2old4fixies

On 2/2/2022 at 10:59 AM, worgeordie said:

Will you have to have a virtual gun ..to rob a virtual bank, but it might

not be worth it if they only have virtual money.

 

created by computer technology and appearing to exist but not existing in the physical world :  like Bitcoin .....

regards worgeordie

I reckon if Bitcoin has any physical property, it would be the energy used to operate and protect the network.  Not the hardware that operates the mining or nodal networks, but the energy the runs the miners and nodes.  Now, consider El Salvador with their volcanic geothermal energy, definitely observable and physical.  Same goes for stranded natural gas burn offs, solar output stored in a battery, etc.  Energy fuels the proof of work that is integral to Bitcoin.  So really, it's not much of a stretch to say Bitcoin does at least have physical attributes.  One thing I know for sure, Bitcoin can certainly be converted into just about anything one would need in the physical world.  

The Thai government should've purchased those ASIC mining rigs that the Malaysian government steamrolled last month.  Couple that with a vertical geothermal cooling system and they could create a steady wealth stream for years.

2 minutes ago, Skypirate said:

I have biked SE Asia much and have never been asked for documents in LOFS unless crossing a border.  However, I have made copies of my documents, soft laminated them, tightly rolled them up and stuff up my seat tube....sounds kinky.

 

If you quick release on seat tube (not recommended for theft issues) it is easy to retrieve them.   If not , a little more work required.

 

With that being said, the very best identification and protection would be the phone number of a friend, wife, Thai buddy, Lawyer or what ever.  When an issues arises, they can usually sort it out quickly.

Thanks, Skypirate.  In fact, instead of the seat tube I'd roll up the docs inside of the seat post itself so nothing might get pushed down further into the seat tube.  I like your idea, even for some spare cash.  Also, yes I have already decided to have a lawyer on retainer (for anything in general) plus that Thai Elite thingee has some features that would help.

1 hour ago, ericthai said:

used against me how??

Please tell me what is the sentence the court gives on this crime of not having your passport with you? Deportation? Jail? 

I'd just rather avoid the hassle of dealing with anything legal.  It's not worth my time.  I'd prefer to pay off the cop and move along.

45 minutes ago, Presto said:

After a while of living here and riding here in Hua Hin, you will recognize and remember the roads you like, and thr oads with obvious issues. For instance soi 112 going west, out of town. In the late afternoon rush hour, too many workers getting out of town in a souped up pick up, belching black smoke, going pretty fast usually. No need for a mirrir, you can hear them coming. Soft shoulders of roads, and bicuycle paths at the side of a road like Petchkasem, can easily be used for parking. So be aware of that.  Quality of main roads is good, but the smaller roads that I prefer have those bumpy patches, and potholes sometimes, that can catch you off guard. As I have experienced. The drain grates in some roads can be a problem because of the width of the openings in relation to your tires. I know people that have had quite a big crash because of that. I'll attach some pictures. Btw, I've rode my bike in Manhattan, Harlem, California, Arizona .... 

Valuable advice and love the images.  I've been looking into retiring in Thailand for a few years now, and one of the first things I learned was to watch for those unfriendly runoff grates and mini-sinkholes in what appears to be otherwise glass smooth pavement.  I will make a point learn the roads like a golf green or a hidden lake shoal.  btw, these days, NYC is a ghost town, but crimes against people are way up.  I used to drive from suburban Phila to Ft. Lee, and gleefully do centuries down to Coney Island, back up through Queens to Astoria and over to Central Park before heading back to NJ, hop in the car and head back.  Just for the hell of it.  Knew all the safe places to pee in public without getting caught???? Ahh, those days have passed.

55 minutes ago, ericthai said:

 

In 20+ years in Thailand I have only been asked for my passport twice (My driver license plenty of times) once was near a Cambodian boarder and when I told him I didn't have my passport with me but had my driver license he was good with that. 

