Increased Traffic Police presence on the roads

Post by **wazza** » July 20, 2012, 10:21 am

Im sure the locals have seen the significant increase lately in Traffic Police money grabs, and Im sorry to say they are.

Reason, and its coming from the horses mouth, wife of local Traffic copper.

Police Chief has increased the monthly Quotas to 90 tickets per traffic police officer.

The split is now 70 % to Police and 30% to the Udon provincial government.

Plus he also increased the numbers of Traffic Police to 200 for Udon Province, do the numbers and its a nice litte turnover.

Why i say its a money grab, If you dont have ur helmet on, or no licence, U pay the 200 B fine and then allowed to ride off again. No raod safety issues here , sorry. Plus a receipt for the 200 B for a days immunity, as you have been fined for the day already.

Post by **kjellsnell** » July 20, 2012, 10:56 am

The same story i seen for 6 years living here and i been fined only 1 time in Izzan in all these years and i drive daily be-twin Nong wua soh and Udon.......i cant see no increased and police never ever stop me.....maybe cause i follow the law...what do i know????

Post by **wazza** » July 20, 2012, 11:11 am

Ring road both sides of soi nong bua. All week. Between Big C and Aek every day.

Post by **kjellsnell** » July 20, 2012, 11:30 am

wazza wrote:Ring road both sides of soi nong bua. All week. Between Big C and Aek every day.

Yes, they are there but.....i have no problem whit them, i think its god they have this daily checkpoints...its a matter of safety and security....and as i say before, in 6 years i have to pay 1 fine and then i drive to fast....130 km!

Post by **wazza** » July 20, 2012, 11:55 am

So its ok to be stopped for not wearing ur helmet. U pay 200 b fine. And drive off with no helmet. That is NOT road safety sorry.

Post by **papaguido** » July 20, 2012, 1:11 pm

wazza wrote:Ring road both sides of soi nong bua. All week. Between Big C and Aek every day.

That's not an increase that's a regular occurrence. What I haven't seen lately are the check points near the intersection of Soi Nongbua & ring road.

Post by **douglas** » July 20, 2012, 2:20 pm

Hi,
Been using that road, and many other roads in Udon every day, for the last 7 years. At least 4 times a day. And Police are there most days. I abide by the Thai laws, and so far have only been stopped once, in all that time, and that was to check my lic., when on the M/B. all was O.K. Got a smile and a thank you sir. I notice that i have often seen a number of bikes parked there without their owners. Maybe not got 200B to pay fine or not got a helmet.
Cheers Doug.

Post by **kjellsnell** » July 20, 2012, 3:02 pm

wazza wrote:So its ok to be stopped for not wearing ur helmet. U pay 200 b fine. And drive off with no helmet. That is NOT road safety sorry.

I think everybody drives MC in Thailand should where a helmet and also have a thai drivinglicence when they drive in Thailand. I stopped drive MC on big road, including this one as i have seen at least 20 people die after driving MC in last 2 year.....many of them very young...sad story. So i hope the police really increase there checkpoints and also make the law stronger when people drive whitout helmet, exampel....a 2000 bath fine should make a different. That is what you been fined if you smoke in restaurants ........so why should it be cheaper to drive MC whit out helmet???

Post by **udonthani** » July 20, 2012, 4:21 pm

I have not seen any increase, despite I am driving from Nong Samrong to Udorn several times a day, I have however seen police checks for helmet, close to Thesaban 2 school, and that is OK too. The law (never enforced) says you must be min. 15 years old, and you should have a drivers license. The bike should be in prober condition according to safety regulations( Light, breaks and horn)and you must only carry 1 passenger. How often have we not seen 3-4 persons on a bike, and how often have we seen a very young child (1Y+)standing up between 2 pass. It would be a chaos if police starts to enforce those laws for bikes, I have got fined 2 times@200bht for no safetybelt, they was very polite when I showed my Thai license and almost excused that they have to fine me.

Post by **parrot** » July 20, 2012, 7:26 pm

A year ago there were probably hundreds of police involved in providing security for a working VIP in the city. As best as I can determine, she's no longer working/living locally. That might explain why the city is putting the police to work doing other things....and earning some income to pay all those wages.

Post by **jai yen yen** » July 21, 2012, 2:11 am

I have been stopped a few times in the past 8 years but I have never received a ticket, The police have always been polite and usually I just get waved through the checkpoints. I ride a Harley and it is legal with first class insurance, always wear a helmet and don't speed excessively.

Post by **pompui** » July 21, 2012, 7:01 am

parrot wrote:A year ago there were probably hundreds of police involved in providing security for a working VIP in the city. As best as I can determine, she's no longer working/living locally. That might explain why the city is putting the police to work doing other things....and earning some income to pay all those wages.

