Crackdown! Tourists in Pattaya face jail for riding motorcycles without a licence

[Caine]

On 7/10/2019 at 4:34 AM, darksidedog said:

That is going to piss the motorbike rental companies off no end, but at least we will be seeing fewer insurance companies skip out of paying hospital bills, as people will be properly licensed and legal on the roads.

Insurance companies do not cover tourist to ride motorcycles. Unless they pay massive premiums, licensed or not 

[JohnnyChristo]

Let’s face it Thai really don’t want tourists is getting harder n harder more and more tilted. 

Tourists are a target. 

Everyone going/retiring to Laos Vietnam Philipines and are welcome. 

Bye bye Thai Thai joop joop. 

[Small Joke]

Their 'crackdowns' crack me up!

 

What they mean is they are actually just going to do their everyday normal policeman's job.

 

Until something happens in Phuket, and media attention is focused on some slacker down there...

 

Then it's back to the endless tea break, and the newspaper.

 

Until some slacker back up there cocks up with a walking street press conference or a ferry disaster, then everybody switches places, and the Phuket guys can chill, and on and on, forever.

[Too young to be old]

On 7/10/2019 at 3:43 AM, jacko45k said:

Just tourists? How about locals?

 

Locals don't cause accidents or drive around making a lot of noise, its only tourists that do that.

[BestB]

2 hours ago, Just Weird said:

Fines are laid down in law, if police have discretion as to the amount applied on an individual case, that is different.   You know very well that what you were claiming originally, that the fine for Thais is B500 while it's B1,000 for foreigners is not correct.

 

"Again stop trolling".

My stating a fact that you don't like because it correctly contradicts your incorrect assertion is not trolling! 

Deliberately stating an inaccuracy purely in order to have a go at a certain part of society is. 

Even if I was trolling it sure wouldn't be up to you to repeatedly, and hypocritically, tell me how to post.  If my comments bother you so much just report my posts that disagree with your thoughts, there's a button there for just that.

BS again, fines are NOT laid down in law, maximum amounts are laid in law, just as i had to explain for your yesterday and seems again today, Maximum amount is not the only amount applied, but up to either officer or police station.

 

And yes, all you doing is trolling, sad part is you know you are and yet you insist on doing it over and over again

[KhaoYai]

6 hours ago, Just Weird said:

"I think you are stretching things more than a little to say that law/fine is applied across the board".

No, I'm not stretching anything, my comment related to those who claimed that there were different laws and fine levels for foreigners and Thais for the same offences; there aren't.

 

"...foreigners in the major centres and bike rental businesses are likley to be the only ones paying the new fines".

That is just your speculative opinion.

 

"Jeez, there's been a law requiring crash helmets to be worn for many years and the Thai's ignore it on every street of every town, every day".

Yes, and many of those Thais that ignore it find themselves on the wrong end of a police stop for that!

 

"They ain't going to be worried about any new law requiring them to have a licence because they know how it will actually be dealt with (for them at least)".

Sorry, but that's just not accurate, Thais have been stopped and ticketed for not having a licence for years.

I stand by everything I said in the post you have commented on.

 

I have to ask which Thailand you live in or visit? It can't be the same one as me. I can't be bothered arguing all your points so I'll just answer one.

 

6 hours ago, Just Weird said:

Sorry, but that's just not accurate, Thais have been stopped and ticketed for not having a licence for years. 

I never said they haven't been stopped and ticketed (although I'd suggest the number of real tickets issued is low), I said they wouldn't be worried about it.

 

Examples:

 

My ex wife, never had and probably still doesn't have a licence yet she drives every day. She just tells the copper she's left her licence at home and pays the 200baht. I.E. She's not worried about the law.

 

Thai's are stopped every day riding motorbikes without a helmet - are they worried about it? It would appear not because this goes on every day - nothing changes.

 

Contrast that to the UK for example where the vast majority of people wouldn't dare drive without a licence (not saying it doesn't happen) and everyone wears a crash helmet. Why is that? Its because in the UK people have a fear of/respect for - the law. In the UK, not only are the penalties much harsher, there is a points system. Tot up 12 points and its bye bye licence for a set period. Continue to drive after you've lost your licence and you risk jail. Points on your licence may severely affect the amount your motor insurance costs.

 

Thai people have no fear of the law because the (actual) penalities are so low (and can be negotiated) and they have no respect for the law because they know that their 'fine' is going directly in to the copper's pocket.

 

Have you ever noticed that in Thailand, the police use ticket books that are the old type with carbon paper?  Why is that? Take a look at those books - I'd be willing to bet there's no carbon paper in place.

