Thailand to enforce compulsory helmet law

**Mid** · 21-04-2010, 06:38 PM

Thailand to enforce compulsory helmet law
21 April 2010

Dreaming of a helmetless sunset ride around Phuket? Think again...

AUTHORITIES IN Phuket, Thailand, are about to bring a halt to the the dangers and delights of riding a motorcycle sans helmet, after the region's Police cued up new motorcycle safety laws set to come into force later this year.

From July 1st, 2010 any motorcyclist or passenger caught riding without a helmets will be fined.

The decision was taken to make helmet use compulsory in a bid to reduce the number of riders killed or seriously injured on the region's roads.

Wonder if they'll bring in a law to limit the number of people you can carry on a bike at a time?

One of the lads in Visordown's office once saw a family of six on a scooter.

Anyone beat that?

visordown.com

**good2bhappy** · 21-04-2010, 06:42 PM

six as well

**Mid** · 21-04-2010, 06:46 PM

dco.co.th

Amuzing Thai Cartoons By MJB

**Thetyim** · 21-04-2010, 07:06 PM

Why does the title say Thailand but the article only mention Phuket ?

**Muadib** · 21-04-2010, 08:44 PM

Imagine that, actually enforcing a compulsory law... Always been required for the nasty farang...

Tourist count down, low season, the BiB need a way to generate tea money... How quaint...

**PaddyGreen** · 21-04-2010, 08:48 PM

About time too

probably the greatest contribution to road safety since the wheel

**FailSafe** · 21-04-2010, 08:54 PM

It will never be properly enforced in a place like Samui- there may be a few random helmet stings, but it won't make much difference.

**superman** · 21-04-2010, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Muadib

Imagine that, actually enforcing a compulsory law... Always been required for the nasty farang... Tourist count down, low season, the BiB need a way to generate tea money... How quaint...

They don't take tea money where I live, believe it or not. No joke.

**Loy Toy** · 21-04-2010, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by superman

They don't take tea money where I live, believe it or not. No joke.

Was that before or after you grew big superman balls and demanded a ticket instead?

**baobao** · 21-04-2010, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by superman

They don't take tea money where I live, believe it or not. No joke.

Was that before or after you grew big superman balls and demanded a ticket instead?

I got stopped in Chiang Mai because the passenger was uncovered. I tried to pay on the spot to avoid having to go to the office and pay it. No deal - got a ticket.

**Bogon** · 21-04-2010, 11:07 PM

When the police start observing the laws of Thailand, then the general public will.
Until that happens (not in my lifetime or even my sprems) people will carry on regardless.
What was the last clampdown? Think it was stopping at zebra crossings. Before that it was something just as much ignored.
Motoring in Thailand "what a joy".

**Loy Toy** · 21-04-2010, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by baobao

I got stopped in Chiang Mai because the passenger was uncovered. I tried to pay on the spot to avoid having to go to the office and pay it. No deal - got a ticket.

Uncovered???????/ You naughty boy and I hope it was a bird who was uncovered.

It is common knowledge that the police are told to collect a certain amount of tea money per month and yes there are times where tickets are written but as yet I have not received one and after 22 years driving here.

Getting a ticket in Bangkok is such a hassle for most people that they decide to just pay an on the spot fine.

It was also mentioned publically by Thaksin, when he was the PM that people shouldn't blame the police for extorting money as they are so poorly paid and when you have the head of a country endorsing the crime then people will take it up and practice it.

TIT!

**dotcom** · 21-04-2010, 11:23 PM

Among the fukkin Red Shirts in BKK not one helmet. The way you can recognize them.

**The Fresh Prince** · 22-04-2010, 12:34 AM

I bet there's nothing in the law about the quality of the helmet.

**Spin** · 22-04-2010, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Getting a ticket in Bangkok is such a hassle for most people that they decide to just pay an on the spot fine.

Perpetuating the problem via laziness. Not the best way forward.

