Article 44 invoked for street races, drunk drivers

[snoop1130]

NCPO

Article 44 invoked for street races

BANGKOK:-- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha is using his absolute power under the interim charter’s Article 44 to crack down on street racers and drunk public-transport drivers, according to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) order No 46/2558 published on the Royal Gazette website on Wednesday.

The order - which went into effect on Wednesday - authorises traffic police and relevant state officers to impound vehicles of street racers and drunk public-transport drivers for at least seven days and seize their driver's licences for up to 30 days.

The officers were also authorised to detain the motorists for a behaviour adjustment programme for at least seven days and up to 15 days.

After the detention period - which will not be considered a detention under the Criminal Code - is up and if there are sound reasons for prosecution, the officers can hand the motorists over to the police for action, the order said.

As for public-transport drivers, the Land Transport Department has been authorised to suspend the company's licence or close the company for up to 15 days - unless the firm can prove that it did not have any knowledge of the driver's behaviour and has applied enough measures to prevent a repeat.

Protection under the Public Administration in Emergency Situation 2005's Article 17 is also provided to state officials who sincerely and rationally perform their duties according to this order.

Deputy police chief General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, meanwhile, said the measure would help enhance officers' performance as it can be used on a long-term basis and will help prevent and cut casualties and damages.

Separately, detained drivers will be trained at a local police-training centre for seven to 15 days. The deputy police chief also warned parents to take care of their children and said that though there is no imprisonment, their profiles may be affected.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Article-44-invoked-for-street-races-30275974.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-31

[mark131v]

Did he not already use his 'absolute power' on the boy racers earlier this year?

Perhaps he needs to invest in another box of absolute power because this one doesn't seem to be working properly except on lottery prices....

[JOC]

>>The order - which went into effect on December 30 - authorises traffic police and related state officers to temporarily impound vehicles of street racers and drunk public transport drivers for at least seven days and seize their driver's licence for up to 30 days.<< Quote

Drunk public transport drivers can have their driving licenses revoked for up to 30 days.

So after a month they are ready to get behind the wheel again with a new busload of tourists (victims) on board..............

Find it amusing, that in Thailand you need to invoke emergency laws to make the police do their job for a week.................

[TuskegeeBen]

The PM apparently isn't in touch with the realities on-the-ground level of Thailand. Most Thais (particularly the grass-roots menfolk) are real dare-devils, especially when functioning within the (face-saving) group dynamic.Thus, the threat of a fine, a 7-day incarceration, or 30-day suspension of their driving privileges, does not phase those blokes, even in the least bit.

The PM would be well-advised to spend more Friday evening television “Talk-Time”, focused upon raising (across-the-board) the general Public Health & Safety “consciousness” level of Thai people, instead. That single effort alone, would remedy a combined host of civil behavior issues, and with one stroke of the same paint brush. Just my insignificant considered opinion, of course

Edited December 31, 2015 by TuskegeeBen

[apetley]

Did he not already use his 'absolute power' on the boy racers earlier this year?

Perhaps he needs to invest in another box of absolute power because this one doesn't seem to be working properly except on lottery prices....

Not even working on lottery prices, back up to 90bht where we are.

No wonder he's always so uptight, all these so called special powers that are about as effective as damp toilet tissue.

[scorecard]

Did he not already use his 'absolute power' on the boy racers earlier this year?

Perhaps he needs to invest in another box of absolute power because this one doesn't seem to be working properly except on lottery prices....

Or perhaps he needs to remove / dismiss the lazy incapable police and other officials (some of them still color coded) who don't/won't do their jobs.

Now stand by for 'what about the yellows'.

Edited January 1, 2016 by scorecard

[scorecard]

Did he not already use his 'absolute power' on the boy racers earlier this year?

Perhaps he needs to invest in another box of absolute power because this one doesn't seem to be working properly except on lottery prices....

Not even working on lottery prices, back up to 90bht where we are.

No wonder he's always so uptight, all these so called special powers that are about as effective as damp toilet tissue.

Which means that the corrupt incompetent officials are allowing it to happen / are not following the published regulations etc.

Until he sacks all of these incompetent and corrupt officials there won't be much progress. Go ahead general, throw them all out.

