Pattaya to ambassadors: Tourists can carry copy of passport

[Rimmer]

Pattaya to ambassadors: Tourists can carry copy of passport

PATTAYA:--Pattaya officials told seven visiting ambassadors that tourists need not carry their passports at all times, but should have a copy or be prepared to wait to have their identifies verified.

 

Mayor Anan Charoenchasri, his top deputies, police officials and the heads of major eastern tourism and hospitality associations met April 4 with the delegation led by H.E. Raushan Yesbulatova, ambassador to Kazakhstan. She was accompanied by counterparts from Bahrain, Bhutan, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Slovak Republic and Timor.

 

The visit was intended as a study trip about tourism and to create good relations between the embassies and Pattaya City Hall.

 

But the Omani and Nigerian envoys turned the discussion to prior arrests of their citizens for being unable to show identification or immigration documents.

 

Pattaya Tourist Police Division commander Pol. Maj. Piyapong Ensarn said that while the letter of the law states tourists must be in possession of their passports at all times, officers, in practice, will accept a photocopy.

 

Read more: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-ambassadors-tourists-can-carry-copy-passport-207004

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2018-04-13

[Crossy]

Just now, Rimmer said:

Pattaya Tourist Police Division commander Pol. Maj. Piyapong Ensarn said that while the letter of the law states tourists must be in possession of their passports at all times, officers, in practice, will accept a photocopy.

It would be really, really nice if he could actually quote a legal reference. Many times it is said "must carry passport" no actual legal reference is ever quoted.

[darksidedog]

In 10 years I have only ever been asked once to actually show my passport.It seems that gentlemen from countries such as Nigeria find they are asked for theirs more often.

What could the BIB possibly be thinking when they encounter Nigerians that would explain this?

[HLover]

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

In 10 years I have only ever been asked once to actually show my passport.It seems that gentlemen from countries such as Nigeria find they are asked for theirs more often.

What could the BIB possibly be thinking when they encounter Nigerians that would explain this?

You use of the word gentlemen is very kind and should bring you good luck today!

[StayinThailand2much]

32 minutes ago, HLover said:

You use of the word gentlemen is very kind and should bring you good luck today!

It's not a fault to be polite, on the contrary. I like to use the word 'gentlemen'. With 'ladies', on the other hand it's much more complicated, having lived in both, London, and Bangkok. 'Lady' in Ol' Blighty has quite a different meaning to 'lady' in Thailand... 

 

Back to the topic; I can't remember the last time that I had to show my passport, besides hotels, banks, immigration, and police posts near the border. But I still, most of the time, carry it with me. After all, what a Pol. Maj. of the Pattaya Tourist Police says may be irrelevant for the BiB in other parts of the country. 

Edited April 13, 2018 by StayinThailand2much

[ThreeEyedRaven]

7 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

It's not a fault to be polite, on the contrary. I like to use the word 'gentlemen'. With 'ladies', on the other hand it's much more complicated, having lived in both, London, and Bangkok. 'Lady' in Ol' Blighty has quite a different meaning to 'lady' in Thailand... 

Yes and of course in London when you see a Lady, it normally is one, while here you sometimes have to be careful.

That is where the passport check would help. Check entry for male or female.

Saves lots of trouble and embarrassment later when you find you have been sold goods that didn't match your expectations.

[balo]

The picture shows a whole bunch of corrupted officials from all over the globe, they probably got paid just to show up.

[Just Weird]

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

It would be really, really nice if he could actually quote a legal reference. Many times it is said "must carry passport" no actual legal reference is ever quoted.

You'll never get a "legal reference" to something that is not, strictly speaking, legal but is a relaxing of the rules.

[Crossy]

Just now, Just Weird said:

You'll never get a "legal reference" to something that is not, strictly speaking, legal but is a relaxing of the rules.

I'm looking for a legal reference to the requirement to carry the passport, not the "relaxation".

 

In all the years I've been here nobody has actually come up with the relevant law.

 

[Just Weird]

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

I'm looking for a legal reference to the requirement to carry the passport, not the "relaxation".

 

In all the years I've been here nobody has actually come up with the relevant law.

 

Ah...ok.

 

[Expatthailover]

5 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Yes and of course in London when you see a Lady, it normally is one, while here you sometimes have to be careful.

