Traffic police have proposed that drivers who fail to pay their tickets on time go to jail.
The suggested amendment to Section 155 of the Land Traffic Act, which currently sets a maximum fine of 1,000 baht on those who don't pay traffic tickets without a valid reason, would impose jail time in addition to financial penalties, Pol Col Ekkarak Limsungkat, deputy chief of the Traffic Police Division, told Thairath Online.
If enacted, the plan would send ticket scofflaws to the slammer or slap them with heavier fines.
Pol Col Ekkarak, also a Bangkok police spokesman, said the division would propose clear penalties to ensure increased compliance with traffic regulations.
The move came after the Council of State last month rejected a Royal Thai Police proposal to bar road offenders who didn't pay their fines from renewing annual vehicle registrations, ruling it would be unconstitutional. The council advised police to increase traffic fines instead.
The Department of Land Transport recently issued a three-page statement clarifying the issue. The documents, which received a positive response after circulating on the internet, confirmed that traffic violators ticketed by police but who failed to pay the fine by the date printed on it could renew their registrations as usual.
"Many people have been aware of this fact for quite a while. When they receive tickets from police, they crumple and throw them away, not paying," Pol Col Ekkarak complained.
Deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Adul Narongsak earlier said of about 1 million tickets issued, only 40% have been paid.