Why is everybody here b-tching ? It's only in 88 police stations in Bangkok , and meant to clear a massive backlog of overdue fines , so no new ones .

This is all part of Thainess, and the "logic" behind this measure is clearly beyond the comprehension of us lowly farangs....

Welcome to Thailand, where EVERY DAY is April Fool's day (or so it seems).

"He also insisted that police did not only seek to make money from arrests."

Now why would Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn deem it necessary to say this ???

Same reason McDonald's hired that guy to do a documentary saying that their burgers were actually beef.

What a lame idea, it's like giving catre blanch to all drunks to go on drink and drive/ride...

I'm waiting for the amnesty announcements for all murderess, rapists and drug barons

out of jail... Gee, of all the nice gestures the government can do for it's people they come

up with this stupid and unnecessary idea....

ITS AN EARLY APRIL FOOLS DAY.

How is it up to the police to decide how much a "fine" should be?

This is unfathomably stupid, it must be a joke?

EDIT: Never mind, just saw this news was about Thailand.

the PM ordered all government dept to give people a new year present and this is the one from the police

Makes sense in a way. Smaller fines more people will break the rules. More will be caught and moore money overall will come in. For the record I promise not to do whatever it was I did again at least not until next time.

Another mixed message from the Gov't. Reducing traffic infringement fines this will not make the drivers behave in a better manner.Other countries increase penaltys over holiday periods.Then the gov't says it will come down heavier on drunk drivers. Speed kills more people throughout the year.Education and law enforcement is what is needed..

The first idea to dress the cops presenting the gifts in Santa Claus costumes was discarded of fear they may be mistaken for red shirts.

Only one word for it, DUMB!

Key phrase here is 'there is no serious repercussion for overdue fines'. No kidding. There are no serious repercussions for just about anything--and that's the problem. Fines should be a deterrent, not a joke, raised not lowered, and should start at around 1000 baht and go up from there. Unpaid after a certain period? Take away the drivers license and the vehicle.

Thailand England (Minimums)

Driving at 120kmh = 200 THB Fine 3 Penalty Points and 5000 THB Fine and New drivers with 2 years of passing can be banned

No Seat Belt = 200 THB Fine 5000 THB Fine and can carry 2 penalty points

Jumping Red Light =200 THB Fine 3 Penalty Points and 5000 THB Fine and New drivers with 2 years of passing can be banned

Driving at 250 kmh = 200 THB Fine At least 1 year in prison and loss of licence or maybe even 9 years in prison if it is a police chase.

Maybe Thailand needs to look at what the rest of the world is doing regarding driving penalties if they really want to reduce the road related death rate.

Absolutely madness but,

TIT

As a farrang we will never understand this logic of the Thainess

A present for doing the wrong thing. It not make sense.

Thailand England (Minimums)

Driving at 120kmh = 200 THB Fine 3 Penalty Points and 5000 THB Fine and New drivers with 2 years of passing can be banned

No Seat Belt = 200 THB Fine 5000 THB Fine and can carry 2 penalty points

Jumping Red Light =200 THB Fine 3 Penalty Points and 5000 THB Fine and New drivers with 2 years of passing can be banned

Driving at 250 kmh = 200 THB Fine At least 1 year in prison and loss of licence or maybe even 9 years in prison if it is a police chase.

Maybe Thailand needs to look at what the rest of the world is doing regarding driving penalties if they really want to reduce the road related death rate.

This is one of the things I like about living and driving in Thailand. Get caught,pay the fine and go without even showing the license.

So one day they state there getting tough on motorists to reduce fatalities this New Year and the next there saying there reducing fines for no helmet and no seat belt, these are the things that kill people. They should do what they do in Western Australia and have the fines doubled over the holiday period as a disincentive to disobey traffic rules.

Not only the fines have been doubled. So have the demerit points. 9 points gone and you're on the buses for a year. Using a phone and/or texting while driving attracts a $340 fine.

It never ceases to amaze me, seeing folk on motorbikes here, driving with one hand while texting.

I'd have thought a nice Christmas gift to the people of Thailand would be preserving a few hundred lives here over the crazy season.

And the other hand holding either a baby or an umbrella!

Every other police department in the world is cracking down of traffic offenses during the holiday season to keep fatalities down and these muppets encourage traffic fatalities as a form of population control

That will teach them a lesson!

The level of idiocy in this country, is just off the charts!

Never heard of a more Populist idea. Guess Mr. P is leaning how to get support!

I think this discount to apply to fines already registered, not for future fines. Fines will still be at normal rate. I think they're just trying to rein in fines that have not been paid, sort of an amnesty on unpaid fines.

So they are to lazy to work a bit, that's why they have a backlog,Get of your <deleted> and increase the fines so maybe a fewer people get killed on the roads. Who's insane idea was that? he should be in jail.

How f'ing typical is this of the idiotic "thinking" in LoS!!

They are rewarding people who break the law!!

It is as simple as that.

It speaks volumes about how they lack even the smallest capacity for rational thinking, and how they view the law.

Nice can clear my fines now good news

I guess more deaths will come up over the New Year.

Thai illogic !

Read the article it's for existing fines not new ones so how will that cause more deaths over new year.

Jump

Bandwagon

Thai bashing all spring to mind

what the hell is this!? fines are supposed to discourage motorists from committing traffic violations. what i would consider a real New Year gift would be strict and just enforcement of traffic rules, specially on motorcycle riders.

So one day they state there getting tough on motorists to reduce fatalities this New Year and the next there saying there reducing fines for no helmet and no seat belt, these are the things that kill people. They should do what they do in Western Australia and have the fines doubled over the holiday period as a disincentive to disobey traffic rules.

Well not sure for the other states in Australia, but NSW also doubles the fines and demerit points, and man are the fines in NSW hefty, but this Xmas gift BS by this nation of this nature if off the ******** charts.

Who on earth comes up with these laws and how on earth are they passed?

That is just plain stupid. What kind of deterrent is this administration trying to maintain here ? Every single day this government comes up with plans that absolutely defy logic.

By the same token, if a speeding car kills someone, is that considered to be a new years gift as well, to the family and friends of the person killed.

I think that those of us that live in Thailand have become nearly immune to the daft utterings of those in power, however I am sure the rest of the world are not, just dumb struck.