 

The other time was in 2014 during the coup, I got on a bus to bangkok and at two check points army guys bordered the bus and checked ID's. I was only asked for my passort the first time, which I was leaving Thailand so actually had on me. The second check stop the army boarded the bus again but this time they just looked at me and asked the Thai guy next to me for his ID. (I figured the guy couldn't speak English that's why he didn't ask) 

 

As anything in Thailand it's hit or miss, but the realty is you're not going to jail for not having our passport on you. You might be inconvenienced and detained until you can produce your passport, but you're not going to jail over it.

Now if you're illegally in Thailand it's a different story!

 

Thanks, that's the vibe I'm getting.  Once I settle in (never been to Asia) I'm sure I realize it was no big whoop.

48 minutes ago, boonnoon said:

An absurd question!  Don't you carry ID with you at home?  Always have some form of ID on you at all times abroad ????in case of accident. ????‍♀️

I guess it was an absurd question.  TBH, I generally don't carry any ID in my current (last in the USA) rides on a multi-use off-road lane with suburban roads mixed.  I just don't see the need unless it's big city riding, which I no longer do.  But overseas, certainly I would always want to comply with local laws regarding legally-accepted ID.  My only concern regarded carrying a passport, and thanks to many of the responses on this thread, I now believe there's a solution that will preserve my original document passport.  I do appreciate your comment and maybe I should carry some ID with me even in the safe confines of my soon-to-be-former locale.

2 hours ago, DJ54 said:

US has a Passport Card (see example picture) the size of a drivers license. Can not be used for 

travel outside N. America but has all the pertinent information as on passport and for ID purposes 

generally should be accepted for identification purposes. Costs an additional @ $30 USD when applying for regular passport...

Thank you for your response, I'm currently in the process of acquiring one of these.

2 hours ago, bbabythai said:

Carry a copy of your private health insurance. You will need it. Crazy drivers are everywhere. Quite dangerous to be on a bike. 

I'm quite comfortable and capable in all the big NE US cities.  Experienced many left hooks and right crosses by box trucks, phone-addled soccer moms, and <deleted> off dudes in 3/4-ton pickups.  But those are no match for many Thai drivers.  My MO is rural roads at sun up and be sitting by the pool with cold bev in hand by mid-AM.  I'm hoping this keeps me out of most bad situations.

4 hours ago, khunPer said:

Copy of you passport will normally do; i.e. the name & ID-page, and the page with your valid entry-stamp or extension of stay. You can have the photocopy laminated, or just use one of the water tight bags to hang around the neck. 

 

If you have Thai drivers license then that is also a valid ID, it includes either your passport number or your Thai ID-number, if you are registered...????

I agree, except for anything hanging around my neck????.  

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The carry is not the issue... 

 

... The potential loss, it getting wet with sweat, rain etc is... 

 

There is great need to carry your passport around, the potential hassle of replacement by far outweighs any perceived risk of not carrying it and being stopped by that 1 police officer in Thailand who doesn’t accept an alternative. 

 

Question: Has anyone ever been stopped and an ID alternative to a passport (such as Driving licence, photocopy, Pink ID, Photo on Phone) not been accepted ?

Yes, I just want to preserve my passport for Immigration and banking issues.

4 hours ago, DefaultName said:

When cycling, you'll be carrying water, is a passport so hard to carry as well?

Good point, but I'm thinking anything made of paper is vulnerable to sweat or rain.  From most of the responses I've read it looks like the combination of a laminated paper copy of passport, something called a "Pink Card" (which I'll now look into), and that Pacific Cross medical card (with passport number, something else I look to acquire) will be the answer.

5 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

When I'm cycling I take my Pacific Cross card which has most details including my passport number 

Thanks, as I was not aware of this feature on the Pacific Cross card.  That's the health care system I'm researching.

