Total and utter BS of the highest order. Never had anything stolen here or pocketpicked! You can leave stuff in the back of pickups or bikes. Never anything taken. Yes, i am sure things do happen and morons do get scammed but it is much much worse in (southern) European cities not to mention latin America and several US cities.
Euro 5 and 6? 55555. Unfortunately the average pickup driver has a Euro 0 mindset. Euro 5 requires DPF (diesel particulate filter) which I noticed the new Hilux Champ has. Euro 6 requires Adblue in a separate tank. I cannot imagine (actually I can) how those items will be dealt with here...
As many writers above already mentioned, pointless actions without enforcement . They should start with the numerous incompetently modified ECUs in pickups belching out smoke. Annual vehicle tests should be done with the engine under load not at low idle when even the most f....ed up engine will not smoke.
TIT
Not Pattaya but if you can go and take a look in Fortune Town in bkk. (Corner Ratchada and Rama 9). Numerous shops sell tons of vinyl at reasonable prices. Definitely worth a trip.
I just keep the 800k in a Term Deposit year round. No hassles and renewal is painless. Only problem is to get the bank letter from Bkk Bank in Hua Hin without errors. Last time it took 3 efforts and the aged lady tasked doing this not very difficult task got really annoyed with me despite of the incompetence being her own. Face I guess.. TIT.
I got mine from Hua Hin about 15 years ago after obtaining the yellow tabian baan. I find it a very useful document and use it often as ID for example when checking into a hotel. No need to carry passport around within Thailand. Only place that did not accept and insisted on pp was BTS counter in Bkk when I purchased a Rabbit card. TIT. I can definitely recommend the pink card. Very useful and added benefit is that it does not expire.