Phuketshrew

27 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Sorry, never had to and never will (hopefully). Personally, in almost 20 years I have never seen a TM30. Hypothetical situations:- I return home in the early hours of a Saturday and, like today, Monday is a public holiday. So, I report to Immigration on Tuesday - will I get fined for a 3 day delay in reporting my return? In another situation, I could return home on Saturday, then be on my travels again today (public holiday) without even being able to report my arrival back home before departing again. It is all totally ridiculous and I shall continue as I always have done!

I thought that as well until I needed to get a COR from immigration for my driving license renewal. No TM30 no letter, so I had to do it. Paperwork was inconvenient but doable and I was not fined.

1 hour ago, Benmart said:

The tip of the iceburg. So many ridiculous signs all over Pattaya and one on Highway 7 heading towards Pattaya.  It denotes lanes as "Trough" instead of "Through", to Pattaya.

Maybe it's the route MP's use to get to the trough?

A contemporary computing curriculum teaches children how to become creative, critical thinkers.

I suspect that teaching "coding" through rote learning will achieve very little.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Sudan says 87 killed when troops broke up protest, critics say too low

So the critics want to see more killed?

38 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

It doesn't really matter what number you dial, nobody will pick the phone up.

Someone has got to ring the bell first to wake them all up ????

6 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

How can we make sense of anything anymore without a pie chart....

That will be no good for the vegans amongst us.

I can think of lots of pies for vegans too; apple pie, cherry pie, hairy pie etc.

Just clarify:

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Nonsense

If it was about that they would be fining everybody the max fine of 2,000 baht instead of 800 baht or even fining people under section 37 for not reporting a change of address that has a mx fine of 5000 baht.

I can concur with that. Did my first ever TM30 in 28 years last week and did not get fined.

Phew! So no Thai's involved then? Well that IS a relief.

6 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

I successfully renewed my 5 year licenses yesterday. Here are a few tips to help make the process easier:

 

Documents needed:

Old licenses and photocopy of these

Copies passport ID and visa page

Proof of residence letter from immigration. Only one original and one copy needed for 2 licenses.  Make sure you have done your TM30 first otherwise they won't issue you with a letter. There should be no charge for this letter so don't be caught out by IO's trying to charge you for it!

Completed form showing that you have viewed the "road safety" videos - Now this is where it gets interesting!

I went along to Rajhabat University campus the previous afternoon where they now have a facility to watch videos (and take a test of needed). The "Ajarn" there completed all the paperwork and I watched the videos. Came away from there with everything I needed for a smooth application - Competed forms and verification that I had sat through the videos.

 

I was told that the driving license centre opened at 8.30 am so got there early - around 7.50 am. However, by that time they were in full swing and many Thai's were already completing the process. My advice is to get there really early as there was quite a queue outside at 8.30 (when i had almost finished my licenses).

The process was very straightforward:

Check in at the Information desk. All documents in order and issued with a number.

Proceed to Physical test area (5) and place applications in tray and put name in book.

Wait then take the reflex and colour blindness tests when called. then take your applications to desk 4 (payment) and wait for your number on the screen. Make payment and proceed to photo/printing area. Put application in the tray.

Have photos taken when called. Collect new driving licenses.

 

Another tip: Do not renew your license before expiry. It's crazy but if you leave it until after the expiry date then new licenses are issued for 5 years from your next birthday. So in effect my 5 year licenses now last for nearly 6 years!

 

I hope that the above is useful to others that may find such things daunting. It's not as long as you are well prepared. The officers at the driving license centre are also a good bunch and very helpful. I even had a bit of banter with the officer doing the colour blindness tests as he was expecting an answer form a Farang in English and was quite surprised when I answered in Thai.

As an addition information the advanced compulsory viewing of the videos and preparation of forms can be done at Rajhabat University campus on Wednesdays, Saturdays or Sundays. The building is above the food hall next to 7/11 on the campus and there is a lift up to the 4th floor where the process takes place.

5 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

1 for car, 1 for bike an its always been that way...
I've never paid for this letter an have held a thai license since 1989 and brought numerous cars an bikes.

