Stopped By Police In Thailand? What You Should Do.

By Khaosod English

 

  

Forensic police search a crime scene on Monday.

 

By Yutthachai Sangsirisap and Robert Virasin

 

There are many stories about bad police planting evidence or fake police shaking down the innocent. What to do if someone claiming to be a police officer wants to search your person or belongings?

 

The primary duty of the police is to protect people and property and to enforce laws. When a crime occurs, they have to investigate the crime to ensure justice by catching criminals. Under Thai law, the police officer has the right to search people and property to prevent or solve a crime. When a police officer acting in a lawful manner requests to search you, you must comply. However, there are certain things one should.

 

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2018/03/14/stopped-by-police-in-thailand-what-you-should-do/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-03-14

Count to three, bite your tongue and ask the Mrs to get B200 ready.

Negotiate!

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

The primary duty of the police is to protect people and property and to enforce laws.

You want to tell them that, not TV members ! 

Be respectful, don't get angry, reach for the wallet, don't ask for a receipt, smile and you're on your way!

Just pay them what they demand and don't make any fuss.  Accept the false accusations and reasons for your fine and get on with your day.  

I got pulled out of a taxi around Asoke by a lone police officer. The officer told the girl I was with in my taxi to not get out. I told her in Thai to watch carefully. I had a phone in one pocket and a wallet in the other. He patted me down without ever asking me to empty my pockets. He grunted at me to go. He was definitely up to no good. 

 

Be polite yet assertive, and at the very least pretend you know what you’re doing and that you’d be more trouble than a potential scam would be worth. 

Useful post - just a shame we need it.  Could you imagine in the US, UK, Singapore, Australia or New Zealand asking the Police Office to empty his pockets and check his sleeves before he performs a search?? 

"...Third, you can ask the police officer to empty his shirt and trouser pockets and to clear anything that may be hidden up his sleeves before the search begins. This will help to alleviate concerns that he may plant some evidence against you..."

 

The quote above is from the full story.

 

Clearly the author has never been stopped by a Thai policeman. If you ask them to empty their pockets before searching you, you'll likely end up being in a VERY bad way; alleging/asserting that the cop is crooked will cause a serious loss of face and all the unpleasant consequences that entails.

 

I truly hope that the author wasn't paid for this garbage!

 

42 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Useful post - just a shame we need it.  Could you imagine in the US, UK, Singapore, Australia or New Zealand asking the Police Office to empty his pockets and check his sleeves before he performs a search?? 

I think that’s because it most likely wouldn’t make sense. Can’t see police officers in these countries jeprodisring their careers for a few bucks. Even if the return was fairly large, they still fear being caught and being punished properly. That would be loss of job, pension and a prison sentence. 

Open your wallet.

Start crying like a baby moaning in your mother tongue. Fake hyperventilation. Reach for your heart and whisper w/ guttural voice: mai sabai. Start wetting yourself and wait for for the officer to tell you he is sorry and it was all just a misunderstanding. Continue your way and replace trousers! 

i got stopped while in a taxi in bkk sukhumvit road, 2 cops, one was about to put his hand in my pocket, no kin way, i said i will empty my pockets on the bonnet of the taxi. what would be the betting he had drugs in his hand, yes we find drugs you pay now lol , they seemed quite disappointed, i had rumbled their little game

Upcountry here, whenever stopped by police on a highway check, I usually smile, ask him what the flock he wants, then engage him in light banter about what English football team he supports and how many kids he has. Usually does the trick and wallet stays in pocket much to my wife's surprise.

Additionally you should ask why he wishes to search you and what exactly he is looking for. To do so he has to have reasonable grounds for suspicion that you have something illegal. A "routine" search based purely on speculation is not allowed.  I recall on one occasion when being stopped by a Foreign Police Volunteer who wanted to search me and was very full of himself. When I told him what the law was and the consequences of searching me illegally he checked with his Thai colleagues and grudgingly told me I could leave.

Same goes for searching your house. They need a warrant or reasonable grounds for suspicion. And they absolutely cannot come in to your house late at night without a warrant, end of story.

 

 

About a dozen cops showed up at the MIL's house a couple of years ago and wanted to search the place following a bogus tip of about the BIL and drugs (it was a teenagers at school thing). MIL told them all to wait on the doorstep whilst she shouted for her neighbours to come over and soon the house was packed with cops and neighbours, one neighbour for every cop, watching what they were doing and following them where ever they went - they left after thirty minutes empty handed and everyone was happy. Oddly, nobody thought to ask what this farang was doing sat there in the middle of the room but they remained polite, I thought it was all quite fascinating to watch.

