WITH dozens of laws and regulations up their sleeves, ready to nail wayward drivers, Thailand’s traffic police are not to be messed with. Even when you think you’ve done nothing wrong, there’s a good chance the boys in grey will pin you with some misdemeanour you had never considered.
Police are empowered to levy fines, which have a maximum as well as a more reasonable lower limit, which apparently is usually applied.
The list of fineable offences ranges from something as general as “driving with disregard to the traffic regulations or breaking the traffic laws” and “driving recklessly or disrupting the traffic” to other more serious crimes like as “driving on the footpath” and “driving trucks carrying explosive or dangerous substances without proper labeling signs or tags on the truck.”
It may surprise some regular road users to discover that it is also illegal to “pass other cars on the left side without good reason,” a common occurrence, especially on the expressways. And you can’t pass cars “while driving onto a bridge or uphill or around the curve.”
Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are amongst the toughest – “no more than three months’ jail time and fine of between 5,000-20,000 baht.” Repeat offenders face even tougher penalties
drivers of a bus, truck, school bus or taxi who allow the passengers to disembark at an intersection or in a traffic jam can be fined 500-2,000 baht.
There are fines for jaywalkers and even people who do not have proper control of animals. And you may be penalised for installing or hanging items that disrupt traffic.
A commonly committed offence – a taxi who refuses a fare (except if it is dangerous to the driver and/or the passengers) – carries a fine of no more than 1,000 baht.
Below are some more of the rules and fines as issued by the Traffic Police:
• Using unstable or unsafe vehicles that might cause harm to the driver and others on the road. Fine ranges between 200 baht and 500 baht
• Driving a vehicle without a license plate on the road. Fine ranges between 300 and 1,000 baht
• Misusing the signal lights. Fine ranges between 300 and 500 baht
• Driving a truck with the load longer than the truck’s length without attaching a red cloth or flag at the end that can be seen at least 150 metres away. Fine ranges between 300 and 1,000 baht
• Driving on the footpath (except push-carts, children’s trollies, vehicles for the handicapped). Fine ranges between 400 and 1,000 baht
Please find a full list of details below.
Police are empowered to levy fines, which have a maximum as well as a more reasonable lower limit, which apparently is usually applied.
The list of fineable offences ranges from something as general as “driving with disregard to the traffic regulations or breaking the traffic laws” and “driving recklessly or disrupting the traffic” to other more serious crimes like as “driving on the footpath” and “driving trucks carrying explosive or dangerous substances without proper labeling signs or tags on the truck.”
It may surprise some regular road users to discover that it is also illegal to “pass other cars on the left side without good reason,” a common occurrence, especially on the expressways. And you can’t pass cars “while driving onto a bridge or uphill or around the curve.”
Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are amongst the toughest – “no more than three months’ jail time and fine of between 5,000-20,000 baht.” Repeat offenders face even tougher penalties
drivers of a bus, truck, school bus or taxi who allow the passengers to disembark at an intersection or in a traffic jam can be fined 500-2,000 baht.
There are fines for jaywalkers and even people who do not have proper control of animals. And you may be penalised for installing or hanging items that disrupt traffic.
A commonly committed offence – a taxi who refuses a fare (except if it is dangerous to the driver and/or the passengers) – carries a fine of no more than 1,000 baht.
Below are some more of the rules and fines as issued by the Traffic Police:
• Using unstable or unsafe vehicles that might cause harm to the driver and others on the road. Fine ranges between 200 baht and 500 baht
• Driving a vehicle without a license plate on the road. Fine ranges between 300 and 1,000 baht
• Misusing the signal lights. Fine ranges between 300 and 500 baht
• Driving a truck with the load longer than the truck’s length without attaching a red cloth or flag at the end that can be seen at least 150 metres away. Fine ranges between 300 and 1,000 baht
• Driving on the footpath (except push-carts, children’s trollies, vehicles for the handicapped). Fine ranges between 400 and 1,000 baht
Please find a full list of details below.
List of charges and traffic fines.
- Using unstable or unsafe vehicles that might cause harm to the driver and others on the road. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Driving a vehicle without a license plate on the road. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Driving a vehicle that's causing more gas, dust or chemical residue than legal limits on the road. Fine ranges between 500-1,000 baht.