[phoenixdoglover]

Good people have nothing to worry about. Drunk driving arrests are never fabricated. The security of the State comes first. Because we love Thailand.

[phitsanulokjohn]

If to be believed...It's about time.

[prakhonchai nick]

My neighbours car was not impounded, nor he taken in for behaviour adjustment, when stopped for extreme drunk driving in Rayong.

Police made him sober up, then sent him on his way after paying 6,000bt!!!

[recom273]

Can't help from looking at today's ( and most days ) headlines and headline from every other day .. "Minivan driver kills x number ( picking up mobile phone + runs away )" - that he's got far more pressing issues than street racers.

[spidermike007]

The PM apparently isn't in touch with the realities on-the-ground level of Thailand. Most Thais (particularly the grass-roots menfolk) are real dare-devils, especially when functioning within the (face-saving) group dynamic.Thus, the threat of a fine, a 7-day incarceration, or 30-day suspension of their driving privileges, does not phase those blokes, even in the least bit.

The PM would be well-advised to spend more Friday evening television “Talk-Time”, focused upon raising (across-the-board) the general Public Health & Safety “consciousness” level of Thai people, instead. That single effort alone, would remedy a combined host of civil behavior issues, and with one stroke of the same paint brush. Just my insignificant considered opinion, of course

I disagree. You are correct in stating that the mere threat (all that has been used up until now) does not mean much. A threat from Little P. is about as frightening as a fistfight with snow white. However, if they are able to figure out a way to actually implement this (action vs. jawboning) then it would have an impact. I guarantee that those dare devils you speak of would change their tune after 15 days in the slammer. They are really tough behind the wheel. Behind bars they would be frightened little mouses, under the noses of the local gangs in jail. They would not enjoy their time in jail.

The really tough part will be to get the notoriously weak judges and policemen to follow up. He might have to threaten to punish them too, to get them to actually do their jobs.

[captspectre]

Did he not already use his 'absolute power' on the boy racers earlier this year?

Perhaps he needs to invest in another box of absolute power because this one doesn't seem to be working properly except on lottery prices....

Not even working on lottery prices, back up to 90bht where we are.

No wonder he's always so uptight, all these so called special powers that are about as effective as damp toilet tissue.

Which means that the corrupt incompetent officials are allowing it to happen / are not following the published regulations etc.

Until he sacks all of these incompetent and corrupt officials there won't be much progress. Go ahead general, throw them all out.

If the General can pull this off, than more power to him! it is long overdue. however he first has to get rid of all the corrupt, lazy Police officers who do not already enforce his directives! do not transfer them to inactive post, Fire them! plain and simple.

[spidermike007]

My neighbours car was not impounded, nor he taken in for behaviour adjustment, when stopped for extreme drunk driving in Rayong.

Police made him sober up, then sent him on his way after paying 6,000bt!!!

Perhaps this is the "game changer" Little P. is talking about? What he does not realize, is that he is working against a generation or two of lazy incompetent, and indifferent policing. There is no consciousness about public or traffic safety here. None. So, he will have to start threatening the police with prison time, if they do not do their jobs. That might work. My guess is that the prisoners would have a lot of fun with the policemen in jail. That might get their attention. Anything else is just more jawboning, something he is legendary for, at this point. All talk and no action makes Johnny (Little P.) a very dull boy indeed.

[gemguy]

One half of myself likes the idea of law and order while they address the social issues on hand while publically agreed upon needing to be addressed.

Thailand is amongst a long list of countries that are trying to be all the more diligent and vigilant about the contentious social issues regarding alcohol use and alcohol abuse and the social ramifications of wide spread alcohol consumption and everything entailed....including the contentious social issue of drinking and operating a motor vehicle of any kind while intoxicated.

Alcohol and motorcycles and motor vehicle operation are common place everywhere in the world while the public at large and or the government authorities more or less rely on the participants to carry on with a practiced degree of accountability and or responsibility and certainly all the more caution.

However, it does not work that way all too often and the ramifications begin to effect all too many other people and eventually there develops a need for some attitude adjustment practiced upon the percent of people that are obviously conducting themselves in a far too liberal way and all too often ruining it for the rest of the citizens with their brazen and often irresponsible conduct.

