฿1,000 fine not enough
What? Only a 1000-baht fine for people using the hard shoulder on elevated roads and expressways preventing emergency vehicles like ambulances from reaching their destinations and risking horrific accidents like the one that happened this week?
This is a joke. The only deterrent is to hit people where it hurts the most: their wallet!
The government's intention to raise fines for people who drive without a licence makes sense and has this reader's vote. Of course, a majority of people are against it, as a poll reported by the Post showed a couple of days ago. What do you expect? Fines are only a deterrent but enforcement must be there at all times, not only at the end of the month.
JF Leduc
Consulate like a prison
I just renewed my passport at the US consulate in Bangkok. Being naive, I figured that since I had an appointment, the process would be quick. Only the civil service could mess up this up. First, you have to go through security. I have been in maximum security prisons that are easier to get into.
I just had knee surgery and standing still is difficult. You go into this room that is like a walk-in closet packed full of people. There, you have to stand in line to go through a window to start the process.
Even banks and butcher shops have you take a number, then you relax, and wait for your number to come up. But the consulate wants you to stand in line like you are in the army. Then when you finally get to the window, they want you to go to another window to pay. After you pay, you have to go back to the small room and wait for your number to be called again. Then, you have to go outside and get a Thai Post envelope and come back again and wait. We call that the civil service shuffle.
They tell you that you can do this by mail, but you have to get two bank money orders and trust the mail system to get it there and back. Also, the Thai baht to US dollar exchange rate is not favourable to you. I am glad that I don't have to do this again for 10 years.
Bill Cymbalsky
Fix road nightmare
Every day, millions of litres of gas go up in smoke as cars sit idle on the road. Millions of hours are wasted every day trying to get kids to school or get to work. How about we try to improve things?
Most cities in the world rely on computers to change lights but not us. We have traffic police turn off the computers and eyeball it. Destroy all traffic boxes and use computers full time.
Build complete train and subway systems so people don't have to rely on using roads which are full. Interconnect dead-end sois so that there are alternative routes.
Ban tinted windows, talking on the phone and watching TV. Penalise these offences harshly.
Bob Morrow
Surreal women lanes
Re: "New mindsets needed at Suvarnabhumi", (Opinion, Sept 4).
This very interesting article pointed out that it's not just at immigration desks that the authorities are having to think long and hard about the growing Chinese presence and influence in Thailand.
Particularly thought-provoking though was the revelation that a "women only" immigration lane has been established at Suvarnabhumi airport, and presumably at other entry points, "for reasons beyond any understanding except for publicity to show gender equality efforts". It's certainly beyond understanding, I can't figure out why a "women only" lane serves the principle of gender equality. Why do women need a special lane, and if they do, why don't men get one too? And what about transgender folks -- what lane would they plump for? I know it's surreal, but much of the "conversation" nowadays on gender identity is surreal.
Surely the best way to demonstrate the Immigration Department's commitment to "gender equality" would be for lanes to show no demarcation between men and women and everything in between.
Robin Grant
Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
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