Mobile roadblocks against traffic violators scrapped nationwide

[Crazy chef 1]

I dunno,but I drive about 3000 km a months and get stopped regularly but never had to pay any fine( tea money) I rather find them quite polite...

[Alration]

But please, someone enlighten me as how to actually identify an illegal road block? Should I ask if they have a permit? Or if there's a police inspector present?

Here's how to tell...

"From now on, he said that if a roadblock is to be set up, it has to be manned by a police inspector and there must be a clearly visible sign to show the existence of the roadblock."

[starky]

.. mmm .. errr .. Junta ... army more corrupt .. bangkok elite .. coup lovers .. Prayuth's outbursts .. People Disappearing People being arrested People being taken in and told off .. bangkok elite (that one is their favourite so I put it twice) ..

It seems our Pheu-Thai supporting friends are lost for words in this article - so I'll save them the bother and sum up the only things they ever say myself.

This would never, ever have happened under the last lot.

Yes your right because the current government has followed through on all the things they say they are going to do on a daily basis. Right?

[smedly]

law enforcement is stupid.......right lol

in a country with the worst record for road deaths in the world.....when you include the unreported

[webfact]

Temporary police traffic checkpoints banned
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The use of temporary police checkpoints when looking for traffic violators is now banned nationwide unless they meet stringent criteria.

Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said a checkpoint must be supervised by a police inspector or a higher-ranking officer and be marked with clear signs.

Police supervisors must know checkpoint locations and their purposes, he said.

Prawut said he would propose the installation of traffic cameras as a replacement for the temporary checkpoints in three months.

He will also propose that the one-year validity of traffic tickets be extended to three years.

The public had called for the temporary checkpoints to be scrapped, saying they were randomly set up so officers could earn a percentage of the fines.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Temporary-police-traffic-checkpoints-banned-30270493.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-09

[coulson]

Immediately evident that progress has been made since October 1st. Was there a recent shift in the cogs?

I like Prawut. He appears to be a little more concerned about his duty than casino's or throwing around money in general......excuse the pun.

[zaphod reborn]

Just ensuring that the upper echelon of the RTP gets their share of the bribe revenues.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Don't believe it... I'd bet on it. As said already, law enforcement doesn't exist, but law entrapment is the norm. Start small...speed enforcement, use those radar guns.

[cgphuket]

I have been stopped at these pointless roadblocks 2 times in the same place but on different days. The first time said they were checking red plates on car to make sure they were real. The funny thing is that I was driving behind a Honda City with red plates and they did not stop them. When I brought it up they just made some stupid excuse and said they can tell my plates where fake, even though I had all the right paper work showing everything was correct.

My car is a Porsche and even though my plates where in order they kept trying to find something to make me pay a fine and asked if was evading taxes my not registering it. I had only it for about 2 months, and told them it is process, they then tell me about the bombing and how unregistered cars can be used to make a car bomb because they are hard to track. Yeah, I bought a new Porsche just to blow it up...

Second time I had finally got white plates, and still wanted me to stop and check the registration while letting other cars go by. This time after confirming everything was ok, they let me go without any hassle.

Only thing roadblocks are for is get money for Thai Tea.

If you drive a new Porsche in a country filled with so much extreme poverty, you should be forced to share your wealth.

[Loptr]

I have been stopped at these pointless roadblocks 2 times in the same place but on different days. The first time said they were checking red plates on car to make sure they were real. The funny thing is that I was driving behind a Honda City with red plates and they did not stop them. When I brought it up they just made some stupid excuse and said they can tell my plates where fake, even though I had all the right paper work showing everything was correct.

My car is a Porsche and even though my plates where in order they kept trying to find something to make me pay a fine and asked if was evading taxes my not registering it. I had only it for about 2 months, and told them it is process, they then tell me about the bombing and how unregistered cars can be used to make a car bomb because they are hard to track. Yeah, I bought a new Porsche just to blow it up...

Second time I had finally got white plates, and still wanted me to stop and check the registration while letting other cars go by. This time after confirming everything was ok, they let me go without any hassle.

Only thing roadblocks are for is get money for Thai Tea.

If you drive a new Porsche in a country filled with so much extreme poverty, you should be forced to share your wealth.

Forced, by whom, you? You ever hear of earning something instead of demanding it from someone else?

[cloghead]

I dunno,but I drive about 3000 km a months and get stopped regularly but never had to pay any fine( tea money) I rather find them quite polite...

Obviously you've never moved over to the inner lane to pass/turn and had the misfortune to encounter a extortion 'checkpoint'.

Lucky you...

Edited October 9, 2015 by cloghead

[Sutty]

Pointless exercise who is going to complain!!! Police will find another way for tea money

[Guitar God]

That started in Ubon shortly after the junta took power. No more unofficial checkpoints, a senior officer is at each checkpoint, written tickets are issues for violations, money is paid and receipts are issued. No more wad of 100's in the cops breastpocket, no more secret handoff of payola.

