Speed cameras, limits, and tickets

[Big Boy]

I think the fines get compounded if they are left unpaid for more than a week.

I can't be 100% sure, but I think the period to pay was more like 4 weeks. However, if you allow for the Thai Postal System, it is probably close to 1 week from receipt of the fine.

Regarding the Expressway, I rarely exceed the speed limit on there. If I do, it is only for short spurts.

[hhfarang]

I understand the speed limits winkie, but the advice given on this thread is that fines do not get issued unless you exceed 120KMH. Similar to motorway driving in the UK where the speed limit is 70MPH, but you don't risk being caught until you exceed 85MPH.

Hi BB

I'm quite certain that is not the case. I'm sure I've had camera fines for doing 100+ in 90 limits. And certainly I've paid fines for human checks at less than 120kph.

It's certainly not true on the Don Muang tollway that Winkie is talking about. They will fine you for 85 with the posted speed 80. They have a real human with a radar machine and a walkie who hides just behind the outside barrier and radios ahead to the toll booth where many police sit and wait. It's a ridiculous speed trap as that tollway is several lanes wide frequently near empty and one could do 140 safely. 80 seems like you are going backward on such a highway. BTW. I've been saved there many times by motorists coming in the other direction rapidly flashing their lights just like in the U.S. This must be a universal international warning of a radar speed trap ahead.

[VincentD]

Went to Pranburi today to renew the Tax on my caaaa hitch (at the Registry of Vehicles?) was politely declined as I have an outstanding speeding fine in Khorat. Main problem is that I did not receive any advice through the post and having checked in HH Police station have been told I have to go to Khorat Police Station to pay it...

I now have to arrange a day out to Khorat, in the meantime I am driving without tax and looking forward to paying other branches of the MIB for the pleasure.

I just confirmed with the company (Thai) driver that you can pay the outstanding fine at the Registry of Vehicles. There will be a police desk somewhere there and he said you can pay nationwide, no need to go back to Khorat.
Note that the HH Police Station is a Police station. They won't know anything about traffic offences. The Highway Police (who issue the traffic fines) are a completely different entity.

Driving without tax could invalidate any insurance policies you may have.

Oh, and off on a slight tangent.
I occasionally use Sygic on my Galaxy S2 for GPS. It surprised me one day by alerting me to a "traffic camera" in the middle of nowhere. Had one or two close calls around there before (Chonburi). On searching through the app, I found you can upload a location pinpointing a traffic camera via internet so they will upgrade their database for the benefit of other Sygic users.

Okay. Back to topic.

[Nereus]

Speed camera today southbound on Petchkasem Rd. Up on a pedestrian crossover bridge around Km marker 145. Most of the northbound traffic were flashing their headlights, so it was probably slim pickings for him! Although I hope he got the twat in a new Range Rover that hurtled past me a few minutes previously.

[Bristolian]

Speed camera today southbound on Petchkasem Rd. Up on a pedestrian crossover bridge around Km marker 145. Most of the northbound traffic were flashing their headlights, so it was probably slim pickings for him! Although I hope he got the twat in a new Range Rover that hurtled past me a few minutes previously.

It would be cool justice If they did catch a Range Rover and it was the same,red plate, Range Rover that I encountered, on my way to HH on Friday. Total A-hole looking for an accident to get involved in.

[Gregga]

Please advise is there a way to find out if I have any tickets that need to be paid by the plate numbers? I registered my car at my old rented house and never received any mails since I've moved out from there. I assume there got to be some tickets in mail but I simply never seen them

[Coldmike]

Are these speed traps using radar to detect speed? If so, radar detectors would be quite useful unless they are illegal in Thailand.
Since no one has posted that they use one, I'll assume they're not legal, but has anyone been caught with one and what penalties were experienced?

[Condoking]

Please advise is there a way to find out if I have any tickets that need to be paid by the plate numbers? I registered my car at my old rented house and never received any mails since I've moved out from there. I assume there got to be some tickets in mail but I simply never seen them

My understanding is that you only find out when you go to re-tax your car. I have been told we can tax a month or so in advance which will give time to sort fines out before the tax expires.

Have also received reliable advice that there are speed cameras at the 142 kilo mark on the 4 road to/from Bangkok and at the 72 kilo mark on the 35 road.

[DSB]

I was caught on camera and received the ticket, along with a photo in the post. Think you might have to check your mail

[Gregjam]

Just a thought, still waiting for the dealer to get the reg for the new car (not a Range Rover so I am not the person mentioned in earlier posts) so if I was snapped then the fine would be sent to the dealer. That is if they could read the plate which is well battered to say the least! And what about all those cars with false red plates. When I first picked up my car it had false plates for the first couple of days which looked very swish but then were changed to the battered ones it has now. I see lots of cars with these type of plates, usually with 8888 or some other lucky combination of numbers rather than a proper red plate. Does anyone know of any occasion when a dealer has charged someone for speeding on their red plates?

[VincentD]

Are these speed traps using radar to detect speed? If so, radar detectors would be quite useful unless they are illegal in Thailand.
Since no one has posted that they use one, I'll assume they're not legal, but has anyone been caught with one and what penalties were experienced?

CM
while some people *may* use these things, it is so much cheaper to pay the fine here. It is quite different in the countries where this was developed; over there the cost of the detector is minimal compared to the consequences.
Don't know about the legality of the thing, it's one of those items that could be classified as being in limbo. Having said that, I've been using one since 1993 and they've moved on from X-band radar; they now have instant on K and Ka band plus Laser. Not that they use them much, but they are in use.
Speed cameras are much more effective these days at generating revenue.

Note that practically all the 7-11s and Tescos will set off the detector... so it still does have it's uses....

[Nereus]

Have also received reliable advice that there are speed cameras at the 142 kilo mark on the 4 road to/from Bangkok and at the 72 kilo mark on the 35 road.

Both these places were active northbound last Friday. They are both mounted up on pedestrian overpasses. The one around 142 Km marker is the same one I referred to above, and can be turned around to face either direction.

While I have no problem abiding by the law and observing the speed limit, as far as I am concerned camera traps such as these are only revenue gathering devices. They do nothing to improve road safety, but I suppose do eliminate the corruption that automatically occurs when the MIB are stopping cars in person.

[Big Boy]

Have also received reliable advice that there are speed cameras at the 142 kilo mark on the 4 road to/from Bangkok and at the 72 kilo mark on the 35 road.

I'm sure this is good information, but it means very little to me. What are the 4 and 35 roads, and are there any memorable landmarks nearby?

[Edit] Can anybody explain what a mounted Thai Speed Camera looks like, or better still, does anybody have a photo?.

[Terry]

BB

4 is Petchkasem which runs all the way up to Bangkok via Ratchaburi (& down to the Malaysian border the other way)
35 is otherwise known as Rama 11 which joins 4 at around Pak Tho area and proceeds into Bangkok via Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakon..

[Nereus]

Have also received reliable advice that there are speed cameras at the 142 kilo mark on the 4 road to/from Bangkok and at the 72 kilo mark on the 35 road.

I'm sure this is good information, but it means very little to me. What are the 4 and 35 roads, and are there any memorable landmarks nearby?
[Edit] Can anybody explain what a mounted Thai Speed Camera looks like, or better still, does anybody have a photo?.

4 is Phetkasem Rd and 35 is Rama 2, both used when going back and forth to Bangkok, or other places to the north of Hua Hin.

The speed cameras that I have seen are always manned. So if you see some bod on the side of the road, or up on an overpass, with a big black coloured device on a tripod, there is a good chance it is a speed camera.