Section 46 — Bond to keep the peace
English translation
When there are reasonable grounds to believe that any person will cause harm giving rise to danger to another person or to the property of another, the court may order that person to enter into a bond, fixing a sum of money not exceeding five thousand baht and for a period not exceeding two years.
If that person refuses to enter into the bond, the court may order that person detained until the bond is entered into, but not exceeding six months, or the court may instead order prohibition from entering a designated zone.
The provision of the first paragraph shall not apply to a person under eighteen years of age.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 46 provides a preventive peace bond as a measure of safety, available on reasonable grounds that a person will cause danger to others or their property. The bond sum is capped at five thousand baht and the period at two years. The section builds in an enforcement mechanism: refusal to enter the bond allows detention of up to six months until compliance, or, as an alternative, the zone prohibition defined in Section 44. A clear age limit excludes persons under eighteen from the first paragraph. This is a forward-looking measure aimed at prevention, distinct from punishment for a completed offense.
Why this matters in practice
A peace bond is preventive: it does not require a completed offense, only reasonable grounds to fear future danger, so it can be sought alongside or instead of a conviction. The real exposure on refusing the bond is detention of up to six months or a zone ban, so complying with a modest bond is usually preferable to contesting it into custody. If the person concerned is under eighteen, the first paragraph does not apply. Where a bond order affects you, consult a Thai lawyer on whether to accept the bond or challenge the grounds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum peace bond under Section 46?
The bond sum may not exceed five thousand baht and the period may not exceed two years.
What happens if a person refuses the bond?
Under Section 46 the court may detain the person until the bond is entered into, for up to six months, or instead order prohibition from a designated zone.
Does the peace bond apply to minors?
No. The first paragraph of Section 46 does not apply to a person under eighteen years of age.