Thought the VIP is now based in Nong Bua,lucky chappies living along the route to Nong Bua,priority for resurfacing that highway to make a smooth ride for the VIP and yet poor Udons budget ran out so we only have partial resurfacing on the ringroad to KK section.

Police have a field day stopping the locals who shop in Global and have all the materials hanging over the back of their 10 yr old pickup without having a redflag to warn that fact when being stopped near Old Tesco.They are not looking at the roadworthiness of the pickup at all.

The locals should know by now the typical times they set up roadblocks at the usual places and be prepared with helmet,drivers licence.

Not seen more stops recently though,but everything does seem to be ticket based now than a rednote in the hand of the cop,love some places where the collector has his own chair and table,very posh

Post by **kjellsnell** » July 21, 2012, 10:03 am

parrot wrote:A year ago there were probably hundreds of police involved in providing security for a working VIP in the city. As best as I can determine, she's no longer working/living locally. That might explain why the city is putting the police to work doing other things....and earning some income to pay all those wages.

The Thai gowerment is for the moment integrating a new policy for the VIP:s escorts and also about if they should stop traffic ore not. If VIP out on the road in private, the road shouldent be stoped at all, and in other situations only stop short time and only one side of the road.....soon can read more about this but......it means the local police cant any longer sit on there as all day waiting for the VIP:s......maybe some other know more ten me?

Post by **papaguido** » July 21, 2012, 10:29 am

kjellsnell wrote:
parrot wrote:A year ago there were probably hundreds of police involved in providing security for a working VIP in the city. As best as I can determine, she's no longer working/living locally. That might explain why the city is putting the police to work doing other things....and earning some income to pay all those wages.
The Thai gowerment is for the moment integrating a new policy for the VIP:s escorts and also about if they should stop traffic ore not. If VIP out on the road in private, the road shouldent be stoped at all, and in other situations only stop short time and only one side of the road.....soon can read more about this but......it means the local police cant any longer sit on there as all day waiting for the VIP:s......maybe some other know more ten me?

New royal motorcade rules to be introduced

Restrictions will be eased on traffic flow during royal motorcades in response to His Majesty an individual's wish to help alleviate traffic congestion.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... introduced

Post by **kjellsnell** » July 21, 2012, 10:50 am

Thanks papaguido for the link. Looks like it will be more time for the local police to other work then just stand on the road all day long waiting for the VIP:s........

Post by **nkstan** » July 22, 2012, 7:19 am

It is an ongoing business,traffic fines.It is like the drug manufacturers,there is no desire for a cure to the problem,because there would cease to be customers!

If the police wanted to really do something about helmuts and DL's,they would be at the gates of the schools as students are arriving and leaving,But ,iof course that would kill the golden goose!

I always stop at regular coned controlled police checkpoints,but I never stop at money stops on the open highway,just pull over and slowly keep going!Never had a problem at a regular checkpoint,never had them give me a second thought at the non-stopping for the money stop!

Post by **parrot** » August 5, 2012, 5:12 pm

We went to the Kilo 16 Sunday market late this afternoon.......cops all over the 4 way intersection. They allowed all cars, trucks to pass by on both sides of the highway.....but as the caravan approached they signaled the drivers to the slow left hand lane. A screaming banshee of a motorcade flew by (as in F L E W)....supposedly carrying the prince back to Udon. The good news: traffic was allowed to continue on both sides of the highway.
As this area is a divided 4 lane highway, I'm not sure of what happened as the motorcade found its way into Udon and tighter traffic. Any reports out there?

Post by **smellyellie** » August 5, 2012, 5:57 pm

hi parrot,where exactly is this market?what do they sell?thx

Post by **parrot** » August 5, 2012, 10:29 pm

It's called a ตลาดนัด (dah-laht not)......only at Kilo 16 on Sunday afternoon.....but at other points on other days. It's a wide range of villagers peddling their fruits/veggies, lots of prepared food, clothes, plants, etc. It draws a crowd.

Post by **mickydee** » August 7, 2012, 11:50 am

Yup, I got skinned at the checkpoint local to AEK Hospital
The first cop checked my driving license and placed on the table where cop 2 was sitting.
Cop 2 demanded 400 Baht
I asked "Why ?"
"No helmet"
As I was wearing a helmet I tapped my head
"400 Baht" he demanded again, getting angry.
"Why ?"
"No Thai Driving License"
I picked up my driving license from his table and handed it to him
"400 Baht" getting angrier
"Why ?"
He then had a conversation on the radio with cop 1
"Went through red light" he tried
"No" I said, "The lights are still green on the other side when this side are red""
"400 Baht" he screamed
The situation was getting very ugly so I reluctantly paid up.
When I approach these lights now and the checkpoint is manned I wait at the green lights until the oncoming traffic starts moving. So if you see a Farang waiting at a green light please do not beep me !!