richard_smith237

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

I presume the OP is referring to a Thai license? Because if more than 12 months he will have to do a new test, since it concerns a Thai license lost, the foreign license is not applicable anymore. If less than 12 months, policereport and go to the DLT to renew.

I recently (November '17) made the mistake of being just over a year out on my License renewal... (silly mistake on my part misreading the dates). 

At the DLT I was asked for my UK License after which I had to do the Color Test, Emergency Brake Test, Proximity test (depth of field or what ever its called) and watch the 45 minute video. 

The UK license prevented me from having to sit the whole test.

My Wife lost her license last year and received a replacement without a Police Report which is no longer necessary - This may just be for Thai's, it could be different for a foreigner. 

Ops Best Option: 

Get a Medical Certificate & Affirmation of Residence, go down to his nearest DLT with his overseas license and they'll tell him exactly whats required.

As commonly happens in Thailand, different districts may well have a different interpretation of the requirements.

9 minutes ago, steve187 said:

will need reporting as lost to the police, then renew as normal, if its the 2nd 5 year licence then you will have to watch a movie and lecture.

I'm not sure you need the Police Report any more, If I'm not mistaken that requirement was abolished (at lest for Thai's). 

Depending on how long your License has expired.... IF it has expired more than 12 months and you have a License and IDP you will have to Watch 'the movie' and do a couple of minor tests (eye test, brake test)...  you may get away without an IDP if your license is from an English speaking nation (i.e. License is in English). 

If your license has expired for less than 12 months renewal may be a simpler process. 

35 minutes ago, TEFLKrabi said:

They were. If you didn’t want to pay the ‘cheaper fine’ on the spot you needed to go and pick up your licence at the station on receipt of the fine. I assume that now you can keep your licence. 

You could collect your licence at the Police station the following day (or evening) upon payment of the fine. Unless there was an authorized stop with a senior office present and receipts issued the 'on the spot' payment of the fine was a bribe....

In this case 'going official' will still give room for the 'on the spot bribe' as the 'infraction' will not be entered into the system until the Policeman does so !... 

As with everything 'law' related in Thailand the weak link will always be the humans enforcing it. 

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Same thing in BKK near Nana.

Pretty poor management.

 

Went to a Carl Jr's in Bangkok recently... Also out of Beef !!! which is quite a surprise for a 'burger joint'.... 

... perhaps they are winding down in preparation to close or have major logistics issues ?

Yep, that is pretty deceptive road design.... But someone would have to be a complete and total idiot to drive over the edge - its quite astonishing how trusting some are that they will continue driving on without confirmation from their eyes that the road is there !!!....

A perfect and worrying example of the standards of inattention on the roads.

With the exception of the blundering and inaccurate comments / reports to the media the Police appear to have carried out their tasks properly in making the arrest, taking urine samples, sending the urine samples for further tests, testing medication (drugs?) found in his vehicle and finally refusing bail as deaths were involved... 

Why can't the Police do their jobs properly in so many other cases ?

This aspect of Thai society which is all 'cutesy' on the surface is an accurate measure of the childish mentality of many here.... Aww... they didn't mean to break the law... its so juvenile that the ineffective police lack the emotional tools to respond professionally... 

If any of these kids now die as a result of being in an accident and not wearing their helmet this Police officer is at least in some part culpable for failing to enforce the law and sending out the message that the law will not be properly enforced... 

This - A knee jerk response to the latest accident which actually was allegedly a result of Yabba consumption and not a medical condition. 

Thailand and those in positions of decisions making power fall under the gross and completely negligent misunderstanding of its base issues...  

....The laws and regulations which exist here are already quite sufficient. For the most part the laws and regulations are pretty good and not too dissimilar to many of the rules and regulations which exist in our home countries.... 

