Phuket to get heavy on drink drivers

[webfact]

Phuket to get heavy on drink drivers
Eakkapop Thongtub


Maj Gen Theerapol Thipcharoen is ready to get heavy handed with the island's drink drivers.

PHUKET: -- The chief of Phuket Police has issued a warning to all motorists that drink driving laws will now be more strictly enforced in a bid to reduce the number of road accidents reported on the island.

Maj Gen Theerapol Thipcharoen announced the warning at a meeting held yesterday (Nove 2) to give an update on the “If you drink and drive you'll be struck for sure” campaign (Mao laew khab thuk jab nae) that was introducedon October 1.

The campaign has been set up with police being given the task of arresting a specific number of drink drivers in their dedicated areas per month. The numbers are as follows:

Phuket Town, Kathu, Karon and Thalang police must arrest at least 20 cases per month

Chalong, Thung Thong and Vichit 15 cases per month

Cherng Talay and Thachatchai 10 case per month

Kamala 5 cases per month.

“Every station can achieve their targets. We are entering the high season now and New Year is next and that’s when there are high numbers of accidents. More measures need to be taken,” Maj Gen Theerapol explained.

He also urged each police station chief to study their own areas for traffic congestion and road conditions or anything that is likely to increase the chances of an accident.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-to-get-heavy-on-drink-drivers-54799.php


-- Phuket News 2015-11-04

[NongKhaiKid]

Oh no not another crackdown ! Will this include action against his own men ?

Setting targets is a bad idea as it only leads to another type of illegal practice so the figures can be met.

However as with all crackdowns here it may be the usual FOR A LIMITED PERIOD ONLY !

[steelepulse]

Heard about an expat getting pinched the other night coming from Karon to Rawai. Don't know the location or time though. Wasn't allowed to get out of it and had to spend the night in the gray bar hotel.

[huuwi]

Why Kamala only 5, they are next to Patong????

[Phuketboy]

hahahaha what a joke. With approx 3000 bar girls going home every night/morning they will be able to fill those quoters in 10 min. That is not getting tough. Getting tough would be to do a proper crackdown and do random breath tests all the time. If caught slap a min 30,000 baht fine or 3 months jail. At the same time they would also be able to arrest everyone driving/riding scooters with no licence. Problem is, that won't happen because the traffic police will need to actually do something other than fine people for helmets. I had a car nearly hit me whilst crossing the road right in front of a traffic cop not that long ago. Didn't do a damn thing. Useless scum.

Edited November 4, 2015 by Phuketboy

[BestBitterPhuket]

Good, but penalties must increase.

[dean008]

A Thai friend mentioned they are getting strict on people caught drink driving in his area, he tells me it now costs about 4000 baht to pay of the police

[zaZa9]

Its been 20,000 for farangs here in Kamala for years dean008 !

Edited November 4, 2015 by zaZa9

[madmitch]

Its been 20,000 for farangs here in Kamala for years dean008 !

That's why Kamala has the smallest quota.

[Ulic]

Bla, bla, bla, crackdown, and you will be caught, bla, bla.

[Mudcrab]

Whine about the police not doing their jobs....whine when they are told to do their jobs.

[Jimi007]

Whine about the police not doing their jobs....whine when they are told to do their jobs.

Doing their job would be good, but putting quotas on the number of arrests is illegal in many countries and the possibility of false arrests is great.

[LivinginKata]

Doing their job would be good, but putting quotas on the number of arrests is illegal in many countries and the possibility of false arrests is great.

Yep ... completely agree with that.

Trouble is that late at night there are likely many drunk drivers on the road and the police are so lazy they don't bother checking an erratic driver. This quota idea might just make them do at least the minimum amount of traffic police work.