6 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

The law is clear. Foreigners are required to carry their passport at all times. Most of us don't and have never had any problems. However, be aware that failure to do so could be used against you.

Thanks, your response is kind of how I'm interpreting it.  I'm the kind of schlep that would become the use case for this law.  

5 hours ago, thailand49 said:

In my cycling days in Pattaya, I have a laminated passport copy with entry stamp on back downsize at a photo shop to the size of a credit card.  On my bike I have a small waterproof pouch with tools and a extra tube for flats, Also with the Passport I.D. I have another laminated credit card size indicating if I'm in an accident to give a call to and indicate where to take me hospital.  I put all this stuff in a another small plastic pouch to keep it all dry.

I also use this method whenever I went out at night to the clubs particularly GoGo's and Happy ending places!????

Thanks for your reply, and yes, I carry everything I need to take care of business (tube, easy patches, just enough tools, and beer money).  I'm wondering if I'll need the tubes and tools for the bars and massage joints?

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I always carry in my wallet a copy of my passport photo/visa page and 90 check, [one A4 sht]

If they want to see my passport they can follow me home to view it.

Agreed, plus now days there's those slimline wallets that will never be confused with George Castanza's wallet.

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

You've mentioned ‘Risk’ twice... 

 

What exactly is the Risk you perceive and the probability of the Risk ???

 

 

I think the risk might be:

A police officer not accepting a driving licence (or whatever else it is and you are forced to go with the Police officer to your home and collect your Passport).

 

Probability of that happening. Very very little (<1% - i.e. IF stopped 100 time, 1 officer may be awkward).

 

In Bangkok I've been asked for my ID on 3 occasions in 20 years by the BiB (on those occasions my Thai DL was fine).

 

Conclusion: We’re over thinking it !

 

 

Once I arrive and learn how things work in Thailand, I'll probably realize I was over-thinking it.  I'll be so happy not having to deal with snow, ice, and a lifetime of work obligations that I'll probably tip any cop that would fine me.

7 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Ok, so the deputy commander of the Tourist Police Division says that foreigners are "expected" to carry a passport. Note, not legally obliged to.

So that takes care of tourists, numbers of whom are sparse.

What about the 10s of thousands of foreigners who aren't tourists?

Nah...we don't need to carry anything.

 

Maybe I'm being overly cautious and just want to get off to a good start as a newbie-expat, but the snark in me may want to tempt fate and see what happens should I be stopped without legally-excepted ID.  Thanks for your response.

8 hours ago, Russell17au said:

Look at it this way. Even a Thai citizen must produce their original Thai ID card on request. They cannot produce a copy. If anyone of authority request your ID documents (passport) then you must be able to show them the original document and not a copy, but saying that it is up to the person of authority if they will accept a photo copy or not. Many foreigners take the risk by copying their passport information page, plus their visa, extension, entry stamp, departure card and either laminate the copy or some of them even reduce the size down to a credit card size for ease of carrying. But at the end of the day it is up to the authority on what they will accept. It is up to you if you want to take the risk but everyone in Thailand including Thai citizens must carry their original ID documents.

That was the dilemma that sparked my question.  There are official rules and relaxed allowances.  Whatever the solution I came up with, it will probably include some sort of laminated document along with plastic card(s) to back it up.  Thanks for your input.

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

This has changed from region to region and from time to time with announcements that ‘we’ (foreigners) do not need to carry our passports, but need to be able to present it within a ‘reasonable’ time frame if requested to do so. 

Usually, within a year another senior police officer of another province makes a contradictory announcement. 

 

 

There are a couple key facets to this issue: What the law actually says, and what happens. 

 

The Law:

'A person must carry government issued photo ID or have it presentable within a ‘reasonable’ time frame'

 

What happens:

While a Thai driving licence is not actually ID (its just a licence), it is accepted as ID by pretty much every policeman if you are stopped. 

IF a person does not have a Thai Driving Licence, a Photo Copy of his passport is accepted as ID by pretty much every policeman if you are stopped. 