....The singular, primary and outstanding issue is the absolute ineffectiveness of the nations police force to enforce any of these rules and regulations. For whatever reasons, be them, apathy, corruption, poor education etc... the simple matter exists that those in positions of decision making power have done nothing and continue to do nothing to encourage Thailands Police force to function in a manner which best serves the people it pretends to protect.

4 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

I think athletes ought to be allowed to dope and advertise what they're using on their Jerseys just as other athletes do.

The risk of allowing Athletes to 'dope' would destroy sports, the extremes athletes would be forced to go to and ultimately allowing the pressures of their business drive their artificial enhancement would place them at significant health risk. 

The athletes will not be given a choice, they would be forced to take performance enhancing 'products' either through 'team pressure' or simply the pressure to compete. 

The only level playing field is no doping and strict controls... without these measures chaos ensues and ultimately those willing to risk their health win. 

Those who win become role models, something to aspire to, something our children look up to and aspire to be..... Doping is a contraction to sporting values, particularly the Olympics...  permitting any doping contravenes the most basic of sporting values.

The explanation given that the French Motorcyclists 'cut in front' of Mr Siridet's car is highly questionable... 

.... there appears to be very little damage to the motorcycle in comparison to significant damage to the front, left and right hand side of the car. 

Did the car spin and encounter further collisions? Was the car already involved in a previous impact before spinning and hitting the motorcyclist?....  Looking at the photographs of both the Motorcycle and the Car the extent of the damage appears not to tally with the story given. 

A car with that much damage may well have been traveling beyond the speed limit. 

With all this road craziness going on it would seem a worth while risk to start carrying a Taser in the car !!!...

On 12/4/2017 at 2:53 AM, BudRight said:

I think some of you have been in Thailand so long you don't remember what it's like to be treated with rights and dignity, which no-one (including Thais) have in Thailand. Even the ninety day reporting thing is insulting and racist. If they treated immigrants in western countries like they treat immigrants in Thailand there would be riots. 

 

And before some nitwit says, "if you don't like it, go home," that's exactly what I did.

 

"So what are doing here?" I still travel to Thailand occasionally, plus this way I can warn others what they're getting themselves into. 

I think some are so bias they fail to recognize or present a balanced view point. 

You discuss rights and dignity - I put it to you that your entry in to Thailand was far easier than a Thai's entry to in to the UK. 

I had just this discussion last night with a friend who has genuine concerns regarding whether or not his Wife will be granted a visa for a two week visit to the UK. 

Yes, the Police are highly corrupt - but they are simply chancers, opportunists who would attempt to profit from anyone if they can get away with it... Thai or foreign - the reality is that us foreigners are easier targets because many shrinking violets are too scared to politely stand firm and say no. 

I agree with the 90 day reporting issue - its archaic, but its hardly racist, its just bureaucracy at its finest. 

In all reality, while I have a number of friends in the forces, I have such little exposure to the Police in general in every day life that my life is not impacted at all.

....well, it is impacted by the potential additional dangers I'm placed in by their ineffectiveness, but thats another discussion.

In direct response to the topic - I can't point out that I've been treated unfairly here, by the Police or the legal systems. 

What concerns me with this issue is that Had I been the 'dash-cam-car' and someone smashes my window with a walking stick I'd been included to protect my family by getting out of the car and restraining him...  this would ultimately result in some form of assault on my part, knocking the guy out etc...  or by taking emergency action and driving off potentially running over the attacker. 

I wonder how much trouble I would get in to if I responded to such violence in kind in order to protect further damage to my assets and protect my family.... 

Yes, yes, I know - that was a little 'keyboard warrior-ish'... but how many people could just sit there and do nothing while someone was smashing your car windows?

1 hour ago, Topdoc said:

Exactly right. Here's the google image of the section of the road. The  "dash cam driver" is leaving the main road and accuses the fortuner driver of doing what the white car in the photo is doing. But, as you can see in the video, the fortuner driver is clearly going straight on and not trying to cut across the slip road.

