Police target unlicensed drivers

...out all the slots to give the earliest slots to their own customers, Mr Adcha deflected from the actual question asked.

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“Those agents only help with training and documents that need to be prepared. People still have to come in person to get their licence and make bookings like everyone else,” he said.

“Under current law, drivers can renew their licence up to three months in advance or within one year after it expires.

“However, with wait times as long as three months, drivers are advised to book as early as possible to avoid falling into legal trouble,” he added.

While saying that drivers’ had up to one year to renew their licence, Mr Adcha avoided making any comment on the Phuket driver being fined B1,000 despite already booking to renew his licence with the PLTO.

NEW FOCUS

According to Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pol Col Phatsakorn Sonthikun, the fine could have been as much as B2,000.

“Authorities now check for valid driving licenses at road checkpoints. If the license is invalid or missing, the vehicle is impounded and both the driver and rental company face a maximum fine of B2,000,” he told The Phuket News.

Phuket Provincial Police recorded a total of 5,058 traffic violations between Apr 18 and May 15, with driving without a license topping the list at 3,995 cases, noted Pol Col Phatsakorn, who also serves as Chairman of the Phuket Provincial Road Safety Committee.

The top offenses during the period also included not wearing a helmet (672), running red lights (110), unsafe motorbike modifications (93), drunk driving (60), driving against traffic (47), not wearing seatbelts (40), unsafe overtaking (32) and using mobile phones while driving (9).