Absolute power against racers

PRIME MINISTER and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha has resorted to using absolute power under Article 44 to tackle street racers and alcohol outlets near universities and colleges. 

The NCPO chief’s order No 22/2015 on these measures, published in the Royal Gazette website yesterday for immediate effect, prohibits people from gathering to organise or attend a street racing event. It authorises police or state officers to reinforce related laws to stop such activity via appropriate methods, including impounding vehicles. However, it allows those who are able to prove their innocence to retrieve the vehicles, the order said. 

The order also stipulates that parents of those caught for street racing would be held accountable and summoned to acknowledge their offspring’s wrongdoing. 

The parents will have to pay a bail guarantee for up to two years, and if their offspring is caught again during this time, they could face a jail term of up to three months and/or Bt30,000 in fine. 

The money put up as bail guarantee will be confiscated and placed in the Child Protection Fund. 

The order also said that anybody found possessing, distributing, producing or modifying auto or motorcycle parts for street racing would be regarded as an accessory. They will also face charges of traffic law violation and could face up to six months in prison and/or Bt2,000 to Bt20,000 in fine. 

If it is a business operator in question, then related officials will be authorised to close the business or revoke the business licence immediately. 

The order said that entertainment service establishments that allowed entry to persons below the age of 20, sell underage people alcoholic drinks, operate/sell alcohol beyond the legal time or allow weapons to be carried into premises could face closure as well as licence suspension for five years. If these establishments were found near universities, authorised officials could close, revoke the licence and prohibit such business establishments to open. 

No outlets selling alcohol can be located near universities or they may face legal action including immediate closure, according to the order. 

Also, establishments producing noise that disturbs the public would be given 30 days to solve the problem or face punishment. 

Officials who are negligent in tackling the offenders and establishments would be punished under civil law, criminal codes and disciplinary action, the order said. 

All state agencies related to street racing and entertainment business must come up with measures to solve the problems in a concrete and urgent manner, the order said.