Bangkok Police to tow vehicles away

[webfact]

Police to tow vehicles away
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- FROM OCTOBER 21, Bangkok Metropolitan Police traffic officers will tow away vehicles that are parked on 10 prohibited roads notorious for congestion, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang warned yesterday.

After meeting with city police deputy commander Maj-General Adul Narongsak, Assawin said the 10 roads would be Lat Phrao, Rama 4, Sukhumvit, Ratchadapisek, Ram Khamhaeng, Paholyothin-Kaset Nawamin, Sathorn, Rajadamnoen, Phetchburi and Vibhavadi-Rangsit.

The measures, which will replace the previous practice of locking the wheels of law-violators' vehicles, will require violators to pay a Bt500 fine, plus a Bt500 tow truck fee. Car owners will also have to pay the state's Bt200 daily charge for impounded vehicles.

Assawin said the city and police would run a public relations campaign from October 16-20, informing drivers of the changes. Car towing will begin on October 21, he said.

Assawin also expressed confidence that the new traffic regulations would help reduce traffic congestion by 50 per cent.


-- The Nation 2013-10-15

[ChrisY1]

Sure..... .......useless program.....

[orchidlady]

How is the tow truck going to get through the traffic?Once they do, like the busses they will be blocking more traffic as they hook up and attempt to take the car away.

[worgeordie]

i think this is more a money making exercise for the police,

than them really wanting to improve traffic flow.

Just lets see if the Mercs and BMWs get the same treatment,

If it turns out to be a big money maker,watch it been rolled

out to other cities in Thailand.

Thais never stop to think if I park here will it effect anybody

else, its the same in supermarkets,they just leave their trolleys

parked anywhere.

regards Worgeordie

[Pib]

No doubt the towing of vehicles is needed...but boy oh boy this will be a big money maker for the police....surprised the police didn't implement it earlier...maybe they just got their tow truck fixed.

[Local Drunk]

Pahonyothin Road in Bangken and Saphan Mai would be nice to see on the list. I'll also add that I don't think the fines are steep enough. Thais should be fined perhaps along the lines of say... "overstays".

[smedly]

good idea - and Pataya should start doing the same

[carib102]

Fines are definitely not high enough, but I also question how many cars will actually be towed since I have only ever seen 1 vehicle (a motorcycle) with the wheel lock placed on. If the current wheel lock isn't being taken advantage of, and it is far easier to do, what makes anyone think the tow trucks will be towing cars? On Rama IV alone they would need a fleet of 50 tow trucks. What about illegally parked motocy? What about street vendors with their crap in the far left lane? What about creating dedicated taxi areas so you aren't constantly having to stop behind taxi's refusing to pick up passengers? What about fixing the licensing system to make it impossible to just go and get another license? Then you could ticket offenders and revoke licenses. That could be a real money maker for the cops. Too short sighted by far. Typical.

[gemini81]

It's always Police to:_____ Never Police have__________. All the hot air makes you skeptical.

Lots more than a few roads need this enforced! Or enfarced, considering its the bad news bears in brown.

[GarryP]

A fine idea but will it be implemented impartially. Not a chance in hell. Certainly Somchai's car will be towed, but what about Mr. Na Nakorn's Beemer or Benz with the fancy number plate? Not worth the trouble methinks.

[kirk0233]

It's always Police to:_____ Never Police have__________. All the hot air makes you skeptical.

Lots more than a few roads need this enforced! Or enfarced, considering its the bad news bears in brown.

The "news" is composed from press releases. The events that will supposedly occur in the future as stated in the press releases are rarely followed up by "the press" to determine if they ever actually occur. In fact, it is not actually news we read in The Nation, but proposals from state agencies.

[Pui]

The fines are too small, I don't care if the corrupt police takes the fines money. Thats an issue for the government.

In a city the size of Bangkok which has one of the worst traffic problems in the world, towing is essential. How effective it will be remains to be seen.

I find it hard to believe that it will..."help reduce traffic congestion by 50 per cent"

Less cars will reduce traffic congestion. For that the government needs decent public transport.

Good luck!

[chainarong]

One wounders whether the pink Bentley will be towed away.

[Honkytowner]

Another great corruption opportunity for the BiB! They don't have enough tow trucks of their own to make any real impression on the number of vehicles illegally parked, so they'll be obliged to outsource to private towing companies, who will be required to pay a "commission" on each vehicle towed. This used to happen in Hong Kong back in the late 1960s, when the society there was about as developed as it now is here in Thailand.

[stephenterry]

Where are they going to park all the towed cars?