Prayut prefers to seize licences from drunk drivers

[webfact]

DRUNK DRIVING
Prayut prefers to seize licences from drunk drivers
The Nation



Police say impounding cars was big success; it cut drunk-driver arrests by half.

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed yesterday to continue measures against drunk drivers - but said he would rather seize drivers' licences instead of impounding their vehicles.

He said the action was authorised under the charter's Article 44.

"Please understand that this [impounding vehicles] is the law and will remain so until it is cancelled. I have not yet cancelled it," he said.

"[but] today I instructed [officers] to review the vehicle-impounding action because keeping vehicles for a long time can lead to problems. We might have to return the vehicles and seize the driver's licences instead, so they can't go out and drink-drive again," he said.

Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said yesterday police wanted to impound vehicles on all major holidays - as it had yielded a satisfactory result.

Justice permanent secretary Chanchao Chaiyanukij said he would propose that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) continue to seize drunk drivers' vehicles until the Songkran Festival and seven months beyond that.

Chanchao said the criteria could be amended so it would not just depend on officers' discretion, in a bid to prevent corruption.

NCPO deputy spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong said from December 25 until January 3, soldiers at checkpoints impounded 4,052 vehicles (3,032 motorcycles and 1,012 cars) because drivers were drunk. All up, 23,703 motorcyclists and 9,432 drivers were facing legal action. She said the Army would return confiscated vehicles to owners today.

The PM thanked all officials for performing duties during the New Year holiday period.

The Road Safety Centre reported that the first six days of the New Year holiday (December 29 to January 3) ended with 340 people killed and 3,216 injured in 3,092 accidents nationwide.

These figures were higher than the same period last year, when there were 301 deaths and 2,843 people injured in 2,732 accidents. Most accidents stemmed from drivers being drunk or speeding, police said, while Chiang Mai had the most accidents at 125 and most injuries (125). Nakhon Ratchasima had the highest road toll (15 deaths), PM's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul said.

On January 3 alone, 48 people were killed and 361 injured in 339 accidents. Only five of the 77 provinces - Trang, Phrae, Ranong, Song Buri and Sukhothai - reported no road deaths.

Earlier yesterday, Chakthip told a press conference that impounding vehicles - which he believed was not an abuse of people's rights - should be used in every key holiday period, as it was a big help in their campaign.

Police revealed that, although the number of motorists who broke the law was more than 700,000 - exceeding the previous period by 100,000 - the number arrested for drunk driving dropped by almost half, which meant preventive measures had been effective against drunk driving.

Chakthip also said that 4,960 houses were placed "under police care" over the New Year - 1,000 more than last year - and most people had now returned.

Other senior police told the media that this long holiday period saw about three million people drive back to their home towns, which was a big jump from the two million in the previous New Year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Prayut-prefers-to-seize-licences-from-drunk-driver-30276126.html


-- The Nation 2016-01-05

[webfact]

PM: Drink drivers' licenses will be impounded instead of vehicles

BANGKOK, 4 December 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked officers and the public for cooperating with the government during the New Year holiday so that no violent incident took place.

The PM on Monday said he was still concerned about losses caused by road accidents. He added that he would not cancel his order, under Section 44 of the interim charter, which had been enforced to prevent road accidents. However, Gen.Prayut said he had instructed relevant officers to consider impounding driver's licenses instead of vehicles of drink drivers.

Gen.Prayut refused to answer the media's questions about his concerns for the current political situation.

-- NNT 2016-01-05

[Bluespunk]

"Please understand that this [impounding vehicles] is the law and will remain so until it is cancelled. I have not yet cancelled it," he said."

Right, that's clear enough then.

[jaywalker]

"We might have to return the vehicles and seize the driver's licences instead, so they can't go out and drink-drive again," he said."

Errr... What about the tens of thousands that don't have licenses but continue to drive? What kind of ivory tower does this guy live in?

He reminds me of the Emperor's New Clothes.