The one thing I'd like to see is patrol officers pulling over cars and ticketing the drivers for safety violations: No lights, vehicles falling apart, dangerous driving maneuvers, overloaded vehicles, 4 people on a scooter with no helmets.

If they wrote enough tickets for safety violations of existing laws that aren't being enforced there'd be enough money in the local government to fill some of these basketball-sized potholes that are wrecking car suspension and wheels and causing accidents by drivers swerving into oncoming traffic or running scooters off the road.

[Requirement]

I have been stopped at these pointless roadblocks 2 times in the same place but on different days. The first time said they were checking red plates on car to make sure they were real. The funny thing is that I was driving behind a Honda City with red plates and they did not stop them. When I brought it up they just made some stupid excuse and said they can tell my plates where fake, even though I had all the right paper work showing everything was correct.

My car is a Porsche and even though my plates where in order they kept trying to find something to make me pay a fine and asked if was evading taxes my not registering it. I had only it for about 2 months, and told them it is process, they then tell me about the bombing and how unregistered cars can be used to make a car bomb because they are hard to track. Yeah, I bought a new Porsche just to blow it up...

Second time I had finally got white plates, and still wanted me to stop and check the registration while letting other cars go by. This time after confirming everything was ok, they let me go without any hassle.

Only thing roadblocks are for is get money for Thai Tea.

If you drive a new Porsche in a country filled with so much extreme poverty, you should be forced to share your wealth.

Extreme poverty? You probably have never been to a country with "extreme poverty".

[masuk]

Too many influential people getting nicked I guess.....remember the recent story of the high ranking police officer getting busted and refusing to give a breath test, with the "do you know who I am" line. I guess that's why the superiors need to be told in advance where the roadblocks will be (to stop drunked vip's getting pulled over).

I suppose if they ever introduce random breath testing for the night alcoholics behind the wheel, a few well-aimed complaints and they'll stop that too.

Agree with DavisH. If you're a Hi-So, no problemo.

[jimstar1]

Amazing news will believe when I see it I will go out soon for a ride

there are plenty around Chiang Mai every day This will hurt there pockets Mak mak

[Expat1]

Too bad. I always felt that the roadblocks for traffic offense had a purpose here and a positive effect. It kept the drivers in line and they were frightened to death of being caught inebriated. Rather they be frightened to death than they cause a death. Yes, I realize it may have inconvenienced some people but, in Asia such action is necessary to keep them in line and on the straight and narrow. I mean really, can anyone here actually say they drive here according to rules and courtesy that most do in most Western countries and they don't need viable supervision on the roads. I think not.

[Just1Voice]

Hell, 2 days ago on the Outer Ring Road here in Chiang Mai, they had one set up on both sides of the highway. They were stopping cars, truck, bikes, and anything with a motor coming and going.

[Pinot]

Now what they need is a police force that will patrol the roads and cite dangerous drivers and people who create hazards by parking and passing illegally.

In other words, they need to enforce the existing laws and start saving lives in Thailand.

Willy-you do live here? We all know this will never happen. There is no moving enforcement of traffic laws. That's why the roads are complete insanity.

The BIB don't have the vehicles or the training. I doubt they ever will.

[dageurreotype]

.. mmm .. errr .. Junta ... army more corrupt .. bangkok elite .. coup lovers .. Prayuth's outbursts .. People Disappearing People being arrested People being taken in and told off .. bangkok elite (that one is their favourite so I put it twice) ..

It seems our Pheu-Thai supporting friends are lost for words in this article - so I'll save them the bother and sum up the only things they ever say myself.

This would never, ever have happened under the last lot.

And it won't happen under this ..

[Sutty]

Another lip service job will never happen will see TM driving from KK to Pattaya last time cost me 400bht (200 going speeding??? And 200 coming back speeding???).

[krdowney]

.. mmm .. errr .. Junta ... army more corrupt .. bangkok elite .. coup lovers .. Prayuth's outbursts .. People Disappearing People being arrested People being taken in and told off .. bangkok elite (that one is their favourite so I put it twice) ..

It seems our Pheu-Thai supporting friends are lost for words in this article - so I'll save them the bother and sum up the only things they ever say myself.

This would never, ever have happened under the last lot.

Look. This is about road blocks. You need to stop making everything into an attack on Red Shirts. And the Red Shirts need to stop turning everything into an attack on the Yellow Shirts. It's boring and childish and doesn't help Thailand a bit. Yes, Mr. EnglishJohn, we all know you hate Thaksin. Fine, give it a rest.

[Gweiloman]

.. mmm .. errr .. Junta ... army more corrupt .. bangkok elite .. coup lovers .. Prayuth's outbursts .. People Disappearing People being arrested People being taken in and told off .. bangkok elite (that one is their favourite so I put it twice) ..

It seems our Pheu-Thai supporting friends are lost for words in this article - so I'll save them the bother and sum up the only things they ever say myself.

This would never, ever have happened under the last lot.

You really need to get out a bit more mate. What on earth are you talking about? You don't support PT - fine. Are you even Thai in the first place? No? Then know this - what you think is totally unimportant.

Attitude adjustment. Single gateway. Blocked websites. Yeah, right.....

