Phuket Provincial Police Chief Col Teerapol Thipjaroen said, “We seized lots of cars and motorbikes during the seven days of danger and all of these vehicles were reported to the Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Office.”
“We follow the same seven dangerous days of New Year as Bangkok and we really do not want drink drivers taking their vehicles on the road. Their vehicles are kept at a police station until the driver is in a fit state to take the vehicle back,” Col Teerapol said.
“However, if the vehicle has been involved in a crime or accident, the vehicle will be seized and checked for evidence. Once that is complete the vehicle will be returned to the owner,” he added.
The government on Tuesday (Jan 5) approved a move to prolong indefinitely the use of Section 44 to temporarily seize licences and vehicles of drink drivers, to curb road fatalities.
The order, issued on Dec 30 under Section 44 of the interim charter, initially was intended to be used only during the “seven dangerous days” campaign of the New Year holiday period, and was to have ended on at midnight on Monday. (See story here)