On this one I support the Police as these existing laws and the law enforcement efforts of police forces around the world are very active and very diligent ...and for good reason....while Thailand is not doing anything unusual while many other countries have been enforcing the same laws for 50 years now.

There is no room for argument or excuses on this particular contentious social issue.

On the other hand, this is going to be a significant money maker for the numerous police officers that are assigned the task of apprehending those that do drink and drive and street race as we all know well how good intentions usually run amuck here in Thailand.

Cheers

Edited January 1, 2016 by gemguy

[sanukjim]

>>The order - which went into effect on December 30 - authorises traffic police and related state officers to temporarily impound vehicles of street racers and drunk public transport drivers for at least seven days and seize their driver's licence for up to 30 days.<< Quote

Drunk public transport drivers can have their driving licenses revoked for up to 30 days.

So after a month they are ready to get behind the wheel again with a new busload of tourists (victims) on board..............

Find it amusing, that in Thailand you need to invoke emergency laws to make the police do their job for a week.................

If it were not fot the military being in charge there would be none of this as the BIB would continue to do their thing ,"Money please,OK you can go"

[Crash999]

Reading Article 44 invoked one would think they will get multi year prison sentences or something. Not having their bikes for a week and their licenses for a month doesn't seem like much of a penalty at all.

[spidermike007]

One half of myself likes the idea of law and order while they address the social issues on hand while publically agreed upon needing to be addressed.

Thailand is amongst a long list of countries that are trying to be all the more diligent and vigilant about the contentious social issues regarding alcohol use and alcohol abuse and the social ramifications of wide spread alcohol consumption and everything entailed....including the contentious social issue of drinking and operating a motor vehicle of any kind while intoxicated.

Alcohol and motorcycles and motor vehicle operation are common place everywhere in the world while the public at large and or the government authorities more or less rely on the participants to carry on with a practiced degree of accountability and or responsibility and certainly all the more caution.

However, it does not work that way all too often and the ramifications begin to effect all too many other people and eventually there develops a need for some attitude adjustment practiced upon the percent of people that are obviously conducting themselves in a far too liberal way and all too often ruining it for the rest of the citizens with their brazen and often irresponsible conduct.

On this one I support the Police as these existing laws and the law enforcement efforts of police forces around the world are very active and very diligent ...and for good reason....while Thailand is not doing anything unusual while many other countries have been enforcing the same laws for 50 years now.

There is no room for argument or excuses on this particular contentious social issue.

On the other hand, this is going to be a significant money maker for the numerous police officers that are assigned the task of apprehending those that do drink and drive and street race as we all know well how good intentions usually run amuck here in Thailand.

Cheers

All very good points. Saying you are going to start enforcing existing laws, and doing what needs to be done, to make sure existing laws are enforced, are gulfs apart. This administration is world famous for its proclamations, declarations, announcements, and clampdowns. All are in word only. Very few actually see the light of day. Very few are even stated with intention and volition. Very few are implemented, and the few that are implemented do not seem to be followed up, a sign of weakness, incompetence, lack of will, lack of intention, and poor planning. So, while Thailand is continually embarrassed internationally (second worst road fatalities in the world, air safety issues, etc.) they continue to jawbone, and rarely act on the words. Words that are not followed up by action is a cry in the wilderness. They do not mean anything, to anybody.

There is a lot that can be done to improve traffic safety here, something that is NOT taken seriously by either the police or the government. Some real effort in that direction, by a means other than hollow proclamations, would be appreciated by most of the population, and would go a long way toward saving a lot of lives, that are destroyed by the mayhem, and near chaos on the roads. I believe the best place to start is by sending hundreds of highway patrol vehicles out onto the roads, and beginning by issuing speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets, and getting serious about drunk driving, with real fines, and mandatory confiscation of the vehicle and jail time, for people engaging in very reckless driving, like I see almost every day on the roads. The word would get around, that the police are finally getting serious about traffic safety, in no time at all. People would talk. People might be less careless, out of fear if nothing else. A deterrent can be a very good thing for a society. At the moment, there is little in the way of a deterrent, on so many levels of Thai society. And it hurts the public. It hurts the morale of the people. It tears at the fabric of society.