In the video the Fortuner driver is seen to turn left out of the side road and instead of remaining on the inside (left most lane) he merges across into the second (right most lane) which impede the 'Dash-Cam-Car' who rightfully warns the Fortuner driver of his presence with a very brief 'pap' of the horn....

.... this very brief pap of the horn is enough to set the 'Fortuner driver off' who slams on his breaks, blocking traffic, the 'Dash-Cam-Car' hits the horn again shortly before the Fortuner driver commences his violent tantrum. 

1 hour ago, samsensam said:

 

nearly wipes himself and innocent bystanders out and what's the first thing he does? check his phone. modern life eh.

'He' was the passenger on the tandem paraglide and was probably editing out his 'I've just pooped my pants' look as the pending 'parasol goosing' became a stronger reality.... 

The 'Pilot' is a complete tool to attempt a landing in such a busy area of the beach, unless of course this was an emergency landing and he'd been 'blown' way off course in which case weather and prevailing wind conditions were not adequately evaluated before the flight. 

IF these sports are to continue in built up areas then there needs to be and adequate number of 'safe' landing zones... the beach is not a safe Landing Zone...  becoming trapped in the rigging under the large sail of a paraglider can easily lead to drowning. 

3 hours ago, Topdoc said:

No need for the golf club of course but the fortuner had right of way here. 

The driver of the car with the dash cam is lying because you can clearly see that the fortuner was NOT trying to enter the main road through the exit slip road, the exit slip road being the one the dash cam driver is on at the time of the incident.

The Fortuner pulled out on to the 2 lane slip road straight into the second lane, he wasn't really paying attending and a small 'pap' of the horn was quite reasonable. 

The Foturner then stopped blocking the car, which again warranted a 'pap' of the horn.

The Fortuner driver was a to$$er... driving a little carelessly then following up is careless driving with aggression and road rage.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Dr. Surin at a family wedding a few years ago. 

I had no idea who he was when I commented to my Wife that this gentleman is extremely smart, engaging and a pleasure to talk with. We'd been having an extremely interesting conversation. It was then that I found out he was the former Secretary General of Asean Nations. 

RIP Dr. Surin - a big loss for Thailand and those who's life he touched. 

2 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

I see this comment "life here is so cheap" many times on here and in my experience it is absolute and utter rubbish.

     I consider myself one of life's observers.....and from what I see Thai Mothers and Fathers adore their children every bit as much as parents in the USA or Europe  or any place else in the world. Go into any  restaurant in any shopping mall and quit talking and start looking around you. Parents "doteing" on their beautiful children...In places like KFC, MK, Swensons, etc.,

   How dare anybody say "life is cheap" in Thailand.

If life were more valued by those in positions of decision making power we would have seen vast improvements in road safety over the past couple of decades. 

Instead apathy is the default setting and in the face of numerous preventable deaths the implication would be that in aggregate the life of 'others' is not as valued as it is in many of our home countries. 

Thats not to suggest that parents do not dote on their own children, its just that as a society little consideration is given to the safety of others (those they don't know)... 'this is where the 'life is cheap' comment comes in... As long as 'it' happens to someone else people are more tolerant of the significant misgivings in Thailands road safety.

My flights always originate in Thailand, thus whenever flying back to Thailand I am always flying without onward travel. 

Check in personnel regularly check through my passport to ensure I have a visa to ensure I am complying with Immigration Regulations which require either an Onward Ticket or a Valid Visa.

Proof of onward travel & 20,000 baht (currency equivalent) is required for those entering Thailand on a Visa Exempt Stamp or Visa on Arrival. 

While nothing is ever guaranteed in Thailand, I personally have been flying in an out for 20 years on with a Visa and without onward tickets. Thus, a fair assumption would be that you will not face any issues flying in to Thailand on your 3 Month ED Visa without an onward ticket. 