Well I can't speak for anyone else but I renewed both car and bike licenses yesterday using one original letter from immigration and one copy of that letter. I posted a post about the whole process on the Phuket forum if you want to compare experiences.

37 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Craig Bennett (name transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect)

i hope for his sake.

Sure it wasn't Gordon Bennett? ...

That's two stories within a matter of minutes about human trafficking in Thailand. Tip of the ice berg. It's always the migrants that get busted. When are we going to hear about the Thai's being arrested for people smuggling?

Not sure it would have been a relief if you had rubbed some on your todger.

Precisely why I renew my visa overseas - one year (can even be extended to add 90 days) multi-entry. I haven't experienced any scamming or extortion since opting for this method from 2009 onward. I also don't have to do the 90 day reporting.

My first experience with local immigration for about 10 years was this week when trying to get a letter for driving license renewal. And sure enough they wanted 600 baht for it when there is supposed to be no charge. They all seem to operate their own little fiefdoms.

3 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Sorry to give contrary advice, but in Pattaya Office at least, I would certainly take a new medical certificate with you, just in case.  In addition, getting there really early doesn't seem to work, as the overall waiting time ends up being the same.  Around 10am, after the first wave has gone through. can work, as does afternoon, around 2 pm.  

My post is about the Phuket office and posted in the Phuket forum. I guess much like any Thai government office there will be a different interpretation of the rules in different locations. No medical certificate needed for renewal in Phuket.

The driving license office is here:

Phuket Province Land Transport Office
42/1 Rattanakosin Song Roy Pee Road, Tambon Taladnua, Muang District, Phuket Province, 83000
Tel: 076-241-930

I didn't know there was more than one?

How do they know it doesn't work? Is rubbing Kamagra on your pecker any better that injecting it with lard?

Just ignore him.

FYI. I have just posted my experience in renewing my driving licenses on the Phuket forum. Some useful info and a few tips for those a little daunted by the process.

I successfully renewed my 5 year licenses yesterday. Here are a few tips to help make the process easier:

Documents needed:

Old licenses and photocopy of these

Copies passport ID and visa page

Proof of residence letter from immigration. Only one original and one copy needed for 2 licenses.  Make sure you have done your TM30 first otherwise they won't issue you with a letter. There should be no charge for this letter so don't be caught out by IO's trying to charge you for it!

Completed form showing that you have viewed the "road safety" videos - Now this is where it gets interesting!

I went along to Rajhabat University campus the previous afternoon where they now have a facility to watch videos (and take a test of needed). The "Ajarn" there completed all the paperwork and I watched the videos. Came away from there with everything I needed for a smooth application - Competed forms and verification that I had sat through the videos.

I was told that the driving license centre opened at 8.30 am so got there early - around 7.50 am. However, by that time they were in full swing and many Thai's were already completing the process. My advice is to get there really early as there was quite a queue outside at 8.30 (when i had almost finished my licenses).

The process was very straightforward:

Check in at the Information desk. All documents in order and issued with a number.

Proceed to Physical test area (5) and place applications in tray and put name in book.

Wait then take the reflex and colour blindness tests when called. then take your applications to desk 4 (payment) and wait for your number on the screen. Make payment and proceed to photo/printing area. Put application in the tray.

Have photos taken when called. Collect new driving licenses.

Another tip: Do not renew your license before expiry. It's crazy but if you leave it until after the expiry date then new licenses are issued for 5 years from your next birthday. So in effect my 5 year licenses now last for nearly 6 years!

I hope that the above is useful to others that may find such things daunting. It's not as long as you are well prepared. The officers at the driving license centre are also a good bunch and very helpful. I even had a bit of banter with the officer doing the colour blindness tests as he was expecting an answer form a Farang in English and was quite surprised when I answered in Thai.

Did you pay it?

Actually, it was 300 baht per letter. But the female IO told me another lie - that I would need two, one for car and one for motorcycle, making it 600 baht, which is what she asked for.

Driving license office quite happy to accept one original and one copy.