Many guys laminate a copy of their passport (shrunk to Credit card size)

A Photo of your Passport / Entry Stamp / Visa Page on your phone is usually sufficient. 

 

IF an officer decides to be difficult, they can ask you to present your passport as a form of ID, in which case you may need someone who can collect it for you quickly. 

 

The Pink ID card (after getting a Yellow Tabien Baan house book) is probably one of the best forms of Government ID to use in Thailand as an alternative to carrying a passport. 

 

Note: Only Police officers of commissioned rank and Immigration Police are allowed to ask for your passport. 

(real world, try telling that to a non-commissioned officer if they are on a power-trip !)

 

 

 

Thank you so much for this, I greatly appreciate it.  I wasn't even aware of the "Pink ID" card so I'll look into it.

Just now, 2old4fixies said:

Thank you for your opinion, very helpful.  Most of the roads west and south of Hua Hin look very appealing.  I ridden several thousands of miles throughout NYC, Phila, DC, always with a bar-end mirror, in all kinds of traffic.  Prefer not to be on multi-use paths and love the road.  Thailand and Malaysia's road surfaces for the most part look excellent - no freakin' snow plows to screw things up.  Maybe see you out pounding the pavement someday, so happy trails to you.

8 hours ago, Presto said:

I am a cyclist, I have lived in Hua Hin for over ten years. With regard to what you have to carry: I have a Thai drivers license, its in my wallet, and i always take my wallet with me. There's also a health insurance card in there. Seems to make sense, when you're unfortunately not able to handle things yourself. I never take a passport anywhere, only for visa renewal and the 90 day notification.

 

Regarding safety, I'd say it very much depends on your experience and skills. Be alert at all times is probably the way to go, but then thats what I learned a long time ago. Roads are usually good, but I hate the bike paths that have been constructed here in the past years. They are narrow, and it's definitely not only bicycles that use them.  And because they are narrow, it's usually difficult if a car or another vehicle will cross that bicycle path, visibility you know, brushes are not cut here. Even when I'm in my car, I pay extra attention when I have to cross a bicycle path. I prefer the quiet back roads.

 

All the rest, soi dogs, potholes, i don't worry about all that too much.

Thank you for your opinion, very helpful.  Most of the roads west and south of Hua Hin look very appealing.  I road several thousands of miles throughout NYC, Phila, DC, always with a bar-end mirror, in all kinds of traffic.  Prefer not to be on multi-use paths and love the road.  Thailand and Malaysia's road surfaces for the most part look excellent - no freakin' snow plows to screw things up.  Maybe see you out pounding the pavement someday, so happy trails to you.

8 hours ago, PolarAttack said:

People may say you don’t need to because they’re gotten away with it but if you’re looking for the correct answer, well it’s as follows.

Local laws in Thailand requires Thai citizens to carry their national identification card, so foreigners in this country are expected to carry identification in the form of a valid passport, explains Supasate Chokchai, the deputy commander of the Tourist Police Division.

Yes, that's what I based my question from.  I suppose also carrying "expedited fine payoff" cash might also work.  Once I get familiar with the vibe there I'll adjust accordingly.  I appreciate your cut-and-paste from the TPD.

8 hours ago, gbob said:

In my 11 years of cycling in Bangkok and now Chiang Mai, I have always carried a folded-up single page on which I have copied my passport page, visa page, latest entry stamp, and departure card (Form TM 6).  I just stick it in the same Zip-loc plastic bag that I carry my phone in.  Easy and good if there's an accident and you need to be identified.  You don't need to carry your passport.  In my riding time here, i have never been asked for or shown my passport while on the bike.  Enjoy the cycling down there! 

That's rockin' good news, thank you.  I'm sure once I arrive I'll figure it all out.  I know the biggest concerns are being rear-ended, stalk-robbed, and those yapping dogs.