New “Model policemen” to be launched in Bangkok – better than the flesh and blood variety!

A new kind of “model policeman” is undergoing testing in Bangkok with traffic chiefs confident they will be much better than the real living thing.

The latest version of what the Thais call “jaa cheuy” (fake models of police) have been installed at a busy intersection to catch motorcycle riders with no helmets Sanook reported.

Traffic chief Jiraphat Phoomjit said the latest “model cops” were fitted with state-of-the-art cameras that could accomplish much more than an ordinary human.

Jiraphat said the cameras – for there would be several at work in unison at an intersection – could identify riders with no helmet, take a picture of the license plate and issue a ticket all in one seamless, interconnected fell swoop.

And it could all be done in the blink of an eye, even if the models can’t actually blink.

What is more, these wonder cops and their accessories can identify the difference between helmets and just caps or head scarves.

So the force is confident that mistakes will be kept to a bare minimum.

In tests at the Bot Mae Phra intersection the model cops managed to nab 25% of motorcyclists passing by and successfully issue tickets. This meant hundreds of fines issued every day at one intersection alone.

Now the force plans to get a whole army of fake cops and cameras out on the streets to make riders wear helmets and save lives.

Jiraphat said the technology came from abroad and the public can expect to see them everywhere in the future – so beware!

Sanook

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