Beginning September 1 Bangkok traffic police began issuing warning tickets for minor traffic violations instead of fines, supposedly to prevent congestion.
Spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo said giving out warning tickets will take up less time and not impede road safety specially during rush hour. The minor fines of TBH200 to TBH500 have also been waived.
The traffic official explained that each warning ticket has three stubs: yellow to be issued to the driver; pink to be stored in the police database, and a white one to be kept as record of the violation. The reason for this is that repeat offenders will be fined and punished heavily.
Pol Maj-Gen Piya said the warning tickets will be distributed to all nine metropolitan police divisions to keep track of repeat offenders.
On the other hand, he stressed that there are 13 major traffic offenses that are not covered by the warning tickets. Motorists caught doing these will be meted stiff fines and punishment:
– racing on public roads
– driving over the speed limit
– dangerous overtaking
– drunk driving
– driving against the traffic flow
– not wearing crash helmets
– double parking
– driving vehicles with no license plates
– emitting black smoke
– violating parking bans
– parking on footpaths
– driving on footpaths
– taxis refusing to take passengers
Earlier, the Bangkok traffic force had already suspended daytime road checkpoints to prevent traffic build up in major roads and intersections. Instead, police and traffic volunteers are turning to technology – using pen cameras and button cameras to keep tabs of traffic violations in the area, the Bangkok Post reported.
