Section 29 — Default of fine payment
English translation
Whoever is sentenced to a fine and fails to pay it within thirty days from the date of the court's judgment shall have property seized to satisfy the fine, or otherwise shall be detained in lieu of the fine. However, if the court sees reasonable cause, it may order the person sentenced to a fine to provide security, or may order the detention of the person in lieu of the fine before the expiry of the said period, when there is reasonable ground to believe that the person will evade payment of the fine. The provisions of Section 24 shall not apply to detention in lieu of a fine.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 29 is the enforcement engine behind the fine. It gives a default period of thirty days from judgment, after which two consequences may follow: seizure of property to satisfy the fine, or detention in lieu of the fine. A protective early-action power lets the court, on reasonable grounds to believe the person will evade payment, demand security or order detention even before the thirty days elapse. The final sentence is significant: by excluding Section 24, the law makes clear that detention in lieu of a fine is not the confinement punishment and is not governed by the place-of-confinement and home-confinement rules. Section 30 then supplies the rate and time limits for that detention.
Why this matters in practice
This is the provision that turns an unpaid fine into a real risk of losing property or being detained. Paying within thirty days, or arranging security, avoids the harsher outcomes; and note that the court can act early if it believes you will evade payment. Detention in lieu of a fine is not the same as the confinement punishment, so its rate and limits come from Section 30. For financial hardship, many courts allow instalments or community service in lieu of a fine, so it is worth raising options rather than defaulting.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I do not pay a fine on time?
Under Section 29, if you fail to pay within thirty days of the judgment, your property may be seized to satisfy the fine, or you may be detained in lieu of the fine.
Can the court act before the thirty days end?
Yes. If there is reasonable ground to believe you will evade payment, Section 29 lets the court require security or order detention in lieu of the fine even before the thirty-day period expires.