After being deluged with complaints from the public, the Royal Thai Police has ordered a probe into the widespread allegations that traffic police collect illegal tolls from motorists, a deputy police inspector said yesterday.

The roads where most of the illegal tolls are allegedly collected are Vibhavadi-Rangsit and Bang Na-Trat, said Maj-General Somyos Phumphanmoung who is in charge of the probe.

Officers will monitor the locations identified in complaints and take photographs and videos to use as evidence of any misconduct they uncover, he said.

If no misconduct is found, the traffic checkpoints will be inspected to ensure they are official.

Public complaints indicate that there are many unauthorised checkpoints set up by rogue officers throughout the city.

Officers found guilty of collecting illegal tolls face charges of extortion and abuse of authority, Somyos said.

 Initial investigations found that the illegal tolls were being collected in the same way a criminal network extorts money, he said.

“The national police chief wants traffic police to do stick to the job of directing traffic flows and advising motorists about routes, and not try to gain illegal benefits or bribes from traffic tickets,” Somyos said.

He urged the public to file complaints of police corruption at the website www.jaray.police.go.th, or by calling the hotline 1299, or (02) 205 1148 and (02) 205 1299. The lines are open 24 hours a day.

Somyos also identified 14 places where illegal tolls are allegedly collected, including Vibhavadi-Rangsit, Rama IV, Kanchanapisek, Phaholyothin and Rachapreuk roads. Checkpoints have been set up near areas where minor traffic infractions are common.

For example, for the inbound lanes of Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, a checkpoint was set up about 100 metres from the passenger pick-up spot in front of Jae Leng Plaza.

Rather than directing traffic and helping motorists, officers at the checkpoint were focused on collecting money from taxi drivers who picked up passengers outside the authorised zone, he said.

Police at three other checkpoints – near a police housing compound on Ratchayothin, the entrance of Din Daeng tollway and in front of Don Muang Airforce Base – spend much of their time ticketing drivers for illegally switching lanes.

Illegal tolls are also allegedly collected at Soi Charan Sanitwong 13, and Tripetch, Ngarmwongwan, Sathorn Nua and Phetburi roads, as well as at the Surawong and Urupong intersections.