[cream]

The Day The Thai so called "Police" refuse to accept Bribes nothing will ever change.

If they actually did their jobs and arrested and charged these dangerous and inconsiderate road uses things would be quite different.

But who are will kidding, Zero driving experience + Bribe = Thai Drivers Licence, Zero qualifications + Large Bribe = Police Officer

[sawadee1947]

we will see how it works....Anyway a good deal. Hope he will do similar to make wearing helmets on bikes.

Actually he would be able to change soooo many things with his absolute power. I wonder why he is not "moving Thailand forward". Law inforcement would be the first step.

[ross163103]

The idea is sound--and should be done, but how far is he going to go with article 44, where will it stop? The word dictatorship comes to mind.

Edited January 1, 2016 by ross163103

[swerver]

One half of myself likes the idea of law and order while they address the social issues on hand while publically agreed upon needing to be addressed.

Thailand is amongst a long list of countries that are trying to be all the more diligent and vigilant about the contentious social issues regarding alcohol use and alcohol abuse and the social ramifications of wide spread alcohol consumption and everything entailed....including the contentious social issue of drinking and operating a motor vehicle of any kind while intoxicated.

Alcohol and motorcycles and motor vehicle operation are common place everywhere in the world while the public at large and or the government authorities more or less rely on the participants to carry on with a practiced degree of accountability and or responsibility and certainly all the more caution.

However, it does not work that way all too often and the ramifications begin to effect all too many other people and eventually there develops a need for some attitude adjustment practiced upon the percent of people that are obviously conducting themselves in a far too liberal way and all too often ruining it for the rest of the citizens with their brazen and often irresponsible conduct.

On this one I support the Police as these existing laws and the law enforcement efforts of police forces around the world are very active and very diligent ...and for good reason....while Thailand is not doing anything unusual while many other countries have been enforcing the same laws for 50 years now.

There is no room for argument or excuses on this particular contentious social issue.

On the other hand, this is going to be a significant money maker for the numerous police officers that are assigned the task of apprehending those that do drink and drive and street race as we all know well how good intentions usually run amuck here in Thailand.

Cheers

All very good points. Saying you are going to start enforcing existing laws, and doing what needs to be done, to make sure existing laws are enforced, are gulfs apart. This administration is world famous for its proclamations, declarations, announcements, and clampdowns. All are in word only. Very few actually see the light of day. Very few are even stated with intention and volition. Very few are implemented, and the few that are implemented do not seem to be followed up, a sign of weakness, incompetence, lack of will, lack of intention, and poor planning. So, while Thailand is continually embarrassed internationally (second worst road fatalities in the world, air safety issues, etc.) they continue to jawbone, and rarely act on the words. Words that are not followed up by action is a cry in the wilderness. They do not mean anything, to anybody.

There is a lot that can be done to improve traffic safety here, something that is NOT taken seriously by either the police or the government. Some real effort in that direction, by a means other than hollow proclamations, would be appreciated by most of the population, and would go a long way toward saving a lot of lives, that are destroyed by the mayhem, and near chaos on the roads. I believe the best place to start is by sending hundreds of highway patrol vehicles out onto the roads, and beginning by issuing speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets, and getting serious about drunk driving, with real fines, and mandatory confiscation of the vehicle and jail time, for people engaging in very reckless driving, like I see almost every day on the roads. The word would get around, that the police are finally getting serious about traffic safety, in no time at all. People would talk. People might be less careless, out of fear if nothing else. A deterrent can be a very good thing for a society. At the moment, there is little in the way of a deterrent, on so many levels of Thai society. And it hurts the public. It hurts the morale of the people. It tears at the fabric of society.

You said it HIGHWAY PATROL. Thailand has no Highway Patrol it has Highway Police 4-fat asses in a car either parked along the side of the highway or crawling along.