That is where the passport check would help. Check entry for male or female.

Saves lots of trouble and embarrassment later when you find you have been sold goods that didn't match your expectations.

Love a bit of amateur racial stereotyping .

 

 

Edited April 13, 2018 by Expatthailover

[xylophone]

5 hours ago, Crossy said:

It would be really, really nice if he could actually quote a legal reference. Many times it is said "must carry passport" no actual legal reference is ever quoted.

Saw a post on here a couple of years ago and one enterprising poster had taken a copy of his passport, reduced it in size and laminated it so that he could carry it around easily...........so that is what I have done and it has proven useful for ID on a couple of occasions, but then so has the driving licence.

[owl sees all]

6 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Yes and of course in London when you see a Lady, it normally is one, while here you sometimes have to be careful.

Many former Essex girls have developed into sophisticated ladies.

[janclaes47]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

I'm looking for a legal reference to the requirement to carry the passport, not the "relaxation".

 

In all the years I've been here nobody has actually come up with the relevant law.

 

 

After all those years you should be aware that everyone makes up the law the way they feel it should be, doesn't even mean there has to be a law regarding that specific subject.

 

What goes on in the head of anyone in government on any moment, and he considers should be a law, will be law.

 

To answer your request, maybe there isn't a law regarding.

[JSixpack]

23 hours ago, Crossy said:

I'm looking for a legal reference to the requirement to carry the passport, not the "relaxation".

 

In all the years I've been here nobody has actually come up with the relevant law.

 

 

Some years ago we had a long thread where numerous members got their knickers in a twist over a news item that after a raid on a Walking St. nightspot police had detained some farangs for "no passport." Now few farangs would be carrying their passports, and they didn't detain ALL the farang. So it really meant "no ID." Some farangs are too cool, dodgy, or stupid to carry any.

 

Somebody did quote the relevant law then and it didn't explicitly say "passport" must be carried but simply "identification," though the passport must be produced (from one's penthouse safe) when requested. And later that truth was verified by some police head honchos. Our tourist police don't really know the "letter of the law" on this point but, like so many misinformed TVF posters, merely think they do. Too bad, as this will just lead to more confusion and attestations of carrying copies and Thai driver's licenses, hopefully not for another 10 pages.

 

Anyway the upshot of the OP was--again, ad nauseam--that carrying a copy is OK. Actually carrying a Thai DL is OK. I carry both--I'm that good--but have only been asked for my Thai DL by traffic cops for sufficient reason. 

Edited April 14, 2018 by JSixpack

[Crossy]

2 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

Somebody did quote the relevant law then and it didn't explicitly say "passport" must be carried but simply "identification," though the passport must be produced (from one's penthouse safe) when requested.

Yeah, I seem to remember that, we have high ranking officials stating "passport" but never backing it up. My PP stays safely with my work gear, Thai DL and pink ID in my wallet along with a mini copy of my PP and extension.

 

Of course, I've never been asked for it.

[wgdanson]

23 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Many former Essex girls have developed into sophisticated ladies.

And many more haven't.

[Chivas]

Only ever asked once in pattaya area by plod in 2006 when he "claimed" I had driven through red light. My response was its in house officer hop in we'll go and get it. End of conversation. Never ever been asked anywhere in Thailand whilst foot walking around but then I consider myself normal looking and not a gimp

[overherebc]

On 13/04/2018 at 12:58 PM, owl sees all said:

Many former Essex girls have developed into sophisticated ladies.

Yep, when pick their nose they do actually put a hankie over the end of their finger. It's true I tell you. I've seen it done.

[Bastos60]

On 13-4-2018 at 7:32 AM, Crossy said:

It would be really, really nice if he could actually quote a legal reference. Many times it is said "must carry passport" no actual legal reference is ever quoted.

You have to understand it as, it is tolerated to just carry a copy, you will either be escorted to your hotel to retrieve your documents or immigration officers will verify that you entered 
Thailand with the passport you made a copy off. 

There is no legal reference, only the fact that many passports get either lost or stolen which doesn't help the tourist at all and thus it is tolerated to carry a copy.

[Jip99]

On 13/04/2018 at 6:32 AM, Crossy said:

It would be really, really nice if he could actually quote a legal reference. Many times it is said "must carry passport" no actual legal reference is ever quoted.

