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Bangkok instituted the Pokemon Go Police Department

News

By Anda Robescu | 2016-08-28 14:46:04

Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has created the Pokemon Go Police Department with a clear mission: to monitor the city's main roads and avoid game enthusiasts cause trouble during hunting Pokemons, informs local media according to EFE.

The new surveillance unit will have 50 agents armed with mobile phones that will monitor ten streets in this metropolis inhabited by about eight million people, not including the suburbs, according to the local newspaper Bangkok Post. They will patrol the streets and take photos of violators, acting city police Chief Sanit Mahathavorn said, referring to their new role as the "catchers of Pokemon catchers." More, local authorities told the Bangkok Post that "the number of road accidents related to the game is increasing," though they did not provide any specifics.

The agents will monitor "motorists and pedestrians who play Pokemon Go on 10 major roads" as part of an effort to reduce game-related accidents. The streets included in the program are Sukhumvit, Phaya Thai, Rama, Rama IV, Henri Dunant, Sathon, Phetchaburi, Phahon Yothin, Vibhavadi Rangsit and Victory Monument.

Pokemon hunters whose imprudent behavior will threaten the transit of vehicles and pedestrians will be fined 1,000 bat (25.5 euros).

Pokemon Go developer, Niantic, is aware that people are playing while driving and took steps to prevent the practice with a recent update. This is the main reason why, if the game detects that the player is traveling above a certain speed—whether he/she is in a car, on a bike, or just walking incredibly fast—the Pokemon Go player will have to tap the screen to confirm not driving before being allowed to continue playing.

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