[scorecard]

Now what they need is a police force that will patrol the roads and cite dangerous drivers and people who create hazards by parking and passing illegally.

In other words, they need to enforce the existing laws and start saving lives in Thailand.

Agree.

In essence one of the purposes of road blocks was to spot and punish offenders / offenses, such as not wearing a crash helmet. But of course, as we all know, in many instances this was the mask over draining pockets and often with no offense.

But there is still the need to spot offenders and take action, through, as already said, constant vigilance as the police do their patrol etc.

But it's not only the police who need to change, public attitudes and understanding of how the law should work also needs to change.

An example: our old aunty's adult daughter got pulled over in Tak for not wearing a crash helmet. Aunty went with daughter to the police station and aunty (never frightened to talk loudly and to confront anybody including the police) told the station officer that the police are not allowed to stop people on the streets, they can only ticket people when they are stopped at a manned check point. In other words (her words) if there is not a campaign (a road block) then the police can't ticker someone for not wearing a crash helmet.

Education, starting at school is sorely needed.

[NongKhaiKid]

Nong Khai is quite a distance from Bkk so maybe they need amplifiers on the jungle drums so the messages can be heard.

Yesterday afternoon in the city the BIB had a roadblock going and were happily stopping m/cyclists. I didn't read about the new instruction until later but can assure the ' advance warning ' consisted of some cones. most definitely no easily seen signs, and I'm sure no officer ( Inspector ) was present as those operating the checkpoint were of the skid lid with chin straps flapping variety wheres officers wear the soft uniform cap.

I have a funny feeling this instruction isn't going to

[Laughing Gravy]

.. mmm .. errr .. Junta ... army more corrupt .. bangkok elite .. coup lovers .. Prayuth's outbursts .. People Disappearing People being arrested People being taken in and told off .. bangkok elite (that one is their favourite so I put it twice) ..

It seems our Pheu-Thai supporting friends are lost for words in this article - so I'll save them the bother and sum up the only things they ever say myself.

This would never, ever have happened under the last lot.

You seem to be insinuating that the last government and the others before are the only ones that allowed this practice. You have a short memory. It has been going on for years and also when the coups happen, If this actually happens and becomes a practice then it will get my support but there have been lots of announcements that we are doing this and that. nothing concrete has changed.

[Freed1948]

Illegal parking by cars, trucks and even motorcycles can be eliminated by installing CCTVs along major roads, with tickets send by mail, like those caught running through red lights...

Such tickets would be issued by Traffic Police Central bypassing district police stations. There is no need to lock wheels and leaving the vehicles blocking roads for long periods.

You get a ticket for running a red light?

Didn't know that!

[emilymat]

Now what they need is a police force that will patrol the roads and cite dangerous drivers and people who create hazards by parking and passing illegally.

In other words, they need to enforce the existing laws and start saving lives in Thailand.

Agree.

In essence one of the purposes of road blocks was to spot and punish offenders / offenses, such as not wearing a crash helmet. But of course, as we all know, in many instances this was the mask over draining pockets and often with no offense.

But there is still the need to spot offenders and take action, through, as already said, constant vigilance as the police do their patrol etc.

But it's not only the police who need to change, public attitudes and understanding of how the law should work also needs to change.

An example: our old aunty's adult daughter got pulled over in Tak for not wearing a crash helmet. Aunty went with daughter to the police station and aunty (never frightened to talk loudly and to confront anybody including the police) told the station officer that the police are not allowed to stop people on the streets, they can only ticket people when they are stopped at a manned check point. In other words (her words) if there is not a campaign (a road block) then the police can't ticker someone for not wearing a crash helmet.

Education, starting at school is sorely needed.

That's interesting about aunty.

It's sort of the same mentality a delegation to Pattaya City Hall used a couple of weeks ago. They argued that it was unfair to be fined by the cops at checkpoints because there had been a severe storm recently and the punters had no cash to pay the fines, due to the cost of clearing up. They requested leniency from the police for that reason even though they accepted they were breaking traffic laws.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

so they are basically admitting that the BIB cannot be trusted to do they job honestly. Why continue with the corrupt charade? Fire the lot of them and start over fresh with a reformed force. It's not like they are protecting the public anyway. I say good riddance you corrupt scum bags.

Also fully prosecuting any of them caught doing all of the illegal things they get caught doing would be helpful.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

So what is happening is that law enforcement is curtailed because of the fear that those that must enforce the law are corrupt and will break the law. By changing the road block system there will be less road blocks and thus law enforcement will suffer, plus everyone will now know where it will be. Instead why not fire all the policemen and re-employ them after proper screening including lie detector tests. Then fire all the civil servants and repeat the process with them (including the army). Afterwards the civil service will be 30% of the present size which will save tax money, the service levels will not change as most of them don't work and crime will be halved because the biggest criminals will be behind bars. Damn I forgot most of the government will also be behind bars.

NS: Now the amount of tea money that needs to be paid will increase because an inspector is involved, so guys a B 100 will not do anymore, keep the B 500 ready.