Prayut prefers to seize licences from drunk drivers

[Lingba]

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

Yoiu beat me to it..ain't that the truth

[emilymat]

Overheard in the police compound on Jan 5th.

Cop..."Righto Tawat, here's your car, you can have it back"

Taw..."Gee thanks, I'll be on my way"

Cop.."Not so fast, give me your licence before you drive off"

Taw.."No problem"

[NanLaew]

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

Abso-frigging-lutely BRILLIANT reasoning.

[NoshowJones]

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

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

and this is going to stop the drunks from driving their cars?,

[Champneys]

"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.

Clear enough to show that the Army General is the law

[masuk]

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.

and increase the FINES! not reduce them.

[Sydebolle]

Impound the vehicles at THB 10'000 a piece - good money for the state coffers and trust me, it drives the message home

[jabis]

Impound the vehicles at THB 10'000 a piece - good money for the state coffers and trust me, it drives the message home

Then again if you look at the second hand market for motor vehicles x)

[outsider]

One problem here, and maybe the good Gen isn't quite connected with the real world - many Thais drive without a license. Never mind if they drive a beat-up pick-up or or a condo-on-wheels. So, there may not be many licenses for you to seize and by the way, the lack of a license has never stopped most Thais from driving/riding on the road. Sober or otherwise.

[CantSpell]

"We might have to return the vehicles and seize the driver's licences instead, so they CAN go out and drink-drive again without their license"

There, fixed it for you

Scary tactic indeed

[SOTIRIOS]

...how will seizing someone's license prevent them from drinking and driving....

[Langsuan Man]

...how will seizing someone's license prevent them from drinking and driving....

It won't so there will just be more unlicensed drunk drivers out there....same, same, but different

[wattaman]

""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."

In other words "Chang, Hong Tong, Singha etc - it is time to 'lobby' me"

[smedly]

can't jail them - no room

can't take vehicles - no room

can't fine them - money goes to deep pocket

can't take licence - might not have to begin with

can take licence - what difference is that going to make (see above) 400baht fine (see above)

seems to be a problem with law enforcement in Thailand

[waldroj]

Guys

Just came across this link http://www.ajtpweb.org/statistics/Thailand/ThailandAJTP2014/road-transport-of-thailand.

If you are prepared to believe the stats (from official sources), over the last 10 years Thailand has experienced big increases in number of registered passanger cars and motorcycles, AND decreases in both dead and injured numbers.

It's also sobering to look at the stats from the other ASEAN coutries and Japan through this web site.

[Patje55]

Next up: drunk driving without licence.

[elgordo38]

"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.

Quote 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. unquote yeah sure lack of a license will stop them brilliant idea. I think if you asked drivers in Thailand for their license 10% could not produce one. Seize the plates as well. Send them all back to drivers school for a couple months and make them pass the drivers exam. Notify their insurances companies and jack up their premiums and I am just getting warmed up. Holiday deaths would be halved for sure. Show them that there is a new sheriff in town.

[dageurreotype]

A Thai friend went to retrieve a 'seized licence'. She had been presented with a big box of seized licences and asked to pick out which was her husband's. She asked 'Why so many?' the reply 'Because they'd rather pay for a new one'.

Anyway, all this talk of licences is bogus. Most Thais don't care. They'd rather carry on driving careless of other road users, Thai or farang. The car crushing idea good one though

[Enoon]

All perfectly in keeping with the "agenda": one step forward, two steps back.

[connda]

Driving without a license in Thailand: 100 to 400 THB depending on which way the wind blows.

Just a rhetorical question, but what fool would think that taking a license will stop a driver from driving? How many citizen turn their thumbs to the law already and simply drive with no license? Without sanctions the behavior will continue unabated.

It's pandering to the populace with a game that is no less deadly than Russian Roulette. It's not whether or not you take a bullet to the brain, it's just a matter of when.

As I said in a different post, Thailand has no will to address the seriousness of their problems on Thai roads, and that moniker of being the Second Most Dangerous Roads in The World is going to stick, well, unless they manage to take first place which they well may manage to do.

Edited January 5, 2016 by connda

[prakhonchai nick]

I agree with Gutterboy. The problem could be well on the way to solving if they actually tried to enforce existing laws and upgrade them as well. For drink driving over the limit of 0,05 impound the vehicle, send the culprit to the police station. (In Australia they have what we call booze buses at the checkpoints which take about 10 or 15 at a time to the station). At the station confiscate their license for 6 months and fine them 10.000 baht. Second offence 3 months jail and permanent loss of license. If those who are caught don't have a license, 3 months jail and 100,000 baht fine which can be paid off over a period of time depending on the income of the person. Have all check points under cctv coverage and breath anaylsis digitly recorded back to a central monitor.

Another procedure that could be adopted is recording by cctv cameras cars violating red lights and speeding.

These laws would be harsh on low income families with only one driver but that is better than killing people.

More reason for low in come families to obey the law!

[RigPig]

I agree with Gutterboy. The problem could be well on the way to solving if they actually tried to enforce existing laws and upgrade them as well. For drink driving over the limit of 0,05 impound the vehicle, send the culprit to the police station. (In Australia they have what we call booze buses at the checkpoints which take about 10 or 15 at a time to the station). At the station confiscate their license for 6 months and fine them 10.000 baht. Second offence 3 months jail and permanent loss of license. If those who are caught don't have a license, 3 months jail and 100,000 baht fine which can be paid off over a period of time depending on the income of the person. Have all check points under cctv coverage and breath anaylsis digitly recorded back to a central monitor.

