When I saw this photo of a Thai motorcycle highway policeman wearing his newly required “pollution mask,” I just had to laugh; it kind of reminded me of Ronald McDonald. Why do Thai officers have to wear these masks? According to the commander of the highway police: “For our highway policemen, we have the policy that the police must be friendly and smiling all the time, but the problem is when we’re tired, it’s hard to keep smiling.”
The police officers have reasons to be tired; after government unrest and a takeover of Bangkok’s airports by citizens, I guess this is one of Thailand’s ways for improving the mood in the country. Hell, maybe the LAPD could improve their image this way.