Until Thailand takes a page out of the book of the Highway Patrol in Europe were there is one (1) car with one (1) Highway Patrol officer in it supported by several Highway Patrol officers on special build for Highway Patrol Honda , Kawasaki, BMW, etc. motorcycles. When the motorcycle officer needs a driver taken to jail he request the car officer to come and take the person to jail. Other reason for the car is if there is an accident the car and/or cars is used to block the road. Reason for several motorcycles per car is that motorcycles officers can move ahead were the car officer is limited in moving ahead because he has to content with all the other cars and trucks ahead of him while the motorcycle officer is not restricted he can work his way through the cars and trucks ahead traffic and get to were he sees a traffic violator way ahead.

Over the years I have brought this to the attention of the person(s) in Thailand concerned with the subject but being typical Thailand NOTHING has ever come of my trying.

Happy New Year with the old year chaos continuing on the roads in Thailand.

[connda]

Things the PM has learned from Obama and the 'exceptional' US political system, and the Roman Empire. You can't fault the PM for being a student of geopolitical history and a fast learner.

It's quicker and easier to invoke 'Executive Power' than it is to wait for the legislative body of the government to pass laws.

[Doc46]

It's an utter disgrace that ones or twice per year the hobnobs get a brainwave (what brain) and trying to look big, pushing their weight around for what is suppose to be enforcing the law 24/7,,,they think that they are shit hot for what is suppose to be the normal run of the mill.

[spidermike007]

The Day The Thai so called "Police" refuse to accept Bribes nothing will ever change.

If they actually did their jobs and arrested and charged these dangerous and inconsiderate road uses things would be quite different.

But who are will kidding, Zero driving experience + Bribe = Thai Drivers Licence, Zero qualifications + Large Bribe = Police Officer

The way I see it, the police are not entirely to blame. Their salaries are pitiful. A starting cop makes something like 8,000 baht per month. A small precinct captain earns 15,000! And some have to pay for their own guns, ammunition, etc. It is entirely the fault of several governments, who have a de facto pact with the police. We will see to it that not enough funding is provided for your training, equipment, salaries, etc, and in exchange you are given a free license to do as you like, to earn your living. They are as protected as the American bankers. Nearly untouchable.

In June 2015, it was reported that, "Thai police officers are paid around 14,760 baht per month (6,800–8,340 baht for entry level) and have to buy their own guns and even office supplies." He posits that one reason salaries are so low is that the sheer number of officers is staggering, roughly 250,000. This means that an increase of 5,000 baht in every cop's monthly salary would cost the government a politically untenable 15 billion baht annually.

So, who has to take responsibility for this? How is a policeman supposed to provide for his family? I am not condoning their acts. I despise the local corruption. I am just trying to analyze this impartially, and this is the conclusion I have come to.

In reality, hundreds of billions of baht, and perhaps as much as a trillion baht, would have to be spent, if police reform is ever something a future government is serious about. Between proper equipment, training, adequate salaries (probably at least double the current levels), expertise (forensic doctors and analysts, and higher ranking detectives trained overseas would be a good start) cars, trucks, etc, etc. I found one reference to the entire annual budget for the RTP was in the range of 62 billion baht. That was in 2008. More than likely two to three times that would be needed.

[connda]

One half of myself likes the idea of law and order while they address the social issues on hand while publically agreed upon needing to be addressed.

Thailand is amongst a long list of countries that are trying to be all the more diligent and vigilant about the contentious social issues regarding alcohol use and alcohol abuse and the social ramifications of wide spread alcohol consumption and everything entailed....including the contentious social issue of drinking and operating a motor vehicle of any kind while intoxicated.

Alcohol and motorcycles and motor vehicle operation are common place everywhere in the world while the public at large and or the government authorities more or less rely on the participants to carry on with a practiced degree of accountability and or responsibility and certainly all the more caution.

However, it does not work that way all too often and the ramifications begin to effect all too many other people and eventually there develops a need for some attitude adjustment practiced upon the percent of people that are obviously conducting themselves in a far too liberal way and all too often ruining it for the rest of the citizens with their brazen and often irresponsible conduct.

On this one I support the Police as these existing laws and the law enforcement efforts of police forces around the world are very active and very diligent ...and for good reason....while Thailand is not doing anything unusual while many other countries have been enforcing the same laws for 50 years now.

There is no room for argument or excuses on this particular contentious social issue.