[thai006]

good news

[Redline]

Meanwhile, 30 percent of Thai drivers don’t have licenses 

[chaihot]

On 7/10/2019 at 10:40 AM, essox essox said:

SURELY a tourist (or anybody in FACT) dould not be able to rent any vehicle IF THEY CAN NOT provide a driving licence....it is as simple as that!!!!

I don't think so ... Just because you have a license, doesn't mean you have a MOTORCYCLE license.

[Just Weird]

18 hours ago, BestB said:

BS again, fines are NOT laid down in law, maximum amounts are laid in law, just as i had to explain for your yesterday and seems again today, Maximum amount is not the only amount applied, but up to either officer or police station.

You did not have to explain anything to me!

 

"Maximum amount is not the only amount applied, but up to either officer or police station".

Yes, I know that and I also know that discretion applies to foreigners and Thais. 

 

You started this off by stating that the fine is only B500 for Thais...

"In the mean time , thai are allowed to ride and drive without a license with a 500 baht fine...Not knocking the decision just curious why same law does not apply to locals"...

You stated that fines were double for foreigners as a matter of course and that different laws apply to foreigners.  That is not the case, that was trolling.

[Assurancetourix]

On 7/10/2019 at 2:56 PM, transam said:

In the UK tourists would NOT be able to rent anything without a valid license..

Do not compare civilized countries, Great Britain, which has more than 2,000 years of history to ... what is it?
A large open-air casino 

[Assurancetourix]

On 7/10/2019 at 11:06 PM, Just Weird said:

Driving licence law applies to Thais also, there's no distinction.

except for those who call themselves: Do you know who I am 

[rkidlad]

4 hours ago, Just Weird said:

You did not have to explain anything to me!

 

"Maximum amount is not the only amount applied, but up to either officer or police station".

Yes, I know that and I also know that discretion applies to foreigners and Thais. 

 

You started this off by stating that the fine is only B500 for Thais...

"In the mean time , thai are allowed to ride and drive without a license with a 500 baht fine...Not knocking the decision just curious why same law does not apply to locals"...

You stated that fines were double for foreigners as a matter of course and that different laws apply to foreigners.  That is not the case, that was trolling.

Oh, JustWeird. Is there no hole you won't crawl down into in search of attention? 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

11 hours ago, Redline said:

Meanwhile, 30 percent of Thai drivers don’t have licenses 

We do not care because this is not the subject of the post.

 

It's amazing; I have been living in Thailand for more than ten years; I drive from time to time on my motorbike;
I sometimes get arrested by the police and I have never paid a fine or a bribe.
How do you explain that ?

I wear my helmet attaches correctly and
I have the corresponding driving license.
This certainly explains that ...

[Redline]

1 hour ago, Assurancetourix said:

We do not care because this is not the subject of the post.

 

It's amazing; I have been living in Thailand for more than ten years; I drive from time to time on my motorbike;
I sometimes get arrested by the police and I have never paid a fine or a bribe.
How do you explain that ?

I wear my helmet attaches correctly and
I have the corresponding driving license.
This certainly explains that ...

Nice you can speak for everyone ???? I’m simply making a point.  You don’t need to respond, if you think it’s irrelevant.

 

How is it you are being arrested?  I’m have never had a problem in 10 years?  Do you go to jail?  We’re you naked ????

[BestB]

6 hours ago, Just Weird said:

You did not have to explain anything to me!

 

"Maximum amount is not the only amount applied, but up to either officer or police station".

Yes, I know that and I also know that discretion applies to foreigners and Thais. 

 

You started this off by stating that the fine is only B500 for Thais...

"In the mean time , thai are allowed to ride and drive without a license with a 500 baht fine...Not knocking the decision just curious why same law does not apply to locals"...

You stated that fines were double for foreigners as a matter of course and that different laws apply to foreigners.  That is not the case, that was trolling.

When you get a second from your busy trolling , point out for me where I said fines were double ? Different amounts apply to foreigners yes, where did I say different laws? 

 

But please take your time, do not want to interrupt your trolling on some other topic.

[Just Weird]

19 hours ago, BestB said:

On ‎7‎/‎12‎/‎2019 at 11:03 AM, Just Weird said:

"Maximum amount is not the only amount applied, but up to either officer or police station".

Yes, I know that and I also know that discretion applies to foreigners and Thais. 

 

You started this off by stating that the fine is only B500 for Thais...

"In the mean time , thai are allowed to ride and drive without a license with a 500 baht fine...Not knocking the decision just curious why same law does not apply to locals"...

You stated that fines were double for foreigners as a matter of course and that different laws apply to foreigners.  That is not the case, that was trolling.

When you get a second from your busy trolling , point out for me where I said fines were double ? Different amounts apply to foreigners yes, where did I say different laws? 

 

But please take your time, do not want to interrupt your trolling on some other topic.

