The assistant commissioner-general of police shares his views on checkpoints, traffic tickets and changing times with Motoring

INTERVIEW / PONGSAPAT PONGCHAROEN

Policing gridlock

The assistant commissioner-general of police shares his views on checkpoints, traffic tickets and changing times with Motoring

ALFRED THA HLA

Beside the police officer with a PhD who went on to become the 23rd prime minister of Thailand (and probably the richest ever to have assumed the high office), Pol Lt Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen is another law enforcement officer with a doctorate in Criminal Justice from the United States who has constantly been in the public eye ever since he earned the rank of police colonel.

Currently an assistant commissioner-general and spokesman for the Royal Thai Police and the Southern Border Province Peace-building Command, the 52-year-old officer shares his insights with Motoring on things automotive and related to traffic.

Generally speaking, what is your role as assistant commissioner-general and spokesman for the Office of the Commissioner-General, Royal Thai Police?

Administration, day-to-day management of the police force, information technology, research and development and public relations work for the bureau.

As for the role of spokesperson, my responsibilities include PR and distribution of news, press conferences and clarification of various activities of our bureau.

In the entire history of Thai police no commissioner-general has had a PhD. Now you hold one. Do you see it as an asset or an obstacle that could prevent you from reaching the pinnacle of your police career?

Actually having a PhD played a crucial part in advancement. After graduating from the Police Academy, I earned my master's and PhD degrees from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Sam Houston State University in Texas respectively. I then joined the force and gradually climbed up the career ladder.

I have also served as commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Academy for two years. It is one of the most important academic institutions in Thailand.

What are your most exciting moments while on duty?

While on active patrol when we go out in our vehicles and inspect our area of responsibility and look after the safety of property and possessions of the general public.

I am most happy and excited at night because most crimes and acts of violence occur during those hours. I am even happier after midnight because we are protecting the lives and property of the public while they are asleep. It's just us on the roads keeping a vigil.

Compare Thai policeman of yore to the current crop

The way of thinking in how we perform our duty has changed according to the requirements of society, especially since crime has increased (terrorism, international crime, economic, financial and technological crimes).

We must adjust our strategies in the way we operate. But one aspect that has never changed is our effort to obtain cooperation from the people. We rely primarily on assistance from the public when it comes to information regarding the work of criminals.

What about traffic conditions in Thailand, Bangkok to be specific?

Traffic problems are all the same in most big cities around the world - not enough roads to contain large numbers of vehicles. However, efficient management and a knowledge of engineering can help alleviate the situation to a large degree.

The government has implemented measures to solve the problem on a regular basis such as the building of mass transit systems, but the enforcement of traffic laws is equally important as motorists are still generally scared of policemen, although they may not care much about traffic signs or traffic lights.

Our department is trying to adjust its method of operation by adopting the dual strategy of asking motorists for their cooperation through public relations and more stringent enforcement of traffic laws.

How do you view traffic conditions in the next 5-10 years?

Despite the construction of more roads in the provinces and Bangkok in the past decade, especially expressways and other mass transit systems, the problem has persisted because the approach isn't integrated enough and it is difficult to cover every area.

Preference for personal transportation will continue to be a burden on the general public. In these times of high fuel prices, motorists might just need to review their options and start thinking in terms of car pools, even walking or using bicycles to commute between home and work.

What have you to say about the motorcycle gangs racing at night?

Problems caused by motorcycle racing are attributed to teenagers who crave speed. They also extends to motorists who tend to be selfish.

In the end, no one respects traffic law. Most tend to take advantage of the fact that policemen aren't there to enforce it. This is wrong.

Motorcycle racing on public roads is dangerous and a nuisance. We are aware of this and have constantly conducted arrests followed by due judicial process.

We have filed criminal suits and imposed harsh penalties and confiscated the motorcycles of offenders. But they seem to forget their punishment quickly. It appears we are not tackling the problems at the core.

We desperately need parents of wrong-doers and educational institutions to help instill a sense of decency in them and what should constitute proper behaviour in law-abiding citizens.

60% of the money collected from traffic tickets goes to the issuing policeman in commissions. Are you sure that is alright?

About the 60% commission from traffic tickets, that is what is left after sending the proceeds to the national coffers and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. (Out of B100, the BMA gets B50 while B2.5 goes to the treasury and of the remaining B47.5, 60% or the equivalent of B28.5 goes to the traffic police and the rest B19 to sponsors).

The B28.5 commission is what the state deems is suitable reward for doing traffic police work which requires long hard hours in heavy pollution and is detrimental to one's health.

This serves as an incentive for traffic police to devote and work even harder. More importantly, this will prevent traffic police from improper conduct like receiving bribes from motorists, an area which is constantly under public scrutiny. This is a factor crucial for the image of National Police.

Don't you think some police checkpoints are located at strategically awkward places and times?

Checkpoints generally are there to prevent violence or serve as an obstacle to potential acts of crime, or to inspect suspicious individuals or illegal activities. As for traffic checkpoints, they are there to monitor and control various acts of crime related to road conditions and infringement of traffic rules.

The National Police has laid down guidelines in setting up traffic checkpoints, with a unit commander or supervising officer in charge whose duty is to make sure that the checkpoint does not lead to traffic congestion or bribe-taking or using the police badge for personal gain.

What's the traffic policeman going to do when Thailand achieves annual sales of more than one million vehicles in five years time?

The reality of such a high volume of new vehicles on the roads is something that we cannot control. The road infrastructure we have, and specially in Bangkok, is not adequate enough to cope with an increase that large.

What I will say is our job is to ensure traffic flow. You must first understand that traffic police is a provider of convenience and assistance when there is disruption, in addition to enforcing laws like dealing with infringement in no-parking zones and double parking.

We are only a part of the system. We cannot solve the problems for the entire system.