Traffic police told to stop 'surprise fines'
Bangkok traffic policemen were ordered yesterday to stop setting up checkpoints at blind spots to hand out "surprise fines."
Bangkok traffic policemen were ordered yesterday to stop setting up checkpoints at blind spots to hand out "surprise fines."
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Traffic police officers on duty at the Narathiwat intersection in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district. SAYANT PORNNANTHARAT
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Traffic police told to stop 'surprise fines'
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Khamronwit: Issue warning tickets instead
Bangkok traffic policemen were ordered yesterday to stop setting up checkpoints at blind spots to hand out "surprise fines" because the practice has only served to worsen traffic woes.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khamronwit Thoopkrachang told 1,200 police inspectors and high-ranking officers that he had no intention of discouraging policemen from enforcing the law.
However, stopping vehicles and issuing fines were not the only means to deter motorists from violating traffic rules.
"I'm not taking sides [with the motorists], but please don't make surprise arrests," he said.
It has been common practice for traffic police to set up checkpoints at blind spots to catch traffic violators. Cash rewards from fines extended under the 1979 Land Traffic Act provide incentives to the officers to do so.
As well as punishing motorists by adding more to their travel costs, the stop and fine practice has also disrupted traffic flow, Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said.
He said that instead of stopping and fining traffic violators, traffic police could use other methods to deter wrongdoers.
"When I worked with the Provincial Police Region 1, I gave 'warning tickets' instead of the fines," said Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit.
Warning tickets are similar to fine tickets, but they aim only to warn motorists against unsafe and illegal driving and parking.
Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit told Traffic Police chief Pol Maj Gen Uthaiwan Kaeosaat to help him correct the behaviour of some police officers who prefer to only stop and fine traffic violators.
At the meeting yesterday, Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit also called on police station chiefs to pay more attention to daily complaints from the public.
They should not think only of the revenue and expense accounts of their stations.
"And don't look at commercial issues," when dealing with people's complaints, said Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit, citing accusations that some police simply ignored complaints just because they do not get any money for dealing with them.
intersection – a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
fine – an amount of money that you have to pay because you have broken the law ค่าปรับ
blind spot – a place where other people can’t see you
practice – a way of doing something การปฏิบัติ
woes – great problems or troubles ความเสียใจ, ความทุกข์ร้อน
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
commissioner – the head of a particular police force in some countries หัวหน้ากรม
inspector – an officer of middle rank in the police force สารวัตร
high-ranking – senior; important ที่มียศสูง, ที่อยู่ชั้นสูง
intention – a plan in your mind to do something ความตั้งใจ เจตนา แผนการ
discourage – to make someone feel like something should not be done ทำให้ไม่อยาก (ทำสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่ง)
enforce – to make sure laws are obeyed บังคับให้ใช้, บังคับให้ทำ, ใช้กำลังบังคับให้ปฏิบัติตาม
issue – to officially give out ออก
means – methods; ways วิธี, วิธีการ
deter – to make someone decide not to do something ขัดขวาง, ยับยั้ง, ป้องกัน
violate – to do something that is against the law ละเมิดกฏหมาย
take sides – to express support for somebody in a disagreement เข้าข้างฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่ง
arrest – (of the police) to take someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม
cash – money in the form of notes or coins เงินสด
reward – money that someone receives for doing something good รางวัล
Act – a law passed by a country’s government พ.ร.บ. พระราชบัญญัติ
incentive – something that makes you want to do something or work harder, because you know that you will benefit by doing this สิ่งกระตุ้น
disrupt – to prevent something from continuing as usual or as expected ทำให้ยุ่งเหยิง, ทำให้ยุ่งยาก
warning – an action or statement telling someone of a possible problem or danger คำเตือน
ticket – an official notice that orders you to pay a fine because you have done something illegal while driving or parking your car ใบสั่งสำหรับผู้กระทำผิดกฎจราจร
similar – like somebody/something but not exactly the same คล้ายกัน
aim – to have as your purpose or goal มีเป้าหมาย มีจุดมุ่งหมาย
behaviour – the way that someone acts or behaves พฤติกรรม, การกระทำตัว
prefer – to like or want more than anyone or anything else ชอบมากกว่า
complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
revenue – income from taxes or business activities รายได้
account – a written record of money that is owed to a business and of money that has been paid by it บัญชี
commercial – for business purposes เกี่ยวกับการค้า
issue – matter; a subject that people discuss or argue about ประเด็น
cite – to mention something as an example กล่าวถึง
accusation –a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
ignore – to intentionally not listen or give attention to ทำเพิกเฉย
