Drunks to have cars seized during Thai New Year revelry that is Songkran

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Drunks to have cars seized during Thai New Year revelry that is Songkran
Thaivisa Reporters



BANGKOK:— Police have announced that measures introduced at the New Year to combat drink driving will be continued at the upcoming Songkran Festival, Thaivisa News reports.

These include the confiscation of vehicles of drunks. Thousands were taken at New Year and Songkran is set to break that record.

Spokesman for the police Jakrathip Chaijinda said that orders passed down by the ruling military council will be followed up on by police nationwide in a crackdown designed to make the notorious traditional Thai New Year festival safer on the roads protecting the public and property.

"Police are committed to protecting the public," he said, "and operating according to the law."

As well as seizing vehicles of drunks there will be a huge and increased police presence on the roads for the mid April festival that usually sees many hundreds of casualties on the road amid the drunken water throwing revelry that is the Songkran festival.


-- 2016-03-23

[MYKTHEMIN]

Why not all the time.????

[WitawatWatawit]

"Do you know who I am? Do you KNOW WHO I AM?????"

[Eclipse]

"Police are committed to protecting the public," he said, "and operating according to the law".

No comment needed.

[chainarong]

Now we are starting to show some maturity and some forward thinking , the only glitch, there is no mention of how long will the car remain seized, and as MYFTHEMIN stated, why not all the time, that's 24/7............................

[anon467848]

"Police are committed to protecting the public," he said, "and operating according to the law".

No comment needed.

This will be a major money earner for the police, nobody would want to loose their car given the limited public transportation in LOS.... I wonder what the going rate would be to prevent the BIB impounding your car? The funny thing is, once you stumped up the 'fine' you will be allowed to drive on your merry way...

[NongKhaiKid]

Didn't the police chief in Phuket say his men wouldn't be impounding vehicles unless he's now been told from on high.

[Nemesis7]

Good decision which will be hard to implement and chances are only farang will end up losing their cars mostly if ever caught and at the end of the day very good cause to get good amount of cash to let the driver drive away once caught drunk driving

[jmccarty]

To all drunks, hide your car well for Songkran!

[little mary sunshine]

Seize 'em all...10,000 baht to get back. Might

Dig into their Booz money and keep'em sober.

[off road pat]

Good decision which will be hard to implement and chances are only farang will end up losing their cars mostly if ever caught and at the end of the day very good cause to get good amount of cash to let the driver drive away once caught drunk driving

Only one solution !!! don't drink and drive !!!

[gandalf12]

"Police are committed to protecting the public," he said, "and operating according to the law".

No comment needed.

Damn you put what I was going to put

[Hedghog]

Usual practice in my neck of the woods.

Over the Songkran period the police station is overflowing with an assortment of seized vehicles.

[CantSpell]

Except if they drive a Benz or a Ferrari obviously...

Those are not drunk, they are on medication...

[Chongalulu]

"Do you know who I am? Do you KNOW WHO I AM?????"

Reply: "Hey Sergeant,there's a guy here doesn't know who he is"

[quandow]

"These include the confiscation of vehicles of drunks."

I'm a drunk. Will they take my car even when I'm sober?

[quandow]

I always say, "If you're going to drink and drive, make sure you have a car."

[little mary sunshine]

Quandow: YES

[nakhonandy]

Good. This should be a normal thing and not just around festivals. Plus how do they get the vehicles back? Pay a fine?

On a side note why are the casualty figures for these occasions lower than the national average? Surely they should be much higher!

[Ulic]

Some people will have their cars impounded, some people will be recognized and be

given an apology for being inconvenienced. Some will bark at police about how

important they are or their friends and family are. This of course will be verified

and some waved through, others having there cars impounded when it turns out

the friends/family where not quite connected enough. A little something for

everyone.

[Don Mega]

Thanks for the heads up.

I'll grab a rental for the week and leave mine safely at home.

[Assurancetourix]

Good decision which will be hard to implement and chances are only farang will end up losing their cars mostly if ever caught and at the end of the day very good cause to get good amount of cash to let the driver drive away once caught drunk driving

Only one solution !!! don't drink and drive !!!

Johnny Walker had another idea about ten years ago

[bangon04]

"Police are committed to protecting the public," he said, "and operating according to the law."

this would be funny if Thais understood irony.....

[Transporter]

To all drunks, hide your car well for Songkran!

Unless you are rich, BIB or Hiso and you can do as you please.

[gemguy]

If the Thai police actually did enforce that law all the time there are fairly large sums of money to be made if they fine the drunk drivers say minimum 50,000 baht to say 100,000 baht ( Ouch ) and take away their license for a minimum of 1 year to 2 years.....similar as other countries that strictly enforce the laws.

With all the many drunk drivers here in Thailand, enforcing that particular law would be a little gold mine for the police force nation wide....and no need to extort money.......rather generate money from a genuine law worthy of being enforced.

I say ...Just Do It...as there are some laws that just need to be enforced and supported by the public at large.

Where I come from the fine is now 5000 dollars and a suspended license for 2 years....and it works because now, near everyone seriously thinks before they drive after having a drink....so they hardly go out anymore for the purpose of drinking pleasures rather they get drunk at home or use cabs or have designated drivers etc.....while the whole nation knows well exactly what happens if and when you do get caught while no one has sympathy for those that do get caught.

Many people have friends that were caught and they see just how much of a really large inconvenience it would be if they also loose their drivers license and have to pay 5000 dollars.

Cheers

[Usual Suspect]

In my town the Hi-so's 'double-park', or park illegally every weekend outside their favourite restaurants..result..traffic blocked-up for hours.

About 2 yrs ago the police started slapping tickets on the windscreens of these SUVs & People Carriers etc..but as you can imagine..this

action was met with "Don't you realise who I am?" etc-etc.

Never once, even to this day have I seen a tow-truck come..the Hi-So's enjoy their meals while the rest of town stays gridlocked..

..Now if the issue of illegal-parking cannot even be taken care of/brought under control..what hope is there for any real law-enforcement out on the main highways ..??

[MYKTHEMIN]

None what so ever, all hot air,