Checkpoints rise as tourist numbers fall – even police are feeling the low season pinch. PATTAYA, Thailand – In a city known for its hustle, checkpoints are starting to feel like more of a hindrance than a help. Pattaya’s traffic police continue to enforce road discipline with daily crackdowns, but growing voices among locals and long-term visitors suggest that these efforts are producing more laughs and tailbacks than real safety results. “What’s the best joke of the day?” quipped one local rider. “Another checkpoint on Second Road.” Others point to the predictable timing. “End of the month enforcement,” said one expat with a wink. “It’s only a rort if you’re not in on it.” The checkpoints, often manned by police waving down motorcyclists and checking licenses or helmets, have become a familiar sight, especially toward the end of each month. But instead of delivering consistent road safety, residents say the operations feel more like revenue collection exercises. Frustrations are compounded by the selective enforcement. While officers often pull over riders for minor infractions, some of the city’s most pressing traffic issues—like drivers using phones behind the wheel—go unchecked. “Yet phone use while driving continues as per normal,” one driver noted. And what about the once-ubiquitous motorcycle rentals? “Have they all gone?” someone asked. With fewer tourists and tighter regulations, the rental scene appears to have thinned out—another sign of Pattaya’s shifting traffic landscape. The most common complaint remains the gridlock. “All they end up doing is causing tailbacks,” a resident sighed. “And when they stop 30 bikes in a row on Beach Road at rush hour, how does that make anything safer?” While no one denies the need for traffic enforcement, many are calling for a smarter, more targeted approach—one that prioritizes real road safety over routine spot-checks and avoids clogging the city’s already-stressed streets. Cheers from many expats remain for the recent upgrades in Pattaya’s safety efforts, as police and city hall join hands to deploy high-tech CCTVs and drones across key areas. These technological tools aim to monitor traffic violations more efficiently and respond faster to incidents, offering a more comprehensive safety net than traditional checkpoints alone. Supporters argue that combining human enforcement with smart surveillance can help cut through the city’s notorious congestion while improving overall road safety—if implemented thoughtfully and transparently. As one frustrated local put it: “Checkpoints in Pattaya? Safety theater at best. Traffic chaos at worst.”