Police are cracking down on motorcycle street racers who turn out in large numbers on major city roads and have set themselves the ambitious target of ridding the streets of racers within seven days.
Motorcycle races and racers have made headlines for years, and continue to take place despite police measures including mass crackdowns. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Assistant police chief, Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak Charit-ak, said police have decided to take swift action against the racers, also known as dek waen.
Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak said members of the public have complained that the motorcycle street racers are loud and obstruct traffic.
He said the crack down started last night on the streets of Bangkok as well as in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom outside of the capital.
The 10 main roads used for racing in Bangkok include Ratchadaphisek Road, roads in the Klong Toey area, Kaset-Nawamin Road, Kanchanaphisek Road, Rama 4 Road, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Phetchaburi Road and Ram Intra Road.
Outside Bangkok, the main roads used for racing include Ratchaphruek Road in Nonthaburi, Bang Na-Trat Road in Samut Prakan and Phetkasem Road in Nakhon Pathom.
Police have made numerous mass arrests and seized hundreds of motorcycles, without ending the night-time races.
Police said parents who fail to control young street racers will also face some type of punishment, along with those who watch the illegal street races.
Auto parts shops that provide motorcycle accessories or modify the bikes and engines will also be charged by the police if they supply substandard parts to motorcycle street racers.
The racers themselves will be jailed and their motorcycles confiscated if they are found guilty of illegal street racing, police said.
Police say more than 200,000 racers, mostly youngsters, were caught nationwide last year.
Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak said police will also be punished if they neglect to take action against people racing on the streets in their jurisdictions.