Khon Kaen Man Protests Checkpoint: Why No Ticket for No License, But Arrest Record Sent to Court? Police Captain Explains It's the Law
A Khon Kaen police checkpoint stopped a woman with multiple violations including an expired license and revoked plate, then issued only a warning after finding she was a first-time offender; the commander clarified that driving without a li
At 12:30 p.m. on May 27, 2025, social media pages across Khon Kaen province shared a video clip from a checkpoint at Ban Fang Police Station, Ban Fang District, Khon Kaen Province. A Facebook user posted a complaint saying the incident happened to someone close to them, questioning the police's enforcement approach. The post stated: "The driver had no license but showed a national ID. Police couldn't issue a ticket, but went ahead and filed an arrest report for court instead—even though the person could have been identified to receive a ticket. The police claimed they need immediate cash payment to issue a ticket and can't let you pay at home later."
When contacted, Pol. Maj. Korrapob Netsudsong, the Ban Fang Police Station commander, explained that officers initially stopped a vehicle driven by a young woman and discovered multiple document and vehicle registration violations: the car was not registered, it used an old license plate that had been revoked by the Transport Office due to unpaid taxes for over three years, and the driver could not produce a valid license.
According to law, when a driver lacks a license, they must be referred to provincial court—fines cannot be issued at the police station level. This applies nationwide throughout Thailand. However, after further investigation, police found the driver had already filed for new vehicle registration and was waiting for the new license plate from the Transport Office. Considering she was a young first-time offender with no criminal history in the system, officers exercised discretion and issued only a warning, advising her to complete the registration process and always carry her license while driving.
The commander emphasized there was no arrest or ticket issued—only a check and warning with guidance to comply with the law. He added that regarding the social media post from a local page operator: the person posting was connected to the driver and unhappy about the vehicle stop. Police confirmed the traffic stop followed standard procedures when document and vehicle violations were discovered, with no intention to discriminate or single anyone out.
Police also reminded the public to ensure their vehicle registration, license plate, and driver's license are all valid and current before operating a vehicle, as using an improperly registered vehicle or revoked license plates constitutes a legal offense.