 

 

Indeed, but as we both know there is NO legal reference relating to carrying a passport or not. We now have a minor government official + a deputy general, a few years ago, saying that carrying  a copy of one’s Passport is acceptable.

 

Like you, I carry ID + copies of Passport and stamps........ and have never been asked to show them.

[midas]

On 4/13/2018 at 12:32 PM, Crossy said:

It would be really, really nice if he could actually quote a legal reference. Many times it is said "must carry passport" no actual legal reference is ever quoted.

 

Edited April 16, 2018 by midas

[JSixpack]

5 hours ago, Bastos60 said:

You have to understand it as, it is tolerated to just carry a copy,

 

It is, but more than tolerated: permissible.

 

Quote

There is no legal reference, only the fact that many passports get either lost or stolen which doesn't help the tourist at all and thus it is tolerated to carry a copy.

 

You have it rather backwards. It's not there's no legal reference for not carrying your passport. It is that there's no legal reference requiring carrying it. And thus it's not a matter of "tolerated." It's about like saying that the police tolerate your making a left turn on a red light in absence of a sign forbidding it.

[janclaes47]

2 hours ago, midas said:

 

Nice contradiction, which only leads to more confusion.

 

Deputy Commander Voravat also said that for expats living here, a Thai driving license or photocopy of your passport can be used as a form of identification.

 

And next

 

However, if Immigration Police suspect an individual to be overstaying in Thailand or being involved in illegal activity, then the individual would be required to produce their original passport promptly.

 

Who is to say that if the police has any reason to suspect the individual is overstaying?

Edited April 16, 2018 by janclaes47

[stud858]

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/nations/thailand.php

Official sites like this may help in confirming laws passed by government.

But out on the streets whatever happens, happens.

[Rimmer]

An argumentitive post has been removed

[JSixpack]

3 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

Nice contradiction, which only leads to more confusion.

 

Deputy Commander Voravat also said that for expats living here, a Thai driving license or photocopy of your passport can be used as a form of identification.

 

And next

 

However, if Immigration Police suspect an individual to be overstaying in Thailand or being involved in illegal activity, then the individual would be required to produce their original passport promptly.

 

Who is to say that if the police has any reason to suspect the individual is overstaying?

 

I still don't understand the confusion though I can't say exactly why. It appears you're wondering how the police might have a reason to suspect an individual of overstaying.

 

The police decide for themselves whether they have a reason. Some are more obvious than others. It would help allay suspicion if the cops see at least a copy of your passport. But they couldn't be sure until they see the passport of course.

 

So if you think you might be suspected of overstaying, and you don't want to go get your passport or have someone go fetch it to prove you aren't, then do carry it. Up 2 U.

 

[Bastos60]

3 hours ago, JSixpack said:

 

You have it rather backwards. It's not there's no legal reference for not carrying your passport. It is that there's no legal reference requiring carrying it. And thus it's not a matter of "tolerated." It's about like saying that the police tolerate your making a left turn on a red light in absence of a sign forbidding it.

Well, always try to take into account not all posters have English as their native language. 

But for the matter of having to carry a passport,  the law might not specifically state you need to carry a "passport", it does state you need to carry a form of identification that is accepted by 
law enforcement agencies. It is only a matter of defining what is the correct form of identification you require as a tourist. 

 

Is your drivers license, as a tourist, an accepted form of identification in Thailand, is your local ID card an accepted form of identification in Thailand.  Thai immigration law specifies you need
to be able show an accepted form of identification with the legal documentation (visa) that you are allowed to stay in the country which is for tourists an international passport. Does that mean
you need to carry it with you all the time, yes, as for every Thai you need to carry your identication on your person at all times, which is the law.  
 

For the matter of carrying a photocopy of your identification, it has been 'tolerated' by law enforcement that tourists make a photocopy of their identification page of their passport together with 
the latest entry stamp/visa and carry that on themselves in lieu of a passport, which you will need to have available when specifically asked for.  

 

BTW: Permissible and tolerated can be used as synonyms. 

[NanLaew]

On 4/14/2018 at 12:29 PM, wgdanson said:

And many more haven't.

No. Many, MANY more haven't.

[NanLaew]

<dp... another satellite glitch>

Edited April 16, 2018 by NanLaew