"...point out for me where I said fines were double ?"

Ok, here is what you said, "In the mean time , thai are allowed to ride and drive without a license with a 500 baht fine...Not knocking the decision just curious why same law does not apply to locals".   

 

That was a comment on this thread reporting that tourists faced a fine of B1000 for the same offence.    I think you'll find that 1000 is double 500.

In that same comment you also said that the same law does not apply to locals, so, by definition, a different law must apply to locals if the same law doesn't.

[BestB]

2 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

"...point out for me where I said fines were double ?"

Ok, here is what you said, "In the mean time , thai are allowed to ride and drive without a license with a 500 baht fine...Not knocking the decision just curious why same law does not apply to locals".   

 

That was a comment on this thread reporting that tourists faced a fine of B1000 for the same offence.    I think you'll find that 1000 is double 500.

In that same comment you also said that the same law does not apply to locals, so, by definition, a different law must apply to locals if the same law doesn't.

 Cute, trying to get blood from a stone , but of course this is not trolling ????

[Just Weird]

Just now, BestB said:

 Cute, trying to get blood from a stone , but of course this is not trolling ????

I'm being 100% accurate, unlike you but you just can't accept that and have to resort to flaming me on every comment you make, bear that in mind.

[Vacuum]

On 7/11/2019 at 3:51 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

It's no different to Chiang Mai where they do road blocks on the moat road and only stop tourists.

That's because they know at least 50% of them (tourists) don't have a license.

[Vacuum]

On 7/11/2019 at 6:39 AM, crazykopite said:

One thing is for sure it’s a good way to  encourage tourists to go to a neighbouring country where they will be made more welcome . 

Like breaking the law, and driving bikes without a license?

[Vacuum]

On 7/11/2019 at 6:49 AM, BestB said:

Fines applied to locals and foreigners are not the same.

So what? Just get a proper DL before driving in Thailand, how hard can it be?

[HLover]

On 7/10/2019 at 10:01 AM, LazySlipper said:

How about the primary school kids who also don't have a helmet? Or the teenagers also without a helmet.

 

In another post,

 

without wanting to be racist, lots of these guys riding around raising hell... doing no small favor to anyone...

At first glance I thought you typed 'realist'.

Either way, your spot on.

[KhaoYai]

On 7/13/2019 at 10:40 AM, Kim J said:

Those that have a licence and choose to travel and drive without an international licence are of the same level of stupidity as those that travel without a decent travel insurance policy, and should have their passports revoked.

Bit of a pompous post. Many people think they can ride a small motorbike without a licence when on holiday - I very much doubt a tourist would think they can obtain a Thai licence. The rental companies are the ones to blame for this. I've heard tourists asking if they need a licence - only to be told they don't, their passport is fine. If the rental companies stuck to the law, there would be no problem.

 

On the subject of travel insurance - this is the pompous bit.........Its all very easy for someone in good health with no previous serious illnesses to make such comments.  Try having a go at the insurance companies instead.......this is just one reason why.

 

I was treated for cancer 4 years ago. It is now virtually impossible for me to get any form of travel/health insurance at an affordable price.  I fully understand why an insurance company would not cover existing conditions and related items but I am no more likely to break a leg on holiday than you are. Yet, when I get quotes for travel or general health insurance I am quouted up to 10 times the premium. The insurance companies are simply ripping off people with existing conditions or a history of serious illness. They have the capability to make exclusions, there is no excuse for their behaviour.

 

I have invested 18 years of my life travelling to Thailand, I have a home in Korat, motorbike.....many things. What should I do, sell up and stay in my homeland, never straying from there?

[Daveyh]

Get use to it because it will never change. Tourists will always pay more, a fact of life here in Thailand ....... forget about equal rights, fair play & actions of a racist nature ...... complaining will not do you any good. There is no logic, so don't even try to understand the "rules & regulations" here. If you argue it can end badly & Thai jails are not know for their hospitality. If you do ride a bike here, be sure you have a valid license, be sure you have additional medical insurance (this can be purchased locally) for the duration of your stay, be sure you wear a helmet & stay safe. Don't argue with police let your insurance agent deal with it if you happen to have an accident (they are usually "on the spot" very quickly).   

[D B Cooper]

On 7/10/2019 at 4:40 AM, essox essox said:

SURELY a tourist (or anybody in FACT) dould not be able to rent any vehicle IF THEY CAN NOT provide a driving licence....it is as simple as that!!!!

Then rent us either mini mopeds (max 50CC) or electric bicycles...

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, D B Cooper said:

Then rent us either mini mopeds (max 50CC) or electric bicycles...

I am not sure how the Thai driving laws handle these. In a country where you see 7-8 year olds whizzing past you on a Honda Wave never been much call.