegedly committed is in fact your very first offence (thus, he's letting you off the hook) or your 985th one? Are all traffic cops from now on directly linked to a huge database with whose help they can check in an instant whether you're a first-time or repeat offender?

Maybe there is a use for the 900,000 or so tablet computers on order.

[Pib]

Heck, tickets are not issued now when the driver and cop come to an monetary agreement, if you know what I mean.