Another procedure that could be adopted is recording by cctv cameras cars violating red lights and speeding.

These laws would be harsh on low income families with only one driver but that is better than killing people.

So just like other countries and nationalities, lets change Thailand into a "NANNY State" (like where we came from?). Why stay here? Why not just go home?

You can't buy land. too difficult to get residency, belong to a different pricing structure...... etc.

Not condoning drink driving, and there should be limits and the law should be upheld (which is the real problem). Make the penalties a deterrent, sure but I do think different people react differently to alcohol and a sobriety test is the ONLY real way of finding out, not BAC. IMHO

[Jonmarleesco]

'"... 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's kidding; himself, if not everyone else.

'Police revealed that ... the number arrested for drunk driving dropped by almost half, which meant preventive measures had been effective against drunk driving.' An interesting conclusion, given it's not backed up by conclusive evidence.

[northernphil]

Mt TW took the driving test in our car . She can't drive the car out of our gate ! Not really got the hang of reverse . She uses her scooter more , nearly every day . I asked if she was going to taker her test ................." No need I only go to town "

[thailand49]

I agree with Gutterboy. The problem could be well on the way to solving if they actually tried to enforce existing laws and upgrade them as well. For drink driving over the limit of 0,05 impound the vehicle, send the culprit to the police station. (In Australia they have what we call booze buses at the checkpoints which take about 10 or 15 at a time to the station). At the station confiscate their license for 6 months and fine them 10.000 baht. Second offence 3 months jail and permanent loss of license. If those who are caught don't have a license, 3 months jail and 100,000 baht fine which can be paid off over a period of time depending on the income of the person. Have all check points under cctv coverage and breath anaylsis digitly recorded back to a central monitor.

Another procedure that could be adopted is recording by cctv cameras cars violating red lights and speeding.

These laws would be harsh on low income families with only one driver but that is better than killing people.

So just like other countries and nationalities, lets change Thailand into a "NANNY State" (like where we came from?). Why stay here? Why not just go home?

You can't buy land. too difficult to get residency, belong to a different pricing structure...... etc.

Not condoning drink driving, and there should be limits and the law should be upheld (which is the real problem). Make the penalties a deterrent, sure but I do think different people react differently to alcohol and a sobriety test is the ONLY real way of finding out, not BAC. IMHO

I do not think expressing concern for saving lives " any lives " is consider a Nanny State! Whatever way people want to conclude the stats Thailand is basically as close to being Number #1 in world for accidents and drinking and driving and killing people is one of them. That is a huge difference compare to buying land and being a resident.

Remember. we as foreigners weren't the one's to evoke Article 44, The Thai leaders did and it would assume doing so they understand there is a problem?

[alocacoc]

Indeed it's not fair to impound the vehicle. It's not the vehicles fault. Think about.

A fine of 400 Baht and a free sticker "Don't drink and drive" would be enough.

[Jonmarleesco]

I agree with Gutterboy. The problem could be well on the way to solving if they actually tried to enforce existing laws and upgrade them as well. For drink driving over the limit of 0,05 impound the vehicle, send the culprit to the police station. (In Australia they have what we call booze buses at the checkpoints which take about 10 or 15 at a time to the station). At the station confiscate their license for 6 months and fine them 10.000 baht. Second offence 3 months jail and permanent loss of license. If those who are caught don't have a license, 3 months jail and 100,000 baht fine which can be paid off over a period of time depending on the income of the person. Have all check points under cctv coverage and breath anaylsis digitly recorded back to a central monitor.

Another procedure that could be adopted is recording by cctv cameras cars violating red lights and speeding.

These laws would be harsh on low income families with only one driver but that is better than killing people.

So just like other countries and nationalities, lets change Thailand into a "NANNY State" (like where we came from?). Why stay here? Why not just go home?

You can't buy land. too difficult to get residency, belong to a different pricing structure...... etc.

Not condoning drink driving, and there should be limits and the law should be upheld (which is the real problem). Make the penalties a deterrent, sure but I do think different people react differently to alcohol and a sobriety test is the ONLY real way of finding out, not BAC. IMHO

'... I do think different people react differently to alcohol ...' You mean, for the same quantity of alcohol, they are at different levels of being pissed? Hence, it might take one longer than another to find a pedestrian to run over. The idea is simple: drink, don't drive; drive, don't drink. It gets complicated by those who think they are different; and regretted by those who end up the victims of such arrogant assumptions.

[lvr181]

"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." They will do it again, without the licence! Without harsh or even draconian punishments along with a real effort to change some bad cultural values, nothing will change anytime soon.

[Nobb]

So Thai make a law then change it. Give them there cars back and they will be driving it the same day. What is the fine for drunk driving? It used to be 20,000 baht but does this change also. This government changes its mind to often after imposing laws. The government does not want to upset the people and the laws mean nothing!

[DavisH]

It seems these news articles are written for foreigners who don't understand what happens here. It seems a show for foreign press. Thais don't believe a word of any of it. They laugh harder than us at the insanity. Like not having a licence stops anyone from driving. It's beyond a joke.