Traffic police ordered to unmask, start with warnings, not take bribes

Traffic police nationwide have been ordered to always show their face when disciplining motorists, to start with warnings before progressive fines, and not to take proffered bribes.

Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn Chintakanont, assistant national police chief, said on Sunday that the written order had been sent to police units in Bangkok and all provinces.

Traffic police were instructed to not wear full-face helmets or any other facial covering when dealing with road users, so that people could see their faces.

He also said traffic police on duty must wear their uniform. They may wear sunglasses or face masks as protection against the sun and dust, but when dealing with traffic violators they must remove their sunglasses and unmask so that people could idenfify them.

Traffic police were also ordered to begin with warnings and then impose progressive rates of traffic fines for repeated violations. They already have a ticket management system to check the records of traffic violators.

“However, such leniency will not apply to traffic violations that could cause serious accidents, such as driving against the traffic, traffic light violations, drink-driving and street racing,” Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn said.

If traffic police fine violators, they could not collect the fines right away. They should instruct  the motorist to pay any fines later through legitimate channels. They were expressly prohibited from taking bribes, Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn said.