Parents of street racers to also face legal action

Presiding over a meeting yesterday with 40 related agencies, Paiboon instructed the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry and the police to monitor the social media to see if the street racers are making appointments. It will be decided next week if the premier, as head of the National Council for Peace and Order leader, would need to evoke his powers as per the interim charter’s Article 44 to solve this problem, he said. 

The authorities will also check manufacturers and sellers of motorcycle parts and accessories to see if they are supporting the street racers, and if so, they could see their licence suspended or they may be forced to close, he added. 

Since up to 70 per cent of street racers do not go to school, the Interior Ministry and police have been told to check on re-offenders. Also, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been encouraged to find more space for constructive activities among the youth in a bid to keep them away from street racing. 

As for the issue of alcoholic beverages being sold near schools, the Council of State was asked to check for loopholes in the law enforcement. The Public Health Ministry reported that banning such outlets from being located within 300 metres from schools had already been proposed as a ministerial regulation. 

The licences of entertainment venues that stay open beyond legal closing time and sells acohol to minors would also be suspended for five years, the justice minister added. 

Paiboon said the agencies acknowledged that these problems likely stemmed from lax enforcement of law, and hence officials would be told to be more strict or they would be punished in the same manner as the parents of street racers.