Police motorbike shakedowns.  Everyone knows what I'm talking about.  Every time I think of spending some time in Thailand it's the first thing that comes to mind...and I'm like.  yeah Thanks but I'll pass.

 

I lived in Pattaya for a year.  Almost bought my own condo there even.  But I guess they would rather have the 500 bhat shakedown money. Than for me to buy an 80k dollar condo...

 

I know there will be someone who says well if you'd just obey the laws...yeah, that's BS when the "laws" only apply to foreigners and not the Thai people.

So I never came back...

 

Sorry these posts are against the rules but I thought I might as well throw it out there in case anyone ever does a "what's wrong with Thailand" post mortem.

The good news is I did find a place I do enjoy (which shall not be named). I ended up buying my own condo, and am planning to purchase at least 2 more.  And no shakedowns!  The police apprently have better things to do.

So in the end it actually worked out ok for me.

Or, you could have just got a thai license like every other long term resident...

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

About the last reason why I would leave Thailand.

Good luck.

 

And don't go to Switzerland.

Will be a bit more expensive than 500 Baht.

Wow- thanks for sharing. Feel better now?

19 minutes ago, OnMyWay2 said:

The good news is I did find a place I do enjoy (which shall not be named). I ended up buying my own condo, and am planning to purchase at least 2 more.  And no shakedowns!  The police apprently have better things to do.

So in the end it actually worked out ok for me.

Can only assume you dont want it named so you dont get ridiculed.  Sounds like a step backwards for sure !

41 minutes ago, brucec64 said:

Or, you could have just got a thai license like every other long term resident...

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I had a Thai license.  They stop you for the license shakedown.  If that doesn't work they find something else...

32 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

Wow- thanks for sharing. Feel better now?

 

I'm long gone.  I already felt better!  This is for whoever is in charge of fixing Thailand.

Why do you continue reading the Thailand forums if you 're not returning?

4 minutes ago, AlexCanada said:

Why do you continue reading the Thailand forums if you 're not returning?

 

If you check my post history you would see that I haven't posted in years. 

Hey If you guys think Thailand is a non-broken thriving metropolis then more power to you.  I'm just dropping a note in the suggestion box on my way out.

Just now, OnMyWay2 said:

If you check my post history you would see that I haven't posted in years. 

Yes, we have noticed.  ?

1 minute ago, OnMyWay2 said:

Hey If you guys think Thailand is a non-broken thriving metropolis then more power to you.  I'm just dropping a note in the suggestion box on my way out.

All countries have their faults. For many of the expats here, the good outweighs the bad compared to their country of origin. Best wishes with your new choice, I'd like you to PM it just out of interest.

Just now, OnMyWay2 said:

Hey If you guys think Thailand is a non-broken thriving metropolis then more power to you.  I'm just dropping a note in the suggestion box on my way out. 

It thrives on being broken.  Some guys from sterilized nanny states can't handle the grime and dysfunction.  Some can.   Hell, some even like it.   More power to them.

 

OK then, bye in 3, 2, 1.  Blast off!   ?

1 hour ago, OnMyWay2 said:

 

If you check my post history you would see that I haven't posted in years. 

He said reading

In 30+ years 1 attempt for a traffic shakedown for 200 THB, didn't pay and moved along.

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

In 30+ years 1 attempt for a traffic shakedown for 200 THB, didn't pay and moved along.

My stay is 53 yrs now and like you, one try-on only - with a dubious breath test by a lone Thai police volunteer road block. Hundreds of stops for licence checks - and some vehicle searches..

 

It's all about location. Many traffic stops in the central areas. Extortion much more of an issue than a few years ago. 

9 hours ago, OnMyWay2 said:

Hey If you guys think Thailand is a non-broken thriving metropolis then more power to you.  I'm just dropping a note in the suggestion box on my way out.

And gently letting us know that you have one condo, & soon two more.

 

But tell me sunshine, where're you going to park the Bentley?

 

Troll post removed

Every single night these police checks between Jomtian and Pattaya near Pratumnak trying to catch drunk foreigners is getting annoying and too simple.Meanwhile all local drunks are leaving walking street by south Pattaya road.

17 hours ago, OnMyWay2 said:

I had a Thai license.  They stop you for the license shakedown.  If that doesn't work they find something else...

For all my 20 odd years in and out of Thailand I have only been stopped a couple of times and each time I produced my licence and they let me go on my merry way.

 

The one time I did get fined was on the route 32 north of Nakhon Sawan and that was for speeding. I was in my Ford Ranger playing with an Isuzu Mux and we both got caught along with several hundred others in a legal stop. I paid the fine, apologised and went on my way.

 

I must have had my hansum man face on that day.

18 hours ago, OnMyWay2 said:

The good news is I did find a place I do enjoy (which shall not be named). I ended up buying my own condo, and am planning to purchase at least 2 more.  And no shakedowns!  The police apprently have better things to do.

So in the end it actually worked out ok for me.

I will go and speak to the Policeman .

If they promise not to shake you down again, will you come back and live in Thailand ?

   Thailand just isnt the same without you being here , please come back , we all miss you .

18 hours ago, OnMyWay2 said:

The good news is I did find a place I do enjoy (which shall not be named). I ended up buying my own condo, and am planning to purchase at least 2 more. 

Lol - leaving because of the "police shakedowns". What a load of crap.

 

I've been stopped a few times over the last 14 years that I've been riding a motorcycle (scooter and Harley) in Thailand. Had to pay a fine a couple of times (once because I'd left my IDP on my other bike, once because my idiot passenger didn't put her helmet on after I'd told her 3 times that there were possible police checks ahead).
The first one was my fault. 400 baht fine and I was on my way. Boo hoo.
The 2nd one pissed me off, but only because of my idiot passenger. I laughed when the cop told me to pull over and I pointed to my helmet. He smiled and pointed behind me. I looked and there she was, sitting there with the helmet in her hands and a dumb look on her face. Had to go to soi 9 to pay that ticket and she had to go find a new "teerak". 
No "shakedown" or "under the table" business.
 

Been stopped a few other times, in different parts of the country, including a few times in Pattaya. Showed my (Thai) driving license and was waved on without question. Once I was given a breathlyzer test at a stop. Blew into the machine, the guy showed the result to his boss, his boss waved at me to carry on (I was perfectly sober so I wasn't worried).

Never been hit up for "tea" money or had someone try to "shake me down" whether I was on my scooter or the Harley, in the city or up country.

 

So if you've been "shaken down" so often that it cause you to leave, either you were deliberately screwing around because you think you are better than everyone else and the law doesn't apply to you, or you're just full of ****.

I think it's a little of both.

Correction. A lot of both.

 

Crazy 

Troll post removed

1 hour ago, cortez said:

what's the point of this topic ?

If he was fishing with or without a license he has had a bite or two plus a few hook line and sinkers

19 hours ago, OnMyWay2 said:

The good news is I did find a place I do enjoy (which shall not be named). I ended up buying my own condo, and am planning to purchase at least 2 more.  And no shakedowns!  The police apprently have better things to do.

So in the end it actually worked out ok for me.

30 yrs no "shakedowns", in fact the cops usually let me off. Be polite, blame your wife (if she's not with you) or you mother-in-law. What exactly do you do? 

3 minutes ago, jgarbo said:

30 yrs no "shakedowns", in fact the cops usually let me off. Be polite, blame your wife (if she's not with you) or you mother-in-law. What exactly do you do? 

30 years and no "shakedowns" they usually let me off, what had you been doing when they let you off, dont bother telling me what you were doing when they did something unusual