Thai Police may sue people who reveal location of checkpoints

[webfact]

Police may sue people who reveal location of checkpoints
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- POLICE are considering legal action against people who post the location of checkpoints for street racers on their social network pages, as they would be accessories to such offences, police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung said yesterday.

Somyot made the comment at a meeting with officials from 64 agencies yesterday, such as the Transport, Interior and Justice ministries to find measures to prevent street racing.

Measures suggested included seizing racers' driver's licences for three months, six months or for life, in a bid to prevent racers from re-offending, he said.

He expected moves would be made by the end of the month to counter street racing- and venues near schools and universities that allow the unauthorised sale of alcohol. It was possible the premier's may use authority under Article 44 of the interim charter to tackle the latter problem, he said.

Police and Justice Ministry |officials will discuss street racing measures next Monday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-may-sue-people-who-reveal-location-of-check-30261983.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-10

[jaidam]

Sounds fair enough, so long as the public retains the right to sue policemen acting like mafiosi and extorting the public for imaginary infractions or dealing with illegal activities by extorting the perpetrators.

[Somtamnication]

This country and their law suits. Reminds me of the US, where you can be ticketed for flashing your lights to oncoming traffic warning of the checkpoints.

Whatever happened to the old cat and mouse chase of the olden days.

[thesetat2013]

What good is taking a drivers license from a kid when most don't even have one and they taking the one they have would not stop them from driving anyway? These street racers need to have their bikes taken and scrapped. Their parents need to pay huge fines so they will start to take control of their kids actions which includes stopping them from being out late hours to race.

[Khun Paul]

Another obviously logical thought process by the Royal Thai Police done with their normal adherence to strict logical thinking normally reserved for those with no brain and those with little intelligence.

let us target those who spread the locations of the police ccheck-points and thyen let us take away the licences ( if any ) of those committing the offences and fining them.

Logical thought, seize the bikes...crush them , give back crushed bike to parents fine them 10,000 Thb for allowing their child to behave like an idiot, and ban their child from holding any licence for at least 10 years.

Seems fair the parents will have to finish payuing for the bike as well as act if they wish to as a chauffeur for their child..

They reap what they sow.....

[ExPratt]

They were trying this in the UK with speed cameras, dont what happened because I left

But the argument was , if speeding is illegal and dangerous, then shorely if you warned someone of a speed camera they would slow down , thus avoiding an accident and being safe. But the Police and Home office just saw it as taking money out of their already bulging fines revenue

[Sheppo]

In South Australia, car is impounded on first offence for 1 week. 2nd offence for 3 months. Whilst car impounded fee of $75 per day is charged for looking after it plus more for towage to the impound station

The 3rd offence sees the car being seized and either sold at public auction or crushed!!!

That's how to deal with these dangerous hoons!

[ExPratt]

In South Australia, car is impounded on first offence for 1 week. 2nd offence for 3 months. Whilst car impounded fee of $75 per day is charged for looking after it plus more for towage to the impound station

The 3rd offence sees the car being seized and either sold at public auction or crushed!!!

That's how to deal with these dangerous hoons!

Agree , but would it work here the Roads are lawless and people are lunicensed and be back on the road in another car without much chance of being prosecuted

[Yunla]

They need to come down hard on people who drive fast and recklessly, be that drunk or as part of a racing cult or w/e. I also think that Hollywood or other movies which glamorise reckless high-speed driving should be roundly condemned.

Sending some of these racer kids to visit rehabilitation wards, to see how much fun it isn't to hobble around on tin pegs or roll around in a wheelchair, would also be instructive. Taking their cars etc. away isn't enough, they should be put to work, and shown the full picture of what happens to racers and innocent motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in real life reckless driving accidents, the unglamorous aftermath that Hollywood forgets to include.

[jmccarty]

Isn't there already an app to post anonymous police check point locations? I don't think they have a chance catching on!

[NongKhaiKid]

They need to come down hard on people who drive fast and recklessly, be that drunk or as part of a racing cult or w/e. I also think that Hollywood or other movies which glamorise reckless high-speed driving should be roundly condemned.

Sending some of these racer kids to visit rehabilitation wards, to see how much fun it isn't to hobble around on tin pegs or roll around in a wheelchair, would also be instructive. Taking their cars etc. away isn't enough, they should be put to work, and shown the full picture of what happens to racers and innocent motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in real life reckless driving accidents, the unglamorous aftermath that Hollywood forgets to include.

Apart from movies that glamorise speed it's almost a must in every ad for cars and m/cyles on television and in the case of m/cyles it's usual to see several of the brand in the ad being shown weaving all over the place.

Obviously advertising safety and economy etc isn't seen as a winner.

Just a thought, and it maybe it's the translation, but isn't the word ' sue ' in the headline wrong, wouldn't ' charge ' be more accurate ?

Edited June 10, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[quandow]

This country and their law suits. Reminds me of the US, where you can be ticketed for flashing your lights to oncoming traffic warning of the checkpoints.

Whatever happened to the old cat and mouse chase of the olden days.

That law about flashing lights has actually been overturned in some U.S. states due to freedom of speech. I got a $90 ticket in 2004 for that very issue. Last ticket I ever paid and ever WILL pay in the U.S.

[mikemac]

Hilarious ! The RTP are the best comedy show in Thailand.

In Australia the radio stations regularly announce where the speed cameras and radar traps are.

