Police in the area across the region and indeed all over Thailand have been planning their New Year Party for a long time. Senior Police officers at Na Jomtien for example explained that they plan extra patrols and police traffic check points on the Sukhumvit Highway which traverses their jurisdiction.
Regular traffic cops will be bolstered by police volunteers who have been ordered rather than volunteering to man the checkpoints in an effort to curtail the tsunami of illegal activities like riding a motorcycle without a helmet, driving a car without a seat belt or God forbid not carrying a valid driving licence.
Thais and farangs alike whinge at these draconian tactics. There is however a real motive for this apparent petty pestering of the travelling public.
Sukhumvit Highway is not only a major thoroughfare for traffic but also a hub for the trafficking of illegal drugs and firearms which are often found and seized in these seemingly routine traffic stops.
New Year as well as Songkran has been the traditional time for the culling of the Thai population. Warning The Royal Thai Police are getting tough on idiots who operate lethal machines on Thai roads whilst under the influence of alcohol. So unless you have loads of dosh in your wallet or a get out of jail free card then get well oiled to your heart's content but leave those car, motorcycle keys at home.
