Six Wheels of Kindness Turned to Six Counts of Overloading: The Bizarre Arrest of Flood Relief Volunteers
6-Wheeled Cart Carrying Food and Clothes for Flood Relief in Chiang Rai Encounters Weighing Station Issues
A recent incident in Thailand has sparked attention online, where a 61-year-old man, Mr. Prasit Paphrom, was driving a truck carrying rice, dry food, and clothing to help with the flood relief efforts in Chiang Rai province. However, he was stopped at a weighing checkpoint in Muang Hak sub-district, Phayuha Khiri district, Nakhon Sawan province, and accused of overloading his vehicle.
According to Colonel Somboon Thongloi, Superintendent of Phayuha Khiri Police Station, the police were not involved in the arrest, but rather an official from the Phayuha Khiri Weight Check Station (Outbound) seized the truck. The vehicle was found to be carrying a load of 18,420 kilograms, exceeding the legal limit of 3,420 kilograms for that type of vehicle.
Mr. Prasit testified that he was driving the six-wheeler, carrying donations from the Samut Sakhon Charity Foundation, including drinking water, rice, dry food, and clothing, to be delivered to flood victims at Wat That Pha Ngao, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province.
After questioning, Mr. Prasit was granted temporary bail, with the help of law enforcement officers who used their position to provide insurance, allowing the driver to deliver the goods to the disaster victims on time. However, some items were removed to ensure the vehicle was no longer overweight, and arrangements were made for an alternative vehicle to transport the remaining goods.
Mr. Narong Yamprai, a highway worker at the Phayuha Khiri Weighing Station (outbound), explained that the truck arrived at the station for weighing at 3:00 am and was found to be overweight. He stated that the weigh station has a liaison system with the Land Transport Department, and failure to take legal action would result in officials being guilty of an offense under Section 157 for neglecting to perform their duties. Additionally, the vehicle did not have registration documents, only a number plate stuck on the back.