Finally really happening or just another quick flash for publicity?

[Gaybutton]

Why do I think this police officer might simply be used as an opportunity for publicity, but in reality things will go on as usual?



________________________________________________________________________________________

Bribery cop sacked on the spot as Bangkok delivers zero-tolerance policing Pattaya has long demanded

By Pattaya Mail

November 20, 2025

Bangkok just delivered the kind of policing Pattaya residents and long-term visitors have been begging to see for years: fast action, full accountability, and zero tolerance for petty corruption.

After a video went viral showing a traffic officer at Mo Chit demanding a 100-baht “parking fee” and claiming it was “tradition,” the Metropolitan Police didn’t stall, transfer him, or hide behind an internal memo. They fired him. And not quietly — they hit him with full criminal charges: bribery, malfeasance, and violations under the anti-corruption law.

The officer, Pol. Lt. Manas, was found to have abused his authority for personal gain. The disciplinary committee ruled it a serious breach of conduct. The anti-corruption body unanimously agreed it was a criminal act, not a misunderstanding, not a “miscommunication,” and definitely not “just how things are done.”

This is the kind of decisive response Pattaya desperately needs.
Not endless “investigations,” not soft warnings, not rotations to another desk.
Because every long-term visitor and local here knows the truth: small, everyday extortion erodes trust faster than any major scandal ever could.

Bangkok showed that it can be done — transparently, publicly, and with real consequences. Pattaya’s reputation, tourism economy, and long-term visitor confidence would all benefit from exactly this kind of backbone. When the public sees officers being held to the law instead of bending it, trust returns. And Pattaya could certainly use more of that.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/briber ... ded-526827

[Jun]

Merely firing him ? Shouldn't he be in jail ? At least it's a start.

[Gaybutton]

Merely firing him ? Shouldn't he be in jail ? At least it's a start.

That anything at all was done comes as a surprise to me.

There are still some forms of corruption I like - such as tea money to the cop when stopped for a traffic violation rather than having to go to the police station. Much quicker, easier, and actually far less expensive that way. A few hundred baht and that's the end of it. So as I see it, some forms of corruption are not all bad . . .

[Jun]

There are still some forms of corruption I like - such as tea money to the cop when stopped for a traffic violation rather than having to go to the police station. Much quicker, easier, and actually far less expensive that way. A few hundred baht and that's the end of it. So as I see it, some forms of corruption are not all bad . . .

What about all the unintended consequences ?
1 When people can pay off the police, all sorts of reckless and dangerous driving becomes acceptable. That's why Thai roads are among the most dangerous in the world.
2 I presume the same corruption makes it impossible to enforce other rules which my be beneficial, such as reducing pollution by taking the worst vehicles off the road.
3 It doesn't just stop there. What about the driving license or immigration people deliberately making life difficult, so that customers go off to use an agency ?
4 What about all the inflated bar prices, just to pay off the BIB ?
etc etc

I'd jail the minor offenders. Some probably deserve more severe punishment.

[Gaybutton]

What about all the unintended consequences ?

What about them? I didn't say those forms of corruption you mention are good. They're not. I agree with you about those. What I said was not all forms of corruption are bad. When the corruption works in my favor, I'm not complaining.

[Jun]

I guess your traffic offences may be rather minor, but once the authorities start taking bribes, they don't know where to stop. Hence reckless driving becomes the norm and 20,000 people per year get killed on the roads, or whatever it is currently.

In the UK, with a similar population, it was 1602 deaths on the roads in 2024. I'd imagine average traffic speeds are higher in the UK as well.

[Gaybutton]

20,000 people per year get killed on the roads

You attribute that number of deaths to BiB taking bribes? I fail to see the correlation. Most of those traffic deaths - around 70% - 80% according to Google - are motorbike accident deaths. While I realize enforcement in Thailand is close to non-existent, are numbers of motorbikes in the UK similar to Thailand? In the USA it was rare to ever even see anyone riding a motorbike. Anywhere I ever was, everybody drove cars.

In Thailand the motorbikes vastly outnumber cars - and you don't need me to tell you the way so many drive them. Also driver education in Thailand consists mainly of watching a video while waiting your turn at the driving license bureau - and hardly anyone actually watches it - instead most are just staring at their smartphones or chatting with each other. In other words, no serious driver education at all.

I attribute those factors as the major causes of those traffic deaths, but I don't see how bribes fit into it very much.

Anyway, of course police taking bribes is wrong. No argument about that, but to quickly get out of minor infractions, that kind of "wrong" is fine with me. I very rarely ever get stopped in the first place. The last time I was stopped must be nearly 10 years ago by now, but when I did get stopped, usually 300 or 400 baht quickly settled the situation. To me that beats hell out of having to trek to the police station, wait in long lines, have points removed, and part with a minimum of 1000 baht no matter how minor the infraction. So, at least when it comes to that, as far as I'm concerned bring on the corruption . . .

Another thing I agree with you about - when it comes to renewing driving licenses or getting the initial license, doing the whole thing yourself is a major pain. Whether tea money is behind it or not, next year my own license is up for renewal and I'm going to use a visa agent to do it and save myself much of the hassle. I'll gladly pay the agency their 3000 baht fee.

[Dodger]

If and when they ever start putting government ministers, members of parliament, military leaders, and police generals in prison for administering corrupt practices I'll be impressed. But firing one low-level street cop and then plastering it all over the news is nothing more than a deceptive maneuver intended to create a false perception.

I doubt this will fool anyone. Certainly not the Thais.

I agree that paying a small bribe to a traffic cop to avoid going to the police station is a convenience, but also know that if they ever get serious about going after corruption - that means all corruption. You simply can't have your cake and eat it too.

[Jun]

You attribute that number of deaths to BiB taking bribes? I fail to see the correlation. Most of those traffic deaths - around 70% - 80% according to Google - are motorbike accident deaths. While I realize enforcement in Thailand is close to non-existent, are numbers of motorbikes in the UK similar to Thailand? In the USA it was rare to ever even see anyone riding a motorbike. Anywhere I ever was, everybody drove cars.

If the police enforced traffic laws, fewer people would be killed.
For as start, all would be wearing helmets. Like the few motorcyclists in the UK or the millions in Vietnam. Helmets make a difference.
It's the same with seatbelts. Crash a car at 30mph when wearing one and you walk away. Without it, you're going through the windscreen. Which is messy.
In time, with enforcement, driving standards improve. So drivers start to respect pedestrian crossings etc. Bringing further gains.
So law enforcement would definitely make a difference. Obviously not getting down to UK levels, due to all the motorcycles.

[Gaybutton]

If the police enforced traffic laws, fewer people would be killed.

IF. Why am I not holding my breath . . . ?