Move Forward Party’s Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a party-list MP designate, has exposed a so-called ‘Easy Pass sticker’ scam involving trucks, and urges an end to this form of bribery.

In a Facebook post on 26 May 2023, Wiroj posted a picture of a sun-like sticker and asked why several trucks have such stickers. They do not seem to be a form of vehicle decoration. 

A so-called 'Easy Pass sticker'

He said that some people claim they are normal Easy Pass stickers as used on expressways, but upon closer examination, they seem to be ordinary stickers without any electronic features. However, some people insist that the stickers allow trucks to pass checkpoints easily. 

Wiroj and his team planned an investigation to gather information on how the payment system works, and who is involved in it. 

On 28 May 2023, Wiroj posted another message stating that he was told that the different stickers allow trucks, regardless of their weight, to pass checkpoints without wasting time being weighed.

Wiroj revealed a mysterious organization clears the way and settles payments in advance. They then produce the stickers for the trucks, with the price depending on distance and the number of checkpoints. 

For example, the ‘Little Bunny’ sticker costs approximately 3,000 baht per month.

He added that the stickers do not have any electronic mechanism. They rely solely on visual recognition, simply showing that the trucks have been approved to pass checkpoints on the highways.

Wiroj pointed out that this leads to several problems. Overweight trucks can damage roads, which leads to unnecessary maintenance budgets and a risk of accidents. And it may open opportunities to transport illegal goods.

He said this is a huge issue, as the number of trucks in Thailand currently exceeds 1 million. If half of these trucks have to pay for stickers at 3,000-5,000 baht per month, the total corruption adds up to over 20 billion baht annually.

Wiroj noted that if the issue is addressed, transport business owners could reduce costs, and consumer prices will stabilize more efficiently. The burden of living expenses for the public would be alleviated. Other drivers on the roads would be safer. The roads would suffer less damage, leading to reduced road maintenance costs. The government would then have a budget to enhance public welfare.

He stated that in the next few days, he will meet with transportation entrepreneurs and truck driver groups to find solutions to this issue, aiming to address bribery, utilize a straightforward system, and ensure justice for both truck entrepreneurs and drivers on the roads.