1 minute ago, simoh1490 said:

About a dozen cops showed up at the MIL's house a couple of years ago and wanted to search the place following a bogus tip of about the BIL and drugs (it was a teenagers at school thing). MIL told them all to wait on the doorstep whilst she shouted for her neighbours to come over and soon the house was packed with cops and neighbours, one neighbour for every cop, watching what they were doing and following them where ever they went - they left after thirty minutes empty handed and everyone was happy. Oddly, nobody thought to ask what this farang was doing sat there in the middle of the room but they remained polite, I thought it was all quite fascinating to watch.

You should have broken out the beer and had a small party.

Dashcam/Audio should be utilised, particularly if drivers (ferangs) are alone.

3 hours ago, evadgib said:

Dashcam/Audio should be utilised, particularly if drivers (ferangs) are alone.

if your dashcam is running - ensure you stand in the front of the car preferably sideways or at least with your back to the camera.

Put on your best “I don’t know <deleted> you are talking about face”, and let the wife talk until they finally get sick of you and wanna get to their incoming customers. 

 

Ive had this work twice now in issan checkpoints where they wanted to ticket me. No kidding. They just get fed up if you keep talking. 

41 minutes ago, Artisi said:

if your dashcam is running - ensure you stand in the front of the car preferably sideways or at least with your back to the camera.

I turn my dashcam sideways to show the cops faces,i always get waved on,

 

They're around Asoke regularly. Just be polite and there will be no issues. 

6 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Just pay them what they demand and don't make any fuss.  Accept the false accusations and reasons for your fine and get on with your day.  

Exactly what I just did tonight!  False reasons for stopping me but I just accepted it, paid 1000 Baht and left.  No point in trying to declare injustice/corruption/extortion and other crimes.  Too easy to have fabricated evidence made against you.  

6 hours ago, Donotdisturb said:

Start crying like a baby moaning in your mother tongue. Fake hyperventilation. Reach for your heart and whisper w/ guttural voice: mai sabai. Start wetting yourself and wait for for the officer to tell you he is sorry and it was all just a misunderstanding. Continue your way and replace trousers! 

You almost caused me to wet myself, reading this just now on the BTS... 

Look for a couple of hapless passing Burmese workers - point at them and say "they did it" whilst sticking a 500 in their  top pocket. 

Do what the policeman asks, don't start waving money around, behave politely and be on your way. Stayed in Thailand for years and have never been asked to pay a dime despite being stopped now and again all over Thailand. It probably helps that I don't to illegal left-hand turns, don't run red lights and don't drive faster than the speed limit.

2 hours ago, aussienam said:

Exactly what I just did tonight!  False reasons for stopping me but I just accepted it, paid 1000 Baht and left.  No point in trying to declare injustice/corruption/extortion and other crimes.  Too easy to have fabricated evidence made against you.  

 

You surely jest....   You handed over 2000 baht for 'false reasons'?...  

 

BTW: What were those 'false' reasons? 

 

 

The BiB must love these people who simply give in and hand over cash so easily.... If you've done nothing wrong there is no reason to hand any cash over - you can simply remain polite and calm and stand fast - until the BiB either write you a legal ticket or simply wave you along (as the most commonly do when they know they are making something up). 

 

Unless of course - there was a genuine reason for pulling you over, something you were unaware of such as a left turn at a no left turn intersection or driving in a bus lane etc... 

 

 

 

9 hours ago, rkidlad said:

I got pulled out of a taxi around Asoke by a lone police officer. The officer told the girl I was with in my taxi to not get out. I told her in Thai to watch carefully. I had a phone in one pocket and a wallet in the other. He patted me down without ever asking me to empty my pockets. He grunted at me to go. He was definitely up to no good. 

 

Be polite yet assertive, and at the very least pretend you know what you’re doing and that you’d be more trouble than a potential scam would be worth. 

"He patted me down without ever asking me to empty my pockets. He grunted at me to go. He was definitely up to no good".

Is there something wrong with being patted down and allowed to go without a problem that indicates that he "was up to no good"? 

2 hours ago, aussienam said:

Exactly what I just did tonight!  False reasons for stopping me but I just accepted it, paid 1000 Baht and left.  No point in trying to declare injustice/corruption/extortion and other crimes.  Too easy to have fabricated evidence made against you.  

Where did that happen, walking, in a car?

9 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Just pay them what they demand and don't make any fuss.  Accept the false accusations and reasons for your fine and get on with your day.  

..."accept the false accusations"?!?!?! Don't you have any pride or self-respect? 

This is exactly why they get away with this kind of thing! People rolling over and accepting everything with the usual "mai bpen rai" justification.