"The Emperor's New Clothes" (Danish: Kejserens nye Klæder) is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, no one dares to say that he doesn't see any suit of clothes until a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" The tale has been translated into over a hundred languages.^[1]

[Ks45672]

Remove power for the police to put money in their pockets (I know, easier said then done) and make all tickets be paid at the police station no sooner than a week after the crime.....

[Nigeone]

Once again this guy is seriously challenged when it comes to common sense !! Let's not take the cars of them just take there licenses. As somebody else said since when has not having a licence stopped anyone in Thailand driving ! Arrest them,lock them up and take there licenses and if caught driving when they get out without a licence seize and sell there car and lock them up again!.

And as for seizing cars halved the drink Driving by half ! Lol..They don't normally check for drunk driving so how would they know ! Air heads !!

[honoluludave]

Since when, did not having a driver licences stop anyone from driving in Thailand?

[Seastallion]

Take a piece of plastic instead of something valuable. Does he really think that will serve as a deterrent?

Perhaps......IF there was automatic arrest if caught driving without a license AND routine and frequent checks.

[LannaGuy]

seize licenses and then what? prosecute? fine? give them back as a 'present'?

[apetley]

Since when has a cancelled, or even no licence, been an impairment to driving here? Until the time comes when there are serious consequences for driving whilst unlicensed those who do so won't give a damn........just as they do now.

[khwaibah]

Put the vehicle in a car cruiser.

[yankee99]

Good thing this is just on holidays ;(

[LennyW]

Give them back their vehicles but take away their licences, oooooh scary!!!!

You just could not make this sh#t up!!!!

[realenglish1]

"We might have to return the vehicles and seize the driver's licences instead, so they can't go out and drink-drive again," he said."

What has he been reading Just because you take their license does not mean they are going to be a good drunk and not drive

OMG

[waldroj]

Prayut is right! Suspending the offender's licence is the proper thing to do (regardless of whether they then choose to drive while suspended).

Seizing the vehicle is a regressive action, and it doesn't work if the offender has more than one vehicle. Meanwhile, it seriously impacts a single-vehicle family (where another family member could have continued to use the vehicle).

[DavisH]

Prayut is right! Suspending the offender's licence is the proper thing to do (regardless of whether they then choose to drive while suspended).

Seizing the vehicle is a regressive action, and it doesn't work if the offender has more than one vehicle. Meanwhile, it seriously impacts a single-vehicle family (where another family member could have continued to use the vehicle).

And what if they don't have a licence? Make that a 5000 baht fine!

Cancel any licence of any driver who does have one who is caught drink driving.

The scary thought is that even though over 20000 drivers were caught drink driving, this did not even make a dent in the number of road accidents / fatalities. This just shows the extent of the drink driving problem in this country. And it has become such a problem through lack of law enforcement (and the laws that do exist are weak anyway).

[thailand49]

Once again this guy is seriously challenged when it comes to common sense !! Let's not take the cars of them just take there licenses. As somebody else said since when has not having a licence stopped anyone in Thailand driving ! Arrest them,lock them up and take there licenses and if caught driving when they get out without a licence seize and sell there car and lock them up again!.

And as for seizing cars halved the drink Driving by half ! Lol..They don't normally check for drunk driving so how would they know ! Air heads !!

+1, This guy is seriously challenged! The death rate continues because of leaders like this who just do not have a idea what to do, C-Saw back and forth just like the liquor ban around schools, just like asking everyone to wear a helmet and then he does a photo op on a chopper without one?

Sure take the license away and let the guy drive away and when he sober up or return to pick up his license and a slap on the wrist. Or maybe better yet continue kill someone and he is return that way!

This use to be the Land of Smile, it is slowly becoming the Land of Stupidity!

Edited January 5, 2016 by thailand49

[Johnice]

Where I live, everyone I talk to don't have motorcycle or vehicle drivers licenses. A guy who works in the city and commutes every day on a super bike has never had a license in his life. When I asked why not...his answer, "for what? easier to pay police 200Thb" Like LennyW says, you can't make this shit up

But collide with these £$%&**'s and you have the battle of proving it wasn't your fault because all the witnesses are not on the side of a farang.

