petercool

You could scan multiple pics each time and separate them later with any photo manipulation program. That would save a lot of time. A shoe box full would cost you quite a bit at a shop. A regular flatbed scanner is likely what most shops have.

One day, he will run out people that help and, being unable to pay, the police will be called - or he will magically find his wallet.

I wonder how much the police charged them to file a report that was quickly tossed in the can as soon as they walked out of the building?

It costs nothing to make a report if indeed the police took one in what was a civil matter.

A translation of any report would cost 500 baht though if done at Soi 9 station.

Perhaps the people I referred to are retired NSY top brass.

In any event, I know more than you might think about the "Yard" or the "Met" or the "Box" and who operate(d) from there. But all that is a digression from the topic here.

There are indeed genuine retired ex-CIA agents in Thailand just as there are retired ex-Scotland Yard and ex-MI5 or MI6 officers. I know some in all those categories and while they never talk openly about their past in detail, I am convinced of their bona-fides and some have been used by their respective Embassies for training Thai police or Army in various ways. We can say what we want about their governments' policies but the individual guys that once did the dirty jobs they were asked to do were generally unsung heroes in one way or another. Those that boast of it were probably the ones that did it badly and were dismissed. I have no idea if the man in question was what is claimed but wanted to establish that such people have indeed retired here just as many ex-plumbers, business execs, bank managers etc. have done.

The guys that do street side shoe repairs can do it for you.

I have many Bangkok based friends both Thai and European who envy my location and life style in East Pattaya and visit often to share those. I guess the fact is that this city, like most, has enough variety that many can find whatever it is they are looking for here and avoid whatever it is they are not looking for. I certainly don't feel that I am pigeon-holed as some pervert just because I live here and have not experienced any negative attitudes from others who don't live here. But then I don't send out CV's these days ....

I live in the greater Pattaya area but nowhere does that appear on the official address. It shouldn't for you either.

A lawyer and more than one senior police officer have verbally confirmed to me that a copy of your passport is enough in all circumstances other than an criminal case arrest leading to court appearance or for making a police report.

Immigration police as well as regular police can ask for this copy - along with copy of your latest visa. While strictly speaking a passport belongs to the issuing government and not the individual, and thus cannot be confiscated by police, it sometimes happens that a passport is held to avoid absconding but more normally a photocopy of the original passport suffices for police records.

It may depend on the individual policeman but it depends more on the circumstances. As is indicated by more than one post, some photo identification is needed and a passport copy is the normal demand. Police stations will often not accept driving licences for identification purposes. Traffic police seldom ask but like Highway police they may need passport copy if in any accident scenario. I am informed reliably that a copy is legal and a credit card size one is most convenient.

A copy of your passport with latest visa on reverse can be reduced and laminated to a credit card size and is sufficiently legal. It costs less than 100 baht to do.

Maybe "Gone" was suggesting room of hope ? (wang) ...

Just to clarify something on the post above. Nongprue police station used to be a sub-station of Banglamung but last year was upgraded to a fully stand alone station. Only some officers transferred to Nongprue and not the full complement of divisions which include the one being sought by the OP. That remains at Banglamung police station.

In Thai, which the lady was directly translating into in her head, rooms and vacant rooms are distinctly different .... "hong" versus "hong warng". Even with a native English speaker, the answer might have been the same as the OP got.

Doesn't the Banglamung Police station have such a unit ?

I stand corrected. My information was from earlier Bangkok days ... cheers.

The noise abatement rules seem to be that between the hours of 2am and 6am you can officially complain.

But to whom and what might be done are something else.

The sad fact is that the term "orphanage" is used to embrace many needy children that are seldom adopted as it includes blind or other-wise disabled children and the Father Ray Foundation and other organisations help those that have been orphaned or abandoned as well as help families care for their own children with special needs that are not easily by placed in government schools nor are they provided with other agency help that they need to raise such children. So, donations are really the best help we can give.

The OP has a heart and that's praiseworthy but what places like Father Ray Foundation really need is continuous support to house, school, feed and educate 850 needy children daily so the very best way to help is via a donation - no matter how small - that goes towards the overall bigger scheme of things rather than making one child happy for a day. And I say this with the utmost respect for the OP.

I have witnessed altercations when someone looks long at one stall then buys from another.

Vendors can get territorial and competitive very quickly.

Not condoning the incident but offering one possible scenario.

There are many, many branches of the Royal Thai police, regular, Immigration, Tourist, then metropolitan, provincial, municipal, many with divisions dealing with petty crime, fraud, licensing issue for businesses whether entertainment, commercial etc, crime suppression, transnational crime, and on and on so you can't expect the police who checks bar licences to be doing something else. At least not that day.

You would probably need to register a business with nominated Thai shareholders, specifying business type at a given premises with actual premises owner permission, have a tax ID, then separate licences for food and drink. I think the best place to enquire would be the Municipal offices next to Banglamung police station then once details are known you would need a lawyer to set it all up.

Or just go straight to a lawyer who might know everything that is required.

Police Colonel Suwan, the Pattaya Police Chief...

wasnt he fired out of his job?

He was temporarily reposted elsewhere and is now back at Soi 9.

Since there is no other way but to harass these ladyboys often and fine within the one law of loitering, the police do just that.

Photos and ID's get recorded which are then on file should any one of the ladyboys be involved in something more serious than hanging around for customers. If police do nothing people here will complain and when they do something people make bad jokes.

Busy Police work. 3 weeks ago I was walking down Soi Baukaue sorry not sure the spelling. I had my wallet bag snatched out my hand 2 guys on a motor scooter happened so fast lost my passport and $3000. Called 191 5 times just ringing no answere great. I went to Police station Soi 9 and spoke to tourist officer and told him my emergency call and he just smiled.

At any visit to Soi 9 station where a Foreign Police Volunteer may be (Tourist Police don't work there) you should make sure he helps you talk to a Thai Inspector. Only Thai police can take any action. The foreigners are there to bridge language gaps with the right officer and it sound like you met a useless one. Not that anything can be done other than write an official police report that might be useful for insurance - unless you got good a description of the thieves or the registration number of the bike.