Bangkok traffic cops told to respect bosses' privilege

[webfact]

BKK Traffic Cops Told to Respect Bosses' Privilege
By Khaosod English


A police officer giving away free mango at a traffic checkpoint in Nakhon Sawan province, 15 April 2012.

BANGKOK — Traffic police have been ordered to memorize the license plates and faces of their superiors after Bangkok's police chief complained that he was asked to take a breathalyzer test despite his insistence that he was not intoxicated.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Sriwarah Rangsipramkul, the commander of the city’s police force, told reporters yesterday that volunteer traffic cops failed to recognize him when he was flagged down at a road checkpoint – he was off-duty and not wearing a uniform at the time – and insisted that he take a breathalyzer test even though he told them he was sober "five times."

“Eventually, I had to tell them who I was and get out of my car and criticize them,” he told reporters yesterday.

Today, Pol.Maj.Gen. Thanapon Techatanon, a senior officer at Traffic Police Division, said he has asked all traffic officers to familiarize themselves with their superiors to avoid similar incidents in the future.

"I have instructed all volunteers and police officers to memorize faces, names, and license plates of their commanders well, so that this mistake will not happen again," Pol.Maj.Gen. Thanapon said.

He added that volunteer traffic officers will need to go through "a short orientation to see if they are qualified."

"They must speak politely,” he said. "They have to be gentle with people. As for selecting which car for alcohol test, we will judge by the clothes, manner, and the way they talk. For example, some people use too much perfume to hide alcohol smell, this will a factor that will merit an alcohol test."

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1437029021


-- Khaosod English 2015-07-16

[Somtamnication]

You have got to be kidding!!

[simon43]

This sums up - in a nutshell - why the Thai police are considered by many to be totally corrupted

I also want to add that I asked my Thai family if this news story had featured on Thai language TV news reports.

They had not seen any news reports about this, (although maybe the cartoon channels don't run news stories...)

Edited July 16, 2015 by simon43

[phetphet]

What about all the army officers as well?

[Just1Voice]

In other words, you don't dare stop someone with the right license plate number, or face, even if they are stinking, falling down drunk, if you want to keep your job. Just how much more ignorant can this country get?

Edited July 16, 2015 by Just1Voice

[kotsak]

The epitome of <deleted>

[jerojero]

Why are we surprised at this? Elite class still reigns free. Sanctioned government corruption blatant. Sad state of affairs.

[robblok]

Crazy to the extreme I bet everyone agrees.. pro junta .. pro Thaksin.. everyone with half a brain agrees that this is stupid.

[deckape]

The whole "Kon Yai" culture isn't very pretty when translated into English for newspaper articles. My guess is that this kind of story doesn't raise too many eyebrows in the Thai press.

[rijb]

Peter Drucker says that “rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.”

I think he’s never been to Thailand.

Edited July 16, 2015 by rijb

[DLang]

Jungle hierarchical society and always will be.

[FloridaExport]

"As for selecting which car for alcohol test, we will judge by the clothes, manner, and the way they talk."

I'm surprised he didn't also tell them to consult a blue book on the price of the car. It seems implied, but the fact they were stupid enough to pull over a superior officer seems to show that they need it spelled out for them.

Edited July 16, 2015 by FloridaExport

[magnacarta]

This sums up - in a nutshell - why the Thai police are considered by many to be totally corrupted

I also want to add that I asked my Thai family if this news story had featured on Thai language TV news reports.

They had not seen any news reports about this, (although maybe the cartoon channels don't run news stories...)

The cartoon channels are the news,it's the only thing they can relate to plus the soaps.

[WitawatWatawit]

Other extraordinary quotes from a truly unbelievable story:

"As for selecting which car for alcohol test, we will judge by the clothes, manner, and the way they talk."

"After talking to someone who is sober for one to two minutes, you should be able to tell that they don’t smell of alcohol," he said. "Those people shouldn't be called to take the test. You have to look. Don't just randomly inspect people."

"After I identified myself to [the volunteer cops], they turned pale," Pol.Lt.Gen. Sriwarah said, according to Matichon.

"If ordinary people have this experience, what would they think? "

[Tompa]

People already know this is the way the police work but what's shocking is that they so openly admit to it.

[NongKhaiKid]

Privilege in every sense and use of the word, disgusting.

Don't expect any response from higher up because it's the same for them too.

Edited July 16, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[MESmith]

"As for selecting which car for alcohol test, we will judge by the clothes, manner, and the way they talk."

Will an upper class English accent be ok?

[richard_smith237]

The title of this article should read...

Bangkok traffic cops told bosses' are above the law...

This is quite a disgusting example of what is wrong with Thailand...

Those in positions of power are not of the belief that they are serving the country, rather they believe country should serve them because of their power...

The mentality displayed is a polar opposite of any civilised understanding of how those in positions of power should be behaving.

[kkerry]

Shouldn't this report be linked to notthenation.com...

[Alwyn]

a policeman doing his job is a "mistake"?

[jerojero]

Respect privileges of being above the law? But really, why is this a surprise here.

[rijit]

So off duty cops dont drink ,,, now i've heard it all.

rijit

[kotsak]

The epitome of <deleted>

Didn't know that FUΒΑR is now being censored

[DavisH]

People already know this is the way the police work but what's shocking is that they so openly admit to it.

Poor lost souls....they know not what they are

[oneday]

This country has so much further to go than I thought...maybe even a distance equal to infinity.

[ChaJay]

"As for selecting which car for alcohol test, we will judge by the clothes, manner, and the way they talk."

Will an upper class English accent be ok?

Don't think so, it will make matters worse...... they'll smell extra money

[JoePai]

Personally if I were a Thai cop with an ounce of integrity I would search for this prick and breathalyze him as many times a possible.

[clockman]

Patronage, and face. Third world , what else can you expect!

[maddermax]

.... and the army were doing such a good job at keeping the police in line.

[Nobb]

Respect them if they are drunk or have drugs on them just respect them and let them go. Where else in the world can a cop let a law breaking boss go because he is above the law. Another step down for Thailand,s reputation!