The Council of State has ruled it is illegal for a driver to talk on a mobile phone while stopped at a red light, a former Supreme Court judge revealed on his Facebook page Sunday.
Chuchart Srisaeng, the former judge, said the Council of State's 4th standing committee made the ruling after being asked by the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) whether talking on the phone at a red light violates Section 43 of the Land Traffic Act.
Section 43 prohibits a driver from talking on a mobile phone while driving, except with the use of a device such as a hands-free set which enables the driver to talk on the phone without having to hold it.
On receiving the police question, the 4th standing committee invited state agencies to discuss the matter.
The committee decided that although a vehicle is stopped at a light, the driver is regarded as still being in control of it and must be ready to move off when the light turns green, which might be impeded if he is holding a phone. Talking on a phone without using a hands-free device means the driver is still regarded as breaking the law.