Traffic Police Reassigned After Stop Sparks Drama Online
Traffic police officers in Bangkok were reassigned to desk duties after a viral video showed them collecting a 500-baht payment without a receipt from a foreign driver stopped for an illegal turn.
The Makkasan police station commander has reassigned all officers shown in a viral video to traffic control duties away from public interaction. A Facebook user posted dashcam footage showing a foreign-plated vehicle being stopped by traffic police, with the interaction raising concerns about how charges were communicated. The video showed a Laotian driver being told he faced a 4,000-baht fine for an illegal left turn, though he ultimately paid 500 baht without an official receipt.
On July 7, Deputy Commander Urumphorn Khun Detchasumrit explained that the station is treating the matter seriously. Officers featured in the video have been reassigned to traffic management booths without direct public contact, and an investigation committee has been formed to determine what actually occurred.
The station is attempting to contact the driver through Facebook to gather accurate information and ensure fair resolution. When asked about the location and whether left turns are permitted, the deputy commander suggested the traffic officer and driver may have experienced a communication breakdown. The officer likely stopped the vehicle because it bore foreign license plates rather than Thai ones. At that intersection, vehicles frequently violate traffic signals by appearing to go straight to access an expressway then immediately turning left, a common violation officers encounter.
Regarding the 4,000-baht fine mentioned, the deputy commander explained that the officer was likely citing the maximum penalty under traffic law, not necessarily issuing the full fine. The officer may have carried a portable fine device that day but may not have explained the situation clearly enough, leading the driver to misunderstand. The station is investigating both the officer's account and attempting to question the driver to reach a fair and clear conclusion.
