Pattaya police have enlisted the city’s motorbike taxi drivers to help them increase the use of helmets and report crime.
As a first step toward achieving the national government’s drive for 100 percent compliance with helmet laws, Police Superintendent Lt. Col. Nanthawut Suwanla-Ong called a meeting of 120 motorcycle stand operators to encourage them and their passengers to all wear helmets.
At the same time, he urged the motorbike drivers to act as eyes and ears for police, reporting crimes involving drug, assault and theft.
Pol. Lt. Purachet Ratnawichit (left), Pattaya Police Deputy Traffic Inspector, and Police Superintendent Lt. Col Nanthawut Suwanla-Ong (right), have enlisted the city’s motorbike taxi drivers to help them increase the use of helmets and report crime.
Nanthawut warned them that traffic officers would be stepping up enforcement of helmet laws and that taxi drivers would be subject to strict enforcement.
Offsetting the stick with a carrot, the police chief told the motorbike drivers that if they played along, they’d qualify for cash rewards.
The national government passed a resolution Jan. 4 calling on stepped up promotion of motorcycle helmet use with a goal of getting everyone on a bike to wear one. Police stations around the country were told to create action plans to make that goal a reality.