I always get my missus to do the talking now, with instructions firstly to try and talk her way out of getting a ticket if we are guilty. If the pig is making something up, we both argue with the fucker until he either lets us go for nothing or we get a ticket.

No more cash in hand from me for those chaps.

**Loy Toy** · 22-04-2010, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by Spin

Perpetuating the problem via laziness. Not the best way forward.

The main problems, and as I have always understood is the on the spot fine is always a fraction of the official fine, secondly the policeman is always pushing for a cash payment and last of all, time is money and for most a trip down to the station and to collect your licence and pay your fine is a pain in the arse for anyone.

I always have advocated that if a driving crime has been committed a ticket should be written and the fine money should go to where it can be of use and that is paying the police a decent salary.

Whilst corruption is such an acceptable daily way of life here nothing will improve and I have no problem about paying something if in fact I have broken the law.

**Spin** · 22-04-2010, 02:54 AM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

on the spot fine

Do they actually have those here?

Do they write you a receipt for your payment?

Or is the on the spot fine just another phrase for bribe?

**mr Fred** · 22-04-2010, 06:13 AM

We have helmet laws in Indonesia. In the larger towns you will get nabbed for not wearing one but, out in the sticks, fat chance unless the police are sweeping.
Sweeping is where they set up a road block and stop all the bikes.
No helmet or paperwork sees a trip to court.
Of course it is often said that Rp50,000 can smooth the way but I don't believe a word of it.

**shunpike** · 22-04-2010, 06:35 AM

Must say that over the last eight years that I have been in Bkk I've seen a deffo improvement in helmet wearing here. It still makes me smile when I see the mom or dad all helmetted-up, yet the kid (or kids) riding along with them is bare-headed. The quality of the helmets often leave a lot to be desired as well...but things are improving.

**phunphin** · 22-04-2010, 06:48 AM

This law was in effect when i left thailand 3 years ago....??????????

**Fondles** · 22-04-2010, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Spin

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

on the spot fine

Do they actually have those here?

Do they write you a receipt for your payment?

Sure do, I was pinged for speeding on the 7 coming home from BKK a few months back, got pulled at the first tollway, fine was 500b, he wrote me a ticket, I paid it and he handed me a receipt.

In my Soi down near the railway crossing, many times have been pulled for no helmet, same deal police write on the spot ticket, I walk 10metres over to were the head honcho is set up, I pays the ticket and he give receipt.

**baobao** · 22-04-2010, 07:22 AM

It seems to vary a lot.

In the city of Trang recently I noticed nearly all (over 90%) drivers and many passengers were wearing helmets. Over in Krabi, not so much.

In Chiang Mai, my friends who ride w/o helmet (no brains to protect?) get busted and always have to go pay the ticket. Offers to pay the cop are rejected. Maybe a large bribe would work - I dunno.

**the dogcatcher** · 22-04-2010, 07:32 AM

Round ere they don,t enforce it for a couple of months and everyone stops wearing em.
When they have enough victims lined up they have a 3 day binge and nick everyone not wearing.
Make better money that way.

**Bobcock** · 22-04-2010, 08:19 AM

I lived in Phuket for years.

Supposedly the helmet law came in at the end of the Nineties. Phuket and Bangkok were first.

I've seen Thai and farang fined for it since then......when the mood takes the pig shit they call police in that neck of the woods that is.

the chance of anything ever being compulsory for all in thailand is at least 2 generations away.... At Least....

**Davis Knowlton** · 22-04-2010, 01:26 PM

Here in the Philippines, my stepson got dinged two days ago because the passenger wasn't wearing a helmet. Peso 2000 (almost $50). Today, I took the twins to the mall (about ten kilometers from the house). They counted motorcycle drivers or passengers without helmets. Eighty-four (including three cops). Just on the way there......$4,050 in missed income just in one short trip (presuming the cops are exempt). Cash cow for whenever they arbitrarily decide to enforce it.

Thread: Thailand to enforce compulsory helmet law

Thread Tools

Display

Thailand to enforce compulsory helmet law

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions