Their obsession is a strange one, to be stalked in the streets then posted in loving detail on Facebook.
“A large group of boy scouts are taking over Poo Chao Saming Prai Road, at soi Wat Mahawong,” came the message last night, notifying others of the find.
There are more than 207,000 fans raptly following the movements of Bangkok’s boys in brown, or at least a popular Facebook page tracking their checkpoints.
“We love police stop,” has become a reliable source of checkpoint news, and likely the first stop when getting behind the wheel for many Bangkok motorists. The site’s English subtitle, “Don’t Drive Drunk, emphasizes its “informational purposes only” intent, although that’s probably as tongue-in-cheek as their expressed love for the authorities. “Dentist,” “boy scout,” and “P’ Tam” (from Tamruat, the Thai word for police) are just some of the cute nicknames they have for the hardworking professionals of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police.
As we all know, police stops are set up from 10pm onward to ensure road safety and run a strict alcohol breath test on all drivers. As bars and clubs close each night, chatter spikes as everyone seems eager to know if there are police protecting the routes to their homes. If any can be found, the crowd knows it’s a courtesy to present the officers a small reward for their hard work.
Sober drivers, however, may just decide to avoid the annoying traffic-blockades entirely.
If you want to share your passion for Krung Thep’s finest, or just simply avoid the alcohol test, check out the ‘We Love police stop’ Facebook page.
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