Three traffic policemen have been reassigned to other duties, pending investigation, after they allegedly set up an unauthorised mobile checkpoint in Phayathai area of Bangkok.
Post Today Online reported the men were transferred after a motorist lodged a complaint with a video clip showing that three traffic policemen from Phayathai police station had set up a mobile checkpoint in defiance of the new national police chief's order banning the practice.
The three policemen were not identified.
Pol Gen Chakthip Chaichinda, the national police chief, has announced police are now prohibited from setting up random mobile checkpoints to catch traffic violators.
Pol Gen Prawut Thawornsiri, the police spokesman, said the allegation was being investigated.
"Setting up of mobile checkpoints to catch traffic violators is definitely prohibited. But checkpoints can still be set up for security, drugs and crime suppression purposes. So far, no traffic policemen have been found to have violated the prohibition. Violators will be subject to serious disciplinary action," he said.
Pol Gen Prawut said a video conference would be held on Wednesday to explain to explain the policy to senior police throughout the country.