Jonathan Swift

Your shallowness and insensitivity are deplorable. Doesn’t matter if you’re “joking”. There are quite a few of us who were raised to not take pleasure at or ridicule the bad fortune of others. Fortunately such people outnumber those cruel few. What makes you so sure he jumped? You’re psychic?

I was charged 1000 baht twice. Just get the license, it's easy if you just show your own country's license. You take a simple in office test and it's cheap. Go online and search the requirements and rules. you go to the dept of transportation nearest you. In the meantime minimize your travel, be careful as to where, and wear your helmet so as not to attract attention.

1000 baht is the going rate now. Where the hell are you? But it's up to the cop obviously.

One of the wisest comments which zeroes right into the fundamental point of letting someone have any sort of power over you, financial or otherwise. That's why I don't use any visa services that others swear by. I won't place important paperwork in anyone else's hands. I would never let any Thai girl or anyone else know ANYTHING about my finances, how much I make, where my accounts are, property (it's all in the US anyway, except for the piano in my apartment). I would not invest in anything here, period. I looked into it briefly, no thanks. Master of my own destiny.

Maybe not. Immigration has the discretion to consider all circumstances. The guy was perfectly honest with them, that counts for something. If he's not the smartest guy he probably can't help that. No one knows what kind of emotional problems he might have, but anxiety and depression can lead someone to make bad decisions especially when fear is involved. Just my viewpoint, is all, but I think an appropriate fine without deportation would do the trick. No need to take this life away from him and send him back to the hell of America. That would be cruel and unusual punishment, especially for an older person. Again, just my view, I'm not arguing.

At least they published his name, if nothing else he is publicly humiliated

This sounds like drunken behavior.

Also, if it seems too good to be true, it is

Unfortunately this story was poorly written and lacking in necessary facts. I think it's safe to assume that the car is used to investigate pre existing information wherever it may come from. Once engaged, the car probably uses a camera and facial recognition software which can use a cellular internet uplink to search out faces online or in immigration databases.

You have to hold the writer of the story responsible for omitting important details. the only logical conclusion is that it has a camera and facial recognition software, along with state of the art neighborhood informants

If you read carefully, he is suggesting that SPECIFICALLY a 19 day overstay is not a major crime wave or massive threat to the public. You might want to go back and read it a few more times.

He probably had a police ID or was known personally at that airport by the employees, he may have been allowed to skip some of the security process such as x-rays.

I predict he will be released early, this is just a showcase for deterrent purposes. If he IS a cop he knows full well the seriousness of the offense (offence) accident or not.

If as a foreigner you feel unfairly discriminated against you can always leave.

Repatriotitoriated. You're welcome.

I didn't know they were still issuing the O. I got it about 4 years ago, but I don't know why I got it rather than the OA

That or "my foot slipped and hit the accelerator by accident"

Lying and irresponsibility are not the exclusive domain of any one culture, they're human traits, seen everywhere. Why would you single out Thailand?

The suspect’s name was disclosed by Pattaya police as Mr. Methanus Leeliang, 61. He was charged with reckless driving and causing harm to others

Bingo

Well at least he was caught, named, and shamed. It MIGHT have a deterrent effect, though such things have never been proven. Hopefully as part of his plea agreement he pays the guy's medical bills.

Yes, much faster than running, and easier to get away with most of the time.

Bigotry is out of character for Thailand, it's one reason I'm here. I've met some very nice and wonderful ordinary Iranian people here, who had not an ounce of negativity toward me as an American, though I would have understood if they did, they don't deserve to be unfairly targeted for things over which they have no control. I prefer them to closed minded sanctimonious xenophobes such as yourself.

yes, a well lit pothole is much safer than no pothole at all

Might have been a momentary lapse of attention, mentally preoccupied, drunk, etc., very likely he knew / knows about paying attention. No doubt his memory is now refreshed. having ridden a motorcycle in the US for decades, my reflexes and attention span are well trained to expect and anticipate these things. You might call it thinking and awareness in 3 dimensions, being aware of all moving objects within a radius. Yet, my attention can lapse because of attention deficit. I would say that being sure that the driver sees you is the best way to go. That's what I do whenever I cross a street in Thailand. There is a certain skill to it at times.