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If the Thai people cared so much about their own road safety they should abide by the laws themselves, not wait for some ministry to come hold their hand.
If anyone feels the police are trying to shake them down they should ask the officer for a written ticket and you will pay at the police station/box.
Many ignorant people do not though.
The official fine for no licence is 200b, Both Thai's and foreigners receive the same.
People that are paying 400, sure that is a tax, A stupidity tax.
Do you really think the police a re that stupid, they know kids that ride scoots to school do not have a licence so why waste time checking them for one.
Or the policeman takes the keys when handing a no licence fine and you get keys back at police station when you pay the fine.
I know of a English fella that was rather annoyed at the keys thing and when he went to pay fine he loudly expressed his annoyance..... when the policeman went to get the keys that had been "lost" and the policeman was not interested in searching for them !!
Pays to bite tongue and be patient.
Yep, I had a forgotten UOB account with 10k in it.
Randomly found the bank book one day so dropped into the branch...... account closed and money goooooooone.