[Langsuan Man]

Prayut is right! Suspending the offender's licence is the proper thing to do (regardless of whether they then choose to drive while suspended).

Seizing the vehicle is a regressive action, and it doesn't work if the offender has more than one vehicle. Meanwhile, it seriously impacts a single-vehicle family (where another family member could have continued to use the vehicle).

Regressive as if taking away the license would mean anything to the average Thai

It is a lot easier to hand the cop 100 THB for not having a license than it is to get your car out of the impound lot , but I guess we are supposed to be glad the PM is a big picture kind of dictator

[topt]

On a different note anybody know where this figure comes from in the article and what it means -

Police revealed that, although the number of motorists who broke the law was more than 700,000 - exceeding the previous period by 100,000...........................

Is this just the total no. of tickets issued across the period or for the whole year..................?

[Lupatria]

Chakthip also said that 4,960 houses were placed "under police care" over the New Year - 1,000 more than last year - and most people had now returned.

Can anyone explain what this means and why houses were placed "under police care"?

[englishoak]

Thai police officer : licence please

Merc hiso driver: PM Prayuth is hanging onto it for me,probably still at his place, why ?

Officer: Oh ok sorry to trouble you sir have a nice day..

Edited January 5, 2016 by englishoak

[TEFLKrabi]

Prayut is right! Suspending the offender's licence is the proper thing to do (regardless of whether they then choose to drive while suspended).

Seizing the vehicle is a regressive action, and it doesn't work if the offender has more than one vehicle. Meanwhile, it seriously impacts a single-vehicle family (where another family member could have continued to use the vehicle).

If it impacts the family, maybe, just maybe, they'll think twice before driving when drunk. I think a fine of B1000 to collect the car would also be good.

[LennyW]

Prayut is right! Suspending the offender's licence is the proper thing to do (regardless of whether they then choose to drive while suspended).

Seizing the vehicle is a regressive action, and it doesn't work if the offender has more than one vehicle. Meanwhile, it seriously impacts a single-vehicle family (where another family member could have continued to use the vehicle).

Nonsense, the objective is to teach them a lesson, imagine Somchai getting it in the ear from his wife for a week because they did not have a vehicle, far more effective than having to handover a licence!!!

[Gutterboy]

<deleted>. Where does the stupidity end??

Zero tolerance for drink driving, dangerous driving, driving without a license, etc.

Nationwide education program (on TV so nobody misses it) followed by a REAL crackdown (not the usual lip service) and massive fines for anyone breaking the laws - the laws that already exist, by the way.

This problem could be ended in a matter of days/weeks if only someone with power actually cared.

[Nigeone]

Prayut is right! Suspending the offender's licence is the proper thing to do (regardless of whether they then choose to drive while suspended).

Seizing the vehicle is a regressive action, and it doesn't work if the offender has more than one vehicle. Meanwhile, it seriously impacts a single-vehicle family (where another family member could have continued to use the vehicle).

Regressive as if taking away the license would mean anything to the average Thai

It is a lot easier to hand the cop 100 THB for not having a license than it is to get your car out of the impound lot , but I guess we are supposed to be glad the PM is a big picture kind of dictator

Mmmm so impounding the car of a family would impact on the rest of the family.!!! Try if a person didn't drink and drive he wouldn't impact anyone !! Hit them hard and maybe,just maybe they might !! get the message...Not putting money on it mind !

[dotpoom]

"rather seize drivers' licences instead of impounding their vehicles".

That'll really stop them from driving?

[Ace of Pop]

Can't take something they don't have.Take the Vehicle

[thesetat2013]

Put the vehicle in a car cruiser.

Better yet! Transform the seized cars into police cruisers and start chasing after other drivers who routinely break and violate all the other traffic laws. A small motorbike will never outrun a car and police never stop vehicles on the side of the road to issues tickets for infractions.

[TheCruncher]

but said he would rather seize drivers' licences instead of impounding their vehicles.

Way to go, because no Thai would ever dare to drive while his driver license was seized.