Police Patrols Stop As Fuel Funds Dry Up

[george]

PETROL CRISIS

Police patrols stop as fuel funds dry up

Northeast law enforcement hit hard by rising costs; service stations suspend credit

Rising oil prices are taking their toll on the highway police, with one station in the Northeast facing debts of more than half a million baht as its transport budget has run out.

"We receive Bt2 million a year from the central office to cover the cost of five stations," said Highway Police Unit 4 Superintendent Nirandorn Luarmsri.

"It's only the middle of third quarter and the cash has already gone due to the surge in the oil price," he said.

Unit 4 has five stations and is responsible for 11 provinces in the Northeast. It has 51 radio-equipped cars to patrol and provide security for royalty, ministers and other VIPs. A considerable amount of fuel is required, Nirandorn said.

He said the limited budget had prompted about a third of the area's petrol stations to stop giving the highway police credit, which they had done in the past.

Some officers were paying to fill their police cars with money from their own pockets, he said.

"This certainly affects our work. Before we send a vehicle on patrol, we must calculate if it is financially justifiable," Nirandorn said.

Petrol station owner Somsak Tulayachat, who recently cancelled police credit, said he had to do so to save his business.

"The unit has been using credit here since 2004 and I have always been flexible. At first they said they would pay at the end of each month, then they extended it to three months and later five months. I had to carry debt of Bt600,000. If I let this continue, I would have to close," Somsak said.

A police officer said no one wanted to set up a checkpoint as they would have to bear the cost themselves while the reimbursement process was extremely slow. Also, if any significant figure requested an escort they would be asked to pay the entire cost, the officer added.

Meanwhile, drivers in Narathi-wat have been crossing the border into Malaysian where the price of fuel is significantly lower.

Diesel costs Bt21 per litre in Malaysia but up to Bt27.50 in Narathiwat, while Malaysian petrol is Bt21.50 per litre and Bt28.35 across the border, said an observer.

Heavy traffic jams were seen at Sungai-Kolok, Takbai and Waeng crossing points and there are reports that people have tried to smuggle in Malaysian oil for sale in the Kingdom.

-- The Nation 2006-05-01

[george]

Thais rush for cheaper fuel

SUNGAI KOLOK: -- Hundreds of vehicles from southernmost provinces are queueing up at the Sungai Kolok checkpoint everyday as motorists try to stock up on the cheaper Malaysian fuel. This follows rumours that Malaysia will soon impose a fuel surcharge on Thais filling up at its petrol stations.

Private cars and buses have been forming long queues everyday for over a week now at the border checkpoint in Narathiwat province as more and more vehicles head for petrol stations in Rantu Panyang in the Malaysian state of Kelantan to stock up.

The vehicles mostly come from Narathiwat and nearby provinces.

It has been rumoured the Malaysian authorities may soon impose a fuel surcharge of 200 baht for a car and 40 baht for a motorcycle in order to discourage the influx of motorists from Thailand.

The petrol rush has drawn complaints from Malaysians in Rantu Panyang that they sometimes have to wait for almost an hour to top up their tanks. Sometimes the petrol stations run dry, which really annoys the local people.

Higher oil prices are also hitting fishermen in the deep South. About half of the trawlers in Krabi and Satun remain tied up in port.

--Bangkok Post 2006-05-01

[Farma]

This shows the difference in fuel prices between Thailand and Saudi. This is from todays Arab news. It makes Malaysian fuel look expensive.

As a rough guide 10 Halalas = 1 Baht.

Petrol Price Reduced by Over 30%

P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News

JEDDAH, 1 May 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday ordered petrol price in the Kingdom slashed by more than 30 percent from 90 to 60 halalas per liter, the Saudi Press Agency reported last night.

“In order to improve the living standard of citizens and for the public good, we have ordered that the price of one liter of petrol for the consumer be changed to 60 halalas instead of 90 halalas until Dec. 31, 2006,” a Royal Decree issued by the king said.

The decree said price of 91-octane petrol for consumers would be brought down to 60 halalas from 82 halalas per liter while price of 95-octane petrol will be slashed from SR1.02 to 75 halalas, effective from Jan. 1, 2007.

King Abdullah also cut diesel prices from 37 to 25 halalas per liter, the agency said. “The decree will come into effect the next day morning after its announcement,” the king said.

The new decree comes three weeks after the Council of Ministers reduced bench prices for heavy crude and other crude oils at between 4.90 and 6.30 halalas per liter for all consumers at all distribution centers. The Cabinet meeting also decided that the crude oil prices would be revised every five years in the light of international energy prices. “The prices will remain the same for 10 years for clients who sign long-term purchasing contracts with Saudi Aramco,” the Cabinet said, adding that the period would be calculated from the date on which the contract was signed ..............................................

