Motorists charged with minor traffic offences will pay low fines and be able to get their driving licences back promptly in a New Year's gesture to travellers, a police spokesman says.
Offenders, whose traffic violations usually incur a fine of between 100 baht to 400 baht, will only have to pay 100 baht.
They can collect their driving licences when they go to pay their fine during a grace period that runs until Jan 4. Normally, they would have to wait until the end of the holiday period before getting them back.
For such offences, the fine is not stated on the ticket but will be calculated for payment when the offenders turn up to pay at the station.
Acting deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Jirapat Phumjit said the "discount" was to ensure motorists have their licences with them when they drive home for the holidays.
Traffic offenders eligible for the reprieve include motorists caught not possessing a driving licence and motorcycle drivers caught driving without a helmet.
Police are finding out how many traffic tickets they have given out for minor offences which are left uncollected.
Also excluded are offences involving vehicles which have been towed away or clamped for parking in no-parking areas.
Offenders not qualified to get the ticket "discount" are those whose vehicles emitted black smoke or noise in excess of the legal limit. Vehicle owners caught by roadside cameras driving in excess of the limit also are not included among the discount recipients.
Meanwhile, holidaymakers began the New Year exodus yesterday as traffic congestion was reported on Mittraphan Road to the Northeast.
Provincial authorities in Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway province to the Northeast, met yesterday to work out a response to the holiday traffic situation. The meeting was attended by the chiefs of 32 districts in the province, provincial police, the military, public health staff and emergency prevention and mitigation officials.
Local authorities said more motorists were using the Mittraphan Road passing through Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday. Many were pickup trucks with families as they headed home for the New Year.
Several motorists said they wanted to head off now as it was less congested travelling upcountry a few days before the holidays officially begin. They expected the roads would be packed today and tomorrow when holiday travel peaks.
It was reported that traffic was particularly heavy on the bypass road where vehicles from Kabin Burin in the East merges with Mittraphan Road. Rest stops at petrol stations in the area were crammed with motorists. Highway police said traffic through Nakhon Ratchasima was heavier last night.
The Highways Department and local police also launched a campaign on safe holiday travel yesterday.