It seems to
be target season in Pattaya, as checkpoints are popping up everywhere,
like this one on Sukhumvit Road.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Thailand’s Highway Police are getting into the random-checkpoint
business, erecting their own stops on Sukhumvit Road to ticket
motorcyclists and enforce traffic-safety laws.
Capt. Mongkol Nontheeraroj dispatched police officers and volunteers
Jan. 18 at Sukhumvit Soi 72 to establish checkpoints they claim prevent
crimes.
Mongkol, however, said the focus was on catching motorcyclists not
wearing helmets, missing registrations and car drivers not wearing
safety belts.
In addition, the checkpoints allow police to enforce strict traffic
rules, ticketing speeders and searching “suspicious” cars. However, no
checkpoints thus far recovered any illicit drugs or weapons.
The highway checkpoints come days after Pattaya Police expanded their
own network of checkpoints, adding five new stops in North Pattaya also
targeting motorcyclists.