On 11/29/2017 at 11:46 AM, Isac Szwarc Brasil said:

Thank you Richard.Any experience with the test ?

I'm afraid not....  I was able to simply transfer my UK License and IDP across to a Thai Driving License (car only) without having to take the full test. 

I did have to take a very rudimentary Colour Blindness Test, Depth of Vision Test (if thats what its called) and the Emergency Breaking test.

It may help you to brush up on the Written part of the test as some of the questions are quite obscure and in some cases defy logic. 

2 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

17 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

The Thai moron overreacted, defending him says something about you.

The Thai may well have been reacting to what the Swiss moron said to him, defending him says a lot about you, too.

No, regardless of what may have been said, if anything was said at all....  mauGR1 is correct, defending such a violent reaction does in fact say a lot about you....  

.....It suggests you find a violent response to unfavorable but non-violent interaction acceptable.

2 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

Wasn't the Swiss voluntarily sitting on a bench in, or right on the side of, the road?  What else do you think he will get in his lungs sitting there?

 

"...and a polluting fine on top!"

Using your logic, the drivers of every single vehicle that become stationary in Thailand for any time at all should all be fined for pollution.  Brilliant.

Behind the Swiss guy the motorcycle was on the pavement, left running with no consideration at all of anyone around him.... Thats quite different from motors idling in traffic.... 

I defy anyone not to become irritated to some degree by such inconsiderate actions.

I think their is little doubt as to the anti-social and inconsiderate behavior of the Thai Guy on the bike...

........I think the useful debate is how to handle such issues or whether such issues should even be addressed at all given the potential for escalation amongst those immature beasts who's fragile ego's are ill equipped to handle any form of criticism or loss of face. 

2 minutes ago, spiderg said:

Was just searching for this too... looks like Bangkok Insurance offer tablet and smartphone insurance: http://www.bangkokinsurance.com/product/promotion/22 no idea if you can buy online, but they have a list of stores.  Think it's around 1100 baht for a year.

Thats interesting... although I wonder how easy they are to deal with as on their website the 'Eng' tab is not functional (in Mac Safari). 

It would also be interesting to learn of the conditions of pay out - i.e. for drops, loss, theft etc...  full replacement cost (new for old etc). 

I tried to get household belonging insurance a few years ago - Upon going into depth in my enquiries and meetings I discovered that pretty much any event which could have resulted in a loss of my Watch, Wife's Diamonds, phone, laptop or other expensive belongings was not covered.. (i.e. my Watch was covered if I dropped it in my apartment, but not outside !... same with theft from the apartment but not outside, theft as only covered if it was from a safe, but not if it was theft by the maid or condo security etc... ) the conditions were so limiting that the cover was for events so unforeseeable that the insurance company had pretty much wrapped up 'non-pay-out' to an almost certainty... 

Interesting question: 

I suspect you will need to provide your own 'test transport'.... 

You should easily be able to hire a Car / Motorbike for the tests... although if attempting both tests on the same day you may find yourself attempting a little logistical trickery in getting both there !

3 minutes ago, cchina184 said:

18 hours ago, fanjita said:

Sorry, but he asked for that.

totally

No... He didn't ask for that... While the Violent response of the Thai is does not come as a surprise to many it is most certainly an over reaction, one which is hardly warranted and most certainly not asked for or deserved.... 

The Thai Guy should not be on the pavement, he should not have left his bike running in complete disregard for others. 

The Swiss guy should not have turned off the bike. 

Neither of these issues warrant any violence. The attack was cowardly and unnecessary - all he needed to do was turn the key again.

This is an issue of two idiots taking a minor issue too far... but the attack was certainly unwarranted in escalating a non-violent situation into a violent one...

.... and the 'if he'd done that to my bike' comments are just idiotic...  lets face it, if someone did that you 'your bike' you'd sit there and realize that escalation is just dumb...  its different sat at home at your keyboard feeling brave though isn't it ??? !!!....