On the other hand, this is going to be a significant money maker for the numerous police officers that are assigned the task of apprehending those that do drink and drive and street race as we all know well how good intentions usually run amuck here in Thailand.

Cheers

All very good points. Saying you are going to start enforcing existing laws, and doing what needs to be done, to make sure existing laws are enforced, are gulfs apart. This administration is world famous for its proclamations, declarations, announcements, and clampdowns. All are in word only. Very few actually see the light of day. Very few are even stated with intention and volition. Very few are implemented, and the few that are implemented do not seem to be followed up, a sign of weakness, incompetence, lack of will, lack of intention, and poor planning. So, while Thailand is continually embarrassed internationally (second worst road fatalities in the world, air safety issues, etc.) they continue to jawbone, and rarely act on the words. Words that are not followed up by action is a cry in the wilderness. They do not mean anything, to anybody.

There is a lot that can be done to improve traffic safety here, something that is NOT taken seriously by either the police or the government. Some real effort in that direction, by a means other than hollow proclamations, would be appreciated by most of the population, and would go a long way toward saving a lot of lives, that are destroyed by the mayhem, and near chaos on the roads. I believe the best place to start is by sending hundreds of highway patrol vehicles out onto the roads, and beginning by issuing speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets, and getting serious about drunk driving, with real fines, and mandatory confiscation of the vehicle and jail time, for people engaging in very reckless driving, like I see almost every day on the roads. The word would get around, that the police are finally getting serious about traffic safety, in no time at all. People would talk. People might be less careless, out of fear if nothing else. A deterrent can be a very good thing for a society. At the moment, there is little in the way of a deterrent, on so many levels of Thai society. And it hurts the public. It hurts the morale of the people. It tears at the fabric of society.

You said it HIGHWAY PATROL. Thailand has no Highway Patrol it has Highway Police 4-fat asses in a car either parked along the side of the highway or crawling along.

Until Thailand takes a page out of the book of the Highway Patrol in Europe were there is one (1) car with one (1) Highway Patrol officer in it supported by several Highway Patrol officers on special build for Highway Patrol Honda , Kawasaki, BMW, etc. motorcycles. When the motorcycle officer needs a driver taken to jail he request the car officer to come and take the person to jail. Other reason for the car is if there is an accident the car and/or cars is used to block the road. Reason for several motorcycles per car is that motorcycles officers can move ahead were the car officer is limited in moving ahead because he has to content with all the other cars and trucks ahead of him while the motorcycle officer is not restricted he can work his way through the cars and trucks ahead traffic and get to were he sees a traffic violator way ahead.

Over the years I have brought this to the attention of the person(s) in Thailand concerned with the subject but being typical Thailand NOTHING has ever come of my trying.

Happy New Year with the old year chaos continuing on the roads in Thailand.

The Highway Patrol is a special branch of the police force with the mandate to escort VIPs transiting the Highway system.

Pull people over for moving violations? Lol. Are there laws on the books governing moving violations? Don't think so. Most violations can be found at road blocks: not wearing helmets, not wearing seat-belts, drunk driving. Those are the 'real cash cows'. There is only one moving violation: motorcycle street racing. And you don't need a Highway Patrol car for that, just an officer on the ground with a baseball bat.

Not maintaining your lane, not yielding the right-of-way, speeding, reckless driving, passing on corners: All Thai drivers do it so it must be OK! If everyone does it, how can it be a problem?

So Highway Patrol are scarce resources in limited supply that are needed for the tender loving care of VIPs. My teerak verified this, so it must be correct.

Edited January 1, 2016 by connda

[Classic Ray]

When trying to eliminate corruption and enforce legislation, the most important thing is to realise that you must replace at least some of the the funds earned through corruption with enhanced salaries at the same time as ensuring those who choose to remain corrupt or inefficient are eliminated from service. So look for tax increases and an ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) as in Hong Kong before there is any prospect of change.

[bheard]

One half of myself likes the idea of law and order while they address the social issues on hand while publically agreed upon needing to be addressed.

Thailand is amongst a long list of countries that are trying to be all the more diligent and vigilant about the contentious social issues regarding alcohol use and alcohol abuse and the social ramifications of wide spread alcohol consumption and everything entailed....including the contentious social issue of drinking and operating a motor vehicle of any kind while intoxicated.

