Section 260 — Using forged or altered tickets
English translation
Whoever uses a forged or altered ticket shall be liable to the punishment provided in Section 258 or Section 259 respectively.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section is the use counterpart to the ticket offences in Sections 258 and 259. The elements are (1) using (2) a forged or altered ticket, knowing its character. Rather than fix a single penalty, it borrows the penalty that matches the ticket used: the one to five year range of Section 258 for a forged ticket, and the six month to three year range of Section 259 for an altered ticket. This keeps the punishment for using in step with the punishment for making, and where the same person both makes and uses the ticket the acts are typically assessed as one course of conduct.
Why this matters in practice
The penalty you face depends on the ticket: up to five years if it was forged, up to three years if it was altered, and either way the offence cannot be settled privately. Knowledge of the ticket's forged or altered character is essential to guilt, so a user who genuinely believed the ticket was valid lacks intent. In practice this count often accompanies the forging or altering charge where the same person is responsible. Defences center on knowledge and on proving the ticket was in fact forged or altered.
Frequently asked questions
What penalty applies for using a forged or altered ticket?
Section 260 borrows the penalty of Section 258 for a forged ticket (one to five years) or Section 259 for an altered ticket (six months to three years), depending on the ticket used.
Must the user know the ticket was forged or altered?
Yes. The offence requires knowledge of the ticket's character; an honest belief that it was a valid ticket negates the criminal intent.