10-Year-Old Driver Illegal But Okay Say Police

It's one of the things that foreigners in Thailand — especially foreigners from Europe and America, et. al. — have to learn to accept: There are laws in Thailand, but the police are allowed to ignore or enforce the law as they deem necessary. In America or Europe, if you break a law, the police may decide to let you off with a warning — as long as you don't plan on repeating the offense — but they will always enforce the law by stopping you from doing whatever it was you were doing. However in Thailand, the police may simply decide that the law doesn't... or shouldn't... apply for a given circumstance, and will allow the law to be broken in the interest of either common sense, propriety, or just because they don't feel like hassling people. (Other not-so-nice reasons will go unmentioned, natch.)

Here we have a 10-year-old kid who helps his parents out with their delivery business by driving a van around their neighborhood. Is it illegal for 10 year old kids to drive in Thailand? Of course. Are the police going to stop him? Of course not.

Muang Nakhon Ratchasima deputy commander Pol Lt Col Prasit Premkamol said allowing children aged 10 years old to get behind a wheel was illegal, according to traffic laws.

However, this was a case of a "good kid" helping his parents and the boy only drove around his neighbourhood. Thus, permission could be granted, the officer said, adding that Satang must not be allowed on main roads with heavy traffic or to drive long distances.

Well, I don't have a problem with it: I don't live in the kid's neighborhood, so I don't have to worry about him plowing me down. I'll have a problem when every other 10 year old kid helping out with his parents' business decides that they want to be a "good kid" and get behind the wheel. After all, we now know: It's illegal... but it's okay.

Hat tip George at Thaivisa.