Alcohol and motorcycles and motor vehicle operation are common place everywhere in the world while the public at large and or the government authorities more or less rely on the participants to carry on with a practiced degree of accountability and or responsibility and certainly all the more caution.

However, it does not work that way all too often and the ramifications begin to effect all too many other people and eventually there develops a need for some attitude adjustment practiced upon the percent of people that are obviously conducting themselves in a far too liberal way and all too often ruining it for the rest of the citizens with their brazen and often irresponsible conduct.

On this one I support the Police as these existing laws and the law enforcement efforts of police forces around the world are very active and very diligent ...and for good reason....while Thailand is not doing anything unusual while many other countries have been enforcing the same laws for 50 years now.

There is no room for argument or excuses on this particular contentious social issue.

On the other hand, this is going to be a significant money maker for the numerous police officers that are assigned the task of apprehending those that do drink and drive and street race as we all know well how good intentions usually run amuck here in Thailand.

Cheers

All very good points. Saying you are going to start enforcing existing laws, and doing what needs to be done, to make sure existing laws are enforced, are gulfs apart. This administration is world famous for its proclamations, declarations, announcements, and clampdowns. All are in word only. Very few actually see the light of day. Very few are even stated with intention and volition. Very few are implemented, and the few that are implemented do not seem to be followed up, a sign of weakness, incompetence, lack of will, lack of intention, and poor planning. So, while Thailand is continually embarrassed internationally (second worst road fatalities in the world, air safety issues, etc.) they continue to jawbone, and rarely act on the words. Words that are not followed up by action is a cry in the wilderness. They do not mean anything, to anybody.

There is a lot that can be done to improve traffic safety here, something that is NOT taken seriously by either the police or the government. Some real effort in that direction, by a means other than hollow proclamations, would be appreciated by most of the population, and would go a long way toward saving a lot of lives, that are destroyed by the mayhem, and near chaos on the roads. I believe the best place to start is by sending hundreds of highway patrol vehicles out onto the roads, and beginning by issuing speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets, and getting serious about drunk driving, with real fines, and mandatory confiscation of the vehicle and jail time, for people engaging in very reckless driving, like I see almost every day on the roads. The word would get around, that the police are finally getting serious about traffic safety, in no time at all. People would talk. People might be less careless, out of fear if nothing else. A deterrent can be a very good thing for a society. At the moment, there is little in the way of a deterrent, on so many levels of Thai society. And it hurts the public. It hurts the morale of the people. It tears at the fabric of society.

All good.

My take on all this is that for the police to get tough on the roads and actually make a difference, they have to know how to do it. I believe the average Thai police administrator doesn't actually know how he wants his police force to behave on the street to get a result. Just looking how they handle a helmet 'crackdown for example - they set up a station on a main drag and start pulling in lots of riders, they take fines and let riders ride away still with no helmet - I've seen this in Korat. Meanwhile, weeks pass and no further action, and I've never seen cops setting up on minor roads around Korat - while I have seen cops sitting idly while pleny of helmetless riders ride by - many many times.

Reckless driving - I don't believe the cops know how to even define this, because I have seen plenty of reckless behaviour on the roads by Thai cops. Seems to me that the first part of a serious attempt to apply the current laws should be to educate the police force - just what it is that they are trying to do and how to go about it to get a result.

Another good example of ineptness is the example given earlier - the very drunk driver being allowed to proceed after paying a fine - this obviously is a sign that the cop involved does not know how to do his job - presumably he doesn't understand how to handle a situation to make a credible improvement in driver behaviour.

Of course to have an effect on the overall picture, the police need to want to make an improveement - this seems also to be a problem. A current popular phrase that comes to mind: attitude adjustment. . . .

[prakhonchai nick]

Reading Article 44 invoked one would think they will get multi year prison sentences or something. Not having their bikes for a week and their licenses for a month doesn't seem like much of a penalty at all.

A short sharp shock will knock most into shape. Those that ignore things should be told very clearly that next time, it will be 1 year without vehicle and minmium 1 month behind bars!

[Somtamnication]

Article 44 is one of the coolest toys for 2016. Can I have one please?