- Driving a vehicle that's causing more noise than legal limits on the road. Fine ranges between 500-1,000 baht.
- Driving without the headlights or the lights are too dim to see people, things or cars clearly in 150 metres distance. Fine ranges between 200-1,000 baht.
- Misusing the signal lights. Fine ranges between 300-500 baht.
- Driving a truck with the load longer than the truck's length without attaching a red cloth or flag at the end that can be seen at least 150 metres away. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Driving trucks carrying explosive or dangerous substances without proper labeling signs or tags on the truck. Fine ranges between 300-2,000 baht.
- Driving vehicles without securing the load to prevent them from falling off and causing danger to other drivers or pedestrians whether it is items, animals or people. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Driving with disregard to the traffic regulations or break the traffic laws. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Drive through the red lights. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Do not stop the car behind the designated line at the traffic lights. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Do not follow traffic instructions from the stationed officer. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Do not stop the car behind the line or do not stop at least 3 metres away from the officer directing traffic. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Adding or installing traffic-altering items without the proper authority (putting up signs or traffic cones without permission). Fine no more than 2,000 baht and may include 1 month jail time.
- Do not stay on the left lane or close to the shoulder when driving slow on two-way streets. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Do not drive a truck, large passenger truck or motorcycle on the left lane when driving slow in two-way streets. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Turning or changing lanes without giving signals first. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Driving under the influence. Fine ranges between 2,000-10,000 baht and may include 3 months jail time.
- Driving wrecklessly or disrupting the traffic. Fine ranges between 5,000-20,000 baht and may include 1 year jail time.
- Driving wrecklessly or disrupting the traffic. Fine ranges between 2,000-10,000 baht and may include 3 months jail time.
- Driving on the footpath (except push-carts, children's trolly, the handicapped or the ill). Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Pass other cars on the left side without good reason. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Passing cars while going onto a bridge or uphill or around the curve in areas where it is not allowed. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Passing other cars within 30 metres before the intersection. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Driving out of the parking lot or a parking spot or going around an obstacle without giving light signal. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Obstructing the traffic by taking a U-turn. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Taking a U-turn within 100 metres of the bridge. Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Taking a U-turn at the intersection (except there are signs allowing drivers to do so). Fine ranges between 400-1,000 baht.
- Stop or park in a way that obstruct the traffic without authorization. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Do not park on the left lane of the road. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Do not park close to the shoulder or park further than 25 centimetres away from the shoulder. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Stop the vehicle on the crosswalk without valid reason. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Stop in front of the entrance/exit of buildings or street without valid reason. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Parking on the footpath. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Park on the bridge or in the tunnel. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Park on the intersection or in 10 metres from the intersection. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Park in the no parking zone. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Park within 15 metres before the bus stop or 3 metres after the bus stop. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Destroy, damage, disable control or vehicle, making it unable to move. Fine no more than 5,000 baht and may include 3 months jail time.
- Park on the road or on the shoulder without using signal lights which will let the traffic see the vehicles within 150 metres distance. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Driving over the speed limit. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Do not give way to main traffic to pass at the intersection. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Driving in ways that caused damages to the properties or driving dangerously or causing an accident and not stop to identify oneself to the authority for causing the accident. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Driving a taxi and refuse fare (except it is dangerous to the driver and/or the passengers). Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Do not walk on the footpath when available. Fine ranges between 100-300 baht.
- Jaywalk when there's a cross way within 100 meters. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Ride, lead or let animals onto the raod that caused traffic to stop or do not have enough people controlling the animals. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Install or setup or hang items that gets in the way of traffic without permission. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Riding motorcycle without a helmet (except monks, priests, and those whose religion required head accessory or wrap). Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Let more than 2 persons sit in front with the driver. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- The driver of the bus, truck, school bus, taxi and lets the passengers to disembark at the intersection or during traffic jam. Fine ranges between 200-500 baht.
- Driving within 50 metres behind the emergency vehicles that are on duty. Fine ranges between 300-1,000 baht.
- Disrupt the traffic on the road. Fine ranges between between 300-1,000 baht.
- Do not follow instructions of the traffic police, the officers to stop or park. Fine ranges between between 300-1,000 baht.