[astral]

Rising oil prices are taking their toll on the highway police, with one station in the Northeast facing debts of more than half a million baht as its transport budget has run out.

He said the limited budget had prompted about a third of the area's petrol stations to stop giving the highway police credit, which they had done in the past.

Some officers were paying to fill their police cars with money from their own pockets, he said.

I wonder if the number of road blocks collecting fines will increase to "cover the cost".

[britmaveric]

Tea dosh increases to be expected.

[bulmercke]

From the original post: "......while Malaysian petrol is Bt21.50 per litre and Bt28.35 across the border (Thailand), said an observer."

In the UK now, petrol is almost 96 pence a litre which is about 62 baht at today's exchange rates! ( or 69 baht if we use the exchange rate before the baht strengthened)

No wonder Brits are prone to drive miles to get to the nearest Tesco to fill up - in order to save a few coppers!

What a state!

Thais and Malaysians don't realise how lucky they are.

Edited May 1, 2006 by bulmercke

[PeaceBlondie]

When I visited Venezuela in January 2003, prices were around US$0.11 per gallon. Or per liter, I forget. That's either 1 or 4 baht per liter!!

[jackr]

No wonder Brits are prone to drive miles to get to the nearest Tesco to fill up - in order to save a few coppers!

What a state!

Thais and Malaysians don't realise how lucky they are.

Yeah, but it's all relative. Fuel's a little more than double in the UK than in Thailand, but look at the wage gap.

In addition, fuel has gone up 100% from a few years back in Muang Thai.

[bulmercke]

No wonder Brits are prone to drive miles to get to the nearest Tesco to fill up - in order to save a few coppers!

What a state!

Thais and Malaysians don't realise how lucky they are.

Yeah, but it's all relative. Fuel's a little more than double in the UK than in Thailand, but look at the wage gap.

In addition, fuel has gone up 100% from a few years back in Muang Thai.

Ah, but then again, look at the cars on the roads in Bangkok. Undoubtedly, in general, more fuel hungry and swankier than cars in the UK.

The average car user in Bangkok isn't really your average Thai. They're getting the best of both worlds.

Sorry, no sympathy there. Private car ownership is ridiculously under-taxed here.

I guess, another example of the relatively well-off looking after themselves.

How about this government holding or better still reducing public transport costs for the masses who could never dream of owning a car.

[Heng]

Private car ownership is ridiculously under-taxed here.

My feelings exactly.

[jackr]

No wonder Brits are prone to drive miles to get to the nearest Tesco to fill up - in order to save a few coppers!

What a state!

Thais and Malaysians don't realise how lucky they are.

Yeah, but it's all relative. Fuel's a little more than double in the UK than in Thailand, but look at the wage gap.

In addition, fuel has gone up 100% from a few years back in Muang Thai.

Private car ownership is ridiculously under-taxed here.

Try telling that to the M5 owners

[Plus]

Private car ownership is ridiculously under-taxed here.

You must be kidding. Undertaxed?

40,000 pounds for Mini isn't a factory price. 400,000 USD for BMW X5 - ridiculously UNDERtaxed, you say.

Take Camry, the best selling US car, let's say it costs 25,000 USD. It's a four years income for average Thai, less than a year for average American.

About 1 in 10 Thais have a car, 1 in 2 or 3 people in the West.

Auto taxes is the biggest source of income after alcohol for the government.

[cclub75]

Private car ownership is ridiculously under-taxed here.

You must be kidding. Undertaxed?

Well considering the oil price hikes, and considering the fact that Thailand will not be able to afford it's oil bill... it makes sense to say that cars (and their use) are undertaxed.

40 000 pounds for a Mini. Expensive indeed. But after, 28 THB per liter of gasoline and 20-40 THB for highway toll... that's cheap. Problem of scale.

Rich thais love to buy very expensive cars (because luxury and import taxes)... so why not set the gasoline price... accordingly ?

[moonoi]

Private car ownership is ridiculously under-taxed here.

You must be kidding. Undertaxed?

Well considering the oil price hikes, and considering the fact that Thailand will not be able to afford it's oil bill... it makes sense to say that cars (and their use) are undertaxed.

40 000 pounds for a Mini. Expensive indeed. But after, 28 THB per liter of gasoline and 20-40 THB for highway toll... that's cheap. Problem of scale.

Rich thais love to buy very expensive cars (because luxury and import taxes)... so why not set the gasoline price... accordingly ?

An what about everyone else that needs to use a car to get to work (middle classes)?

For instance I'mnotf rich...far from it with the additional cost in fuel I'm only just about covering my expenses. I car share with 2 other people to reduce costs. Public transport where I live although its fine for local stuff, getting to work 35km is incredibily difficult and time consuming. Of course I'd love to live near BTS or MRT but I can't afford the price of property there.