[ronthai]

I thought this would be about one of those apps on your phone where you can see or put in where any police checkpoints are

[Bung]

It's not difficult knowing where police checkpoints are. Just look for a shady tree outside a police station and don't worry, they won't be there at mealtimes or after 4pm, they will be drinking their money earned by then

[halloween]

Hilarious ! The RTP are the best comedy show in Thailand.

In Australia the radio stations regularly announce where the speed cameras and radar traps are.

In West Oz they paint lines on the road and a copper in a light plane times you and radios to the waiting HP car. One radio station used to announce the location being worked with a line from the Muppets "Pigs in Spaaaace".

Edited June 10, 2015 by halloween

[technologybytes]

"Measures suggested included seizing racers' driver's licences for three months, six months or for life, in a bid to prevent racers from re-offending, he said"

That's smart, of course no illegal street racer would ever drive without a licence!

[Srikcir]

Taking legal action by invoking Article 44 is hypocritical.

Article 44 exists because of an illegal act (military coup and abolishment of the constitution) and absolves the Junta government from committing any illegal act. What this article should say is that failing legal action, Article 44 will be used force compliance.

When the Rule of Law is imposed by a minority unto a majority, it will be rightly disrespected.

[rubl]

Taking legal action by invoking Article 44 is hypocritical.

Article 44 exists because of an illegal act (military coup and abolishment of the constitution) and absolves the Junta government from committing any illegal act. What this article should say is that failing legal action, Article 44 will be used force compliance.

When the Rule of Law is imposed by a minority unto a majority, it will be rightly disrespected.

you may have missed that in relation to the topic A44 is not mentioned at all.

[cracker1]

Measures suggested included seizing racers' driver's licences for three months, six months or for life, in a bid to prevent racers from re-offending, he said

Waste of time seizing the licence...........if the offender has one. Seize the vehicle for the period mentioned in the story, and the problem will soon go away.

[AlQaholic]

With so much cameras everywhere I thought it would be nearly impossible to find a location to race?

[djayz]

What good is taking a drivers license from a kid when most don't even have one and they taking the one they have would not stop them from driving anyway? These street racers need to have their bikes taken and scrapped. Their parents need to pay huge fines so they will start to take control of their kids actions which includes stopping them from being out late hours to race.

I couldn't agree more. Hit them where it hurts - in the pocket!

[jmccarty]

In general, if there is jam in the middle of nowhere in Thailand, there will be a bunch of cops either checking for up-to-date registration sticker or taking money from motorcycle drivers and riders without helmets. If they are not ticketing or taking money, they are just stopping traffic from flowing naturally and making everyone wait a long time to let 10 or 15 cars through, then stopping that lane for a cycle of 10 to 15 from another direction until they get bored and leave. Then the jam goes away.

Interesting that there is so much out there against the BIB, kinda feel sorry for them. http://www.copblock.org/resources/

"Checkpoint Wingman" is THB32 and is a worldwide database of DUI and other police checkpoints. Looks like an app that worked in the past, but recent reviews say it does not work.

"PhantomALERT" is free for a trial, has very mixed reviews. some say it works well, others say not at all.

"Mr. Checkpoint" is free, mixed reviews.

"Waze" Looks like only works in the US. Works everywhere, check it out! https://www.waze.com/livemap

There is a heap of apps out there anyway. Sooner or later one will dominate and they will wonder where all the traffic is!

Edited June 10, 2015 by jmccarty

[cancan70]

If the cops really want to stop the street racing, all they have to do when they catch anyone that has been racing is to seize their car for six months. I would bet that would put a lot of fear into the racers and eliminate those cars from being part of any racing in the future.

[gandalf12]

Change the check points on the day. If you use the same place every time everyone is going to know anyway

[sanuk711]

Logical thought, seize the bikes...crush them , give back crushed bike to parents fine them 10,000 Thb for allowing their child to behave like an idiot, and ban their child from holding any licence for at least 10 years. Seems fair the parents will have to finish payuing for the bike as well as act if they wish to as a chauffeur for their child.. ...They reap what they sow.....Khun Paul

If that's a logical thought Khun Paul----I wouldn't like to see what you consider an over the top thought was.............

Must be a bundle of fun in your house----what happens when you find your kid with the TV remote.........6 days bread & water

was anyone from Thai-Visa ever a teenager, or did you all go from primary school to pension age.....

Edited June 10, 2015 by sanuk711

[halloween]

Taking legal action by invoking Article 44 is hypocritical.

Article 44 exists because of an illegal act (military coup and abolishment of the constitution) and absolves the Junta government from committing any illegal act. What this article should say is that failing legal action, Article 44 will be used force compliance.

When the Rule of Law is imposed by a minority unto a majority, it will be rightly disrespected.

Are you suggesting that if there are more people are involved in street racing than those who complain, it should be legalised? Is this in line with your support of "popular" criminals who get elected?

Edited June 10, 2015 by halloween

[Colabamumbai]

I think that "Article 44" means you have no rights.

[Colabamumbai]

What good is taking a drivers license from a kid when most don't even have one and they taking the one they have would not stop them from driving anyway? These street racers need to have their bikes taken and scrapped. Their parents need to pay huge fines so they will start to take control of their kids actions which includes stopping them from being out late hours to race.

Take them to the morgue to see victims of motorcycle accidents, after fines and bikes confiscated.

[masquerade]

Copy the west and results will follow. Impossible dream, means work for the police and government, never will happen. Problem solved now lets move on.