Misleading News Reporting Annoys Thai Police Official

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Misleading News Reporting Annoys Police Official

An irate police Deputy Commisioner criticized a misleading news report that he had ordered all police departments to meet a daily quota of 100 traffic tickets. His order to step up traffic enforcement used the 100-ticket number to reflect his expectations in high-traffic areas, and was not a quota, he clarified.

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THAILAND – February 13,2013 [PDN]; at the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Worasak Nopsitthiporn, Deputy Commissioner, who is responsible for traffic matters, denied a media report that he had issued an order for a 100-ticket per day minimum quota. The Deputy Commissioner had earlier issued an order to four police stations to have their officers cite people for 5 specific types of traffic violations during February 2-5, 2013.

However, later one of the local newspapers misunderstood the directive and reported that the Deputy Commisioner’s order had included a 100-ticket per day minimum for each police station. The newspaper also editorialized and criticized police for the ticket quota, even though there was no such quota, the deputy commander later said.

The deputy commissioner clarified that he had commanded units to step up enforcement of 5 types of major violations (out of 17 major rules), which were creating the majority of traffic jams.

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

The directive was issued to the respective superintendants at the Bangkhunnon police station, Bangkok Yai police station, Bangsaothong police station and Bowornmongkol police station. Each station would sent the results of the ticket citations to Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Krittapas Phenkitti, who would compile them into a report to be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

In the four day period, the Deputy Commander said that he would expect that the busier stations would have issued at least 100 tickets, more or less, if officers had been diligent in their duties.

Full story: http://www.pattayada...olice-official/

-- Pattaya Daily News 2013-02-13

[Boater]

I would have put the expectations at 500 tickets !

[Kananga]

Dont forget kids, its not a quota if you order it over Chinese New Year...

[alstaxi]

Crime fighters without equal.......... wonder what super powers they possess.

[EyesWideOpen]

In the four day period, the Deputy Commander said that he would expect that the busier stations would have issued at least 100 tickets

Sounds like an implied quota to me....

Patrolman Som is called into the office for a dressing down. " You were told the correct number of tickets issued was at least 100. Why have you issued only 90 ?? "

[Orac]

I would have put the expectations at 500 tickets !

Maybe 500 on the spot fines and 100 tickets issued.

[Pib]

Dont forget kids, its not a quota if you order it over Chinese New Year...

Correct...it's tradition instead.

[SABloke]

What happens after the 5th???

[ginjag]

What happens after the 5th???

The 6th !!! sorry couldn;t resist it.

[bourbonstbkk]

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

They should give over 100....especially for driving on the sidewalk

Edited February 13, 2013 by bourbonstbkk

[bourbonstbkk]

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

Don't stop, especially for driving on the sidwalk

[TheWalkingMan]

Just 100? That is way too low.

[Locationthailand]

How is it possible the news of the issue could possibly have been construed? I just don't understand how these rumours start...

[Pimay1]

What happens after the 5th???

The 6th !!! sorry couldn;t resist it.

Good one.

[rubl]

His order to step up traffic enforcement used the 100-ticket number to reflect his expectations in high-traffic areas

To my experience (in Bangkok) the police is mostly busy stopping motorcycles, taxi and other traffic when there is a possibility to easily stop single road users. In high traffic, gridlocked traffic they don't seem to move much themselves

[MEL1]

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

They should give over 100....especially for driving on the sidewalk

So they'll be charging each other then?

-mel.

[jbrain]

100 Tickets ?

That would mean a policeman doing his job at any traffic light for 1 hour a day.

[nickjam]

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

IMO there should be no minimum/maximum number of tickets being issued for these violations. I'd like to see every one of these violations being punished properly. As a daily road user in Chiang Rai I frequently have to dodge SUVs tearing down the wrong side of the road flashing their lights at me and trucks blasting through red lights 4-5 seconds after they've changed. As we all know the whole thing is tainted by corruption but if they gave proper fines and points without the shadiness this would make the place a whole lot safer. As for senior policemen getting irked by reporters pointing out their misdoings; let it continue!

[jbrain]

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

If they had done their job during those 4 days, and verbalised all offenders, they would have had their quota of 100 tickets a day save for the next 6 months.

[surangw]

maybe they will be giving each other tickets to fill the quota

[belg]

after the 5th, it was time to prepare for their shop collection extortion scheme hub

[siampolee]

On 14 January 2003, Thaksin launched a campaign to rid "every square inch of the country" of drugs in three months. It consisted of changing the punishment policy for drug addicts, setting provincial arrest and seizure targets including "blacklists", awarding government officials for achieving targets and threatening punishment for those who failed to make the quota, targeting dealers, and "ruthless" implementation. In the first three months, Human Rights Watch reports that 2,275 people were killed, almost double the number normally killed in drug-related violence

An irate police Deputy Commissioner criticized a misleading news report that he had ordered all police departments to meet a daily quota of 100 traffic tickets. His order to step up traffic enforcement used the 100-ticket number to reflect his expectations in high-traffic areas, and was not a quota, he clarified.

Reminds me of other quotas that were set ( see first quote ) yet later denied. The only ongoing denial here as usual is the denial of the truth

[cup-O-coffee]

So maybe the next time he has a news conference he'll shut his mouth long enough to take questions and give answers to what he said? Yes? No? Maybe?

[SOTIRIOS]

....a nation of 60 million plus....blameless individuals.....oh....except for those nasty foreigners....

[axact]

The BIB should not be allowed to collect money period. Fines only issued by courts. This would help stop the rampant money raising and maybe people would begin to trust the police. This should be backed up by prison for those police who try collecting monies.

Chances of that happening = zero

[DonaldBattles]

If you are a farang don't worry they can't speak your language.

[quandow]

If I pinch a loaf on the sidewalk and call it a Petunia, it's still a dookie. Sorry, General, but that's a quota.

[hellodolly]

i see nothing wrong with the news it is the interpreting of it. He ordered all departments to issue 100 violations a day and the TV whizzes took that to be every officer. Besides if he dosen't like misleading information in the press don't do what Thai Visa does.

IE quote out of the Nation. A sure fire misleading source of information.

[vijer]

During the period of February 2-5, police were specifically targeting the following violations: driving in the wrong direction; driving on the sidewalk; double-parking next to parked vehicles; overtaking vehicles in high-risk areas; and violating traffic light signals.

Does double-parking mean all the busses and taxis that don't pull all the way over to pickup/drop-off passengers?! And what about having the BiB actually doing something besides flapping their arms at drivers. Daily I see the BiB standing waving people to keep moving, yet I have never seen any drivers that are trying to stop moving. Instead these idiots could be pulling over 1000's an hour who exit the highway from 3 lanes over or jamb themselves in at the entrance. No just keep flapping your hands, that will surly improve traffic flow.

[konfuzed]

Dont forget kids, its not a quota if you order it over Chinese New Year...

unless you ask an indian...