Bangkok police confirm Songkran leniency
Metropolitan Police on Friday issued a letter formally confirming that up to six passengers will be allowed to ride in the open cargo beds of pickup trucks during the Songkran holiday period.
The letter signed by deputy chief Pol Maj-General Jirapat Phumjit confirms that officers will be lenient in enforcing new government restrictions on vehicle use from April 11-17.
But police will enforce other planned safety measures, including the arrest or fining of drivers and front-seat passengers who fail to wear seatbelts, and will issue warnings to rear-seat passengers not wearing seatbelt. Police will overlook passengers riding in the extended cab space of two-door pickups and allow up to six passengers in the cargo bed as long as they’re not sitting atop the side panels or on the tailgate.
Operators of public transport vehicles including vans, taxis and inter-province buses will be arrested and fined if any passengers are found not wearing seatbelts, the letter said.
