A fine mess

Deputy city police chief Pol Maj-General Panu Kerdlarppol said he would meet with 7-Eleven executives Friday to see if the fines could be paid via the stores' counter service.

Since December 30, tickets have been sent to 75,470 red-light runners, slapping them with a Bt500 fine and a 40-point reduction on their licence, he said. However, only 4,283 have paid the fine so far.

Payment has been delayed in cases where taxis and company vehicles have run red lights, because the tickets had to be forwarded from the company to the drivers, he said. He urged violators to pay the fines at one of the 11 locations identified on the ticket's envelope, or call 1197 for more information.

Panu said officials had been told to focus on the fines and waive the points reduction for now. The points reduction would only be imposed on red-light runners caught by police at the scene, not those caught on camera.