Its unfair of anti-car people just to assume everyone who has a car is rich and therefore undertaxed.....thats complete crap.

[cclub75]

An what about everyone else that needs to use a car to get to work (middle classes)?

For instance I'mnotf rich...far from it with the additional cost in fuel I'm only just about covering my expenses. I car share with 2 other people to reduce costs. Public transport where I live although its fine for local stuff, getting to work 35km is incredibily difficult and time consuming. Of course I'd love to live near BTS or MRT but I can't afford the price of property there.

Its unfair of anti-car people just to assume everyone who has a car is rich and therefore undertaxed.....thats complete crap.

Don't take it personaly.

This is exactly what I said : Thailand will not be able to afford it's oil bill !

It's not a matter of "fairness". It's simply that oil is the Achille heel of Thailand (and other countries). This fact was hidden until now because oil was very cheap.

Country A has a GPD of 100

Country B has a GDP of 200

Oil costs 10. With an increase of 100 %, it will cost 20.

What will be the relative burden of this increase on country A compare to country B ?

Voila.

It's suicidal to continue to deny this, and calling for "fairness" (= subsidy or taxe cut).

This is why many believe that we will face great difficulties if the price increase should continue...

[stiggy]

For an odd reason Mad Max the movie keeps springing to mind.........

[Phil Conners]

Also, if any significant figure requested an escort they would be asked to pay the entire cost, the officer added.

The only surprise is they didn't do this long ago. Endless motorcades with 15-20 cop cars is just rediculous!

[opothai]

when i was a kid i remember in the 70's the bobby's had bikes, [ uk ]

what about putting the boy's in brown on bikes

i'm sure it will do thier street cred a world of good

[Plus]

Even with high gasoline prices driving your own car is on par with using public transport, if you don't count capital expenses, just fuel bill.

I did the numbers once - you get the same mileage or worse if you use BTS or MRT and need buses/motorcycles/songthaews to commute to the stations.

If you believe advertised fuel economy, Isuzu pickup truck can compete against an orange bus in how many km you can go with the same money.

Most oil is used for electricity production, I believe, and cargo transport, not private cars/pickups.

[Bryan in Isaan]

when i was a kid i remember in the 70's the bobby's had bikes, [ uk ]

what about putting the boy's in brown on bikes

i'm sure it will do thier street cred a world of good

Are you in Bangkok? Out here in farm country, very few of the police have cars. It would make better sense, IMHO, if they had more cars here, where they have to travel greater distances. Also, with the light traffic out here, a car can actually get where its going. It seems to me that the police in Bangkok should be using motorcycles.

[Bryan in Isaan]

For an odd reason Mad Max the movie keeps springing to mind.........

And those car chase based movies will soon be a thing of the past - or they will have to use economy cars. Smoky and the Bandit driving 2.5L diesel pickups just wouldn't have the same punch. Maybe they could add high performance V8 soundtracks and speed up the film.

Edited May 2, 2006 by Bryan in Isaan

[astral]

when i was a kid i remember in the 70's the bobby's had bikes, [ uk ]

what about putting the boy's in brown on bikes

Why not put them on elephants? There seem to be large number of the beast unemployed.

Edited May 3, 2006 by astral

[george]

Update:

Thai police out of gas; oil prices 'fuel' crime rise

BANGKOK: -- Royal Thai Police said Wednesday that the country's crime rate is rising because police patrol units cannot fully carry out their duties as they lack sufficient budget to fill their vehicles' fuel tanks, a police spokesman said here.

The police told the public that 'the nation's finest' have run out of gas.

Royal Thai Police Spokesman Lt-Gen. Achirawit Suphanphesat said that police patrol units have been forced to cut 70 per cent of their operations because they could not shoulder the burden of high fuel prices.

The budget set to purchase fuel was not balanced with current oil prices, as it was a budget which was allocated two years ago, he said.

In some provinces--such as in the northeastern province of Buri Ram, Gen. Achirawit said, the police are using bicycles instead of patrol cars and motocycles, to patrol the areas in the province to cut their overhead costs.

Moreover, he said, high oil prices also affected the process of requesting arrest and search warrants from the courts.

"The police do not have enough budget to fill the empty fuel tanks of vehicles going to the court," he said.

To solve the warrant issuance problem, he said, police will discuss alternative arrangements to physically going to the agencies concerned--including the Office of the Attorney General, the Courts and the Department of Corrections--to adjust the method of issuing warrants.

Search and arrest warrants could be issued electronically by computer so that police officers or messengers do not need to go to the court in person, the spokesman said.

--TNA 2006-05-03

[Phil Conners]

Who'll post the first picture of a BiB on a bicycle?

Edited May 3, 2006 by madsere