How Thailand’s new traffic fines are playing out?
Opinion: Long to the ire of many, RTP looks to shake off public sourness over traffic fines
Now that some time has passed since the Royal Thai Police (RTP) formalised their list of new traffic fines and sanctions, in effect since June 1, 2025, it would be an understatement to say that this change has done much to quench the scepticism of the public.
The core of the new fines are the motorcycle helmet laws and operating a vehicle without a licence, which carries a fine starting at 1,000 baht. Under Section 122 of the Land Traffic Act, both riders and passengers are legally required to wear helmets, with the fine doubling if both are found without a helmet.
For Police Lieutenant General Nithithorn Chintakanon, the Commander of the Traffic Police Bureau, this helmet mandate is part of a larger initiative known as the “Safe Roads Project,” aimed at reducing road accidents and fatalities, which have long been a cause for concern across the nation.
But why is this move so important? Motorcycle accidents are among the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in Thailand. The lack of proper helmet usage is undoubtedly a major contributing factor, with many riders opting not to wear crash helmets due to comfort or inconvenience.
Alongside this, the RTP have also placed penalties for other dangerous driving practices such as driving on pavements, driving against traffic, and failing to comply with traffic signals, all of which carry a fine starting at 1,000 baht.
For offences that the RTP has outlined as less severe, such as undertaking (overtaking in the left lane) or using a cell phone without auxiliary equipment while operating a vehicle, offenders are expected to shell out at least 500 baht, depending on the severity of the offence.
Scepticism lingers
The scepticism, as mentioned earlier, primarily stems from a fragmented approach to enforcing traffic laws, where many Thais and tourists alike feel as if they’re being taken advantage of, either as a result of unclear laws and regulations or being specifically targeted by traffic officers.
This notion is especially jarring given the Supreme Administrative Court’s ruling on February 5, stating that traffic fines issued by the RTP since July 2020 were unlawful, a decision with potential impact on millions of motorists.
The ruling came from a case arguing that police policies had denied motorists their right to dispute tickets and unlawfully imposed fixed fine rates, violating constitutional rights.
As it stands, it’s not entirely unfair to assume that these reasons, chief among all, are often seen as the root cause of a soured public perception towards traffic police. Regardless, the move by the RTP to publicly publish the traffic and their respective fines, albeit a common courtesy to do so, marks a move towards the right direction in terms of transparency and effective traffic policing.
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