Photo: Jefferson Delogo / Pexels
Thai traffic police have been ordered to show their faces, start with warnings instead of fines, and stop taking cash at the roadside. The written order covers every province, and it carves out serious offences like drink-driving, which still get penalised straight away. Here's what it says and what it could mean if you drive or ride on Koh Lanta.
Who gave the order
Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn Chintakanont, an assistant national police chief, announced it on Sunday, 25 October 2026. A written order went to police units in Bangkok and every province, so it applies nationwide.
The three main directives
1. Show your face
Traffic police may not wear full-face helmets or any other facial covering when dealing with road users, and they must be in uniform while on duty. Sunglasses or face masks are still allowed as protection from sun and dust. But when an officer is dealing with a violator, they must take off the sunglasses and mask so they can be identified.
2. Warn first, then escalate
Officers should start with a warning, then impose progressively higher fines for repeat violations. A ticket management system already exists that lets police check a motorist's violation record.
3. No bribes
Taking bribes is expressly prohibited. Police cannot collect fines on the spot. Instead, they must tell the motorist to pay later through legitimate channels.
Where the leniency stops
The warn-first approach does not apply to violations likely to cause serious accidents. The article names four:
- Driving against traffic
- Traffic light violations
- Drink-driving
- Street racing
Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn said the leniency does not extend to violations that could cause serious accidents, and he listed those four.
What this means for visitors
- Warnings first: A first minor offence, such as no helmet or another small infraction, should in principle get a warning rather than an immediate fine.
- No cash on the spot: Officers are not supposed to take payment at the roadside. A fine should be paid afterward through official channels. An officer asking for cash now clearly breaks the order.
- Identifiable officers: You can see an officer's face and uniform, so you can check who they are and report them if needed.
- Serious offences get no leniency: Drink-driving, running red lights, driving against traffic and street racing will still be penalised straight away.
One practical caution: this part is an inference, not something the article states. Implementation on the ground, especially in the provinces, may lag the written order. Staying polite, asking for an official ticket and paying through official channels is the safest approach.
What the article doesn't say
The report does not give fine amounts, the schedule for how fines escalate, any penalty for officers who break the order, or an effective date.
Information sourced from Bangkok Post.