Police Crackdown on Licenses

[MysteryX]

Been in Thailand about 3.5 years total in Chiang Mai over the past 12 years; but lately police is running a tax collection scheme setting up blockages everywhere in the city to collect money based on people's inability to get the papers they ask (international driving license or local license): 200 baht for locals, 500 baht for foreigners who can't get local license on tourist visa, 2000 baht and threats of deportation for undocumented Burmese who simply can't get a license. Been here since end of January (student visa), and things have gone really really bad since the past 2-3 months.

 

I wanted to share my experience with obtaining a local license, and get more information about what options others have.

 

So... Residence Certificate takes about 2 weeks to get. Translated my Canadian driving license for 800 baht. However, can't use it to get a scooter license in Thailand! 95% of Canadians only drive car in Canada. I have a Mexico motorbike license but only embassy to translate it is in Bangkok. Other option is to take the local test but there's a 1 month queue because of police crackdown!! So either I wait 1 month and need to avoid the police all that time and pay their taxes now and then (last time I went to Mae Rim by car, we crossed a blockade on the way out AND on the way back, but they're lazy mafia only going for low-hanging fruits so never ever stop any car), or I ship my passport to Bangkok and try to get it done by post.

 

In terms of fees, always paid 4x their 500 baht tax, 3 in the past 2 months, 800 for license translation, 50 for medical certificate, plus a lot of time.

 

Now, for other foreigners, if they do get the international driving license but their Canadian license is for car, does the police even accept it or not? Because 95% of people never drive motorbike in Canada.

 

This tax collection scheme based on people's inability to get the papers is really infuriating and killing tourism and the economy as a whole. In my case, I *can* get the local license, it's just the process is so damn long and complicated. What infuriates me even more is the way they're treating Burmese people from what I heard. And the fact that if I did come here on a tourist visa again, I would be left with no solution whatsoever.

 

Is there any option I'm not seeing? And if others want to visit Thailand, what should I tell them?

Edited September 2, 2019 by MysteryX

[OneMoreFarang]

If you want to ride a bike legally in Thailand you need a valid bike driver license, local or international.

Just like in any other country.

Or do you think people should be able to do that without a license?

What happens in Canada if the police stops you without license?

Edited September 2, 2019 by OneMoreFarang

[MysteryX]

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

If you want to ride a bike legally in Thailand you need a valid bike driver license, local or international.

I don't understand your problem.

Tourists cannot get such license. Only reason I'm not on a tourist Visa is because I was in China 5 months before, and thus couldn't get a tourist visa other than a single-entry due to recent laws. Which turns out to be a very good thing. If I *did* get the translation paper they asked for, it would be expiring now and thus wouldn't be an option either.

 

Do you think such a situation is normal for a country whose economy is based a lot on tourism? Unless they purposely want to reduce tourism by 80% to recover more of their local culture. A lot of foreigners are now going to other Asian countries instead for a variety of reasons.

 

And no matter what we think of those laws and practices, I still need to find a solution at least for myself, and I need to warn friends asking me about Thailand.

Edited September 2, 2019 by MysteryX

[OneMoreFarang]

7 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

Tourists cannot get such license. Only reason I'm not on a tourist Visa is because I was in China 5 months before, and thus couldn't get a tourist visa other than a single-entry due to recent laws. Which turns out to be a very good thing. If I *did* get the translation paper they asked for, it would be expiring now and thus wouldn't be an option either.

 

Do you think such a situation is normal for a country whose economy is based a lot on tourism? Unless they purposely want to reduce tourism by 80% to recover more of their local culture. A lot of foreigners are now going to other Asian countries instead for a variety of reasons.

 

And no matter what we think of those laws and practices, I still need to find a solution at least for myself, and I need to warn friends asking me about Thailand.

Why can't tourists get an International Driving License?

 

And if you don't have a license, for whatever reason, then you should not drive. I am sure that is exactly the same in your home country, except there the fine for driving without license is likely a lot higher than in Thailand.

[moe666]

The road blocks are not new they have been up for years, nothing new about this. If you do not have a bike licenses from your own country more than likely do not ride a bike. Tourist without bike experience should not be riding a bike in Thailand, just too dangerous for the novice.

[NanLaew]

One of the common gripes from 'tourists' in other parts of Thailand is their inability to use the address of their wholly owned condominium in Thailand for the same sort of things that locals can use their home-ownership papers for such as collateral for bank or auto loans, etc..

 

I guess 'tourists' being unable to get Thai driving licenses that they aren't qualified for is just another hardship they need to put up with.

[MysteryX]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why can't tourists get an International Driving License?

If I did it would have already expired.

 

2 minutes ago, moe666 said:

If you do not have a bike licenses from your own country more than likely do not ride a bike.

I don't know about the country you're from, but in Canada, 95% of people never drive motorbike because it can only be used 3 months per year. It's considered a luxury. And in practice, renting a scooter (or buying a motorbike) is really the only way to get around Thailand (or most Asian countries) if staying more than a few days.

 

I agree I wouldn't drive motorbike in Bangkok, but smaller cities are fine.

 

A bigger issue is 20% of people driving without helmets -- which the police apparently doesn't care about anymore (but that's what they used to check for back in 2008)

[MysteryX]

Just heard another hardship of Thai system, but for locals: if they want to travel abroad, they need 3 months of planning and preparation and tons of paperwork, and can't confirm whether they'll actually be traveling until 1 month before departure.

[Farangwithaplan]

9 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

I agree I wouldn't drive motorbike in Bangkok, but smaller cities are fine.

 

So you have no license from your home country for a two wheeled vehicle, have no real experience of learning how to ride a two wheeled vehicle on the road in your home country yet you feel you should be able to drive in in small cities of another country (on the opposite side of the road to which you are familiar) with no license. Wow!

 

12 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

And in practice, renting a scooter (or buying a motorbike) is really the only way to get around Thailand (or most Asian countries) if staying more than a few days.

Haven't you heard of car rentals? They are numerous and affordable if using the local vehicles. There are also things called taxis and 'Rodt Daengs' and Grab and various other forms of transport in Chiang Mai.

 

Why are you feeling so butt hurt about the police doing their job? Maybe if you were prepared, had the correct license or arranged for the correct license on your arrival to CM, you wouldn't be in this situation.

 

But it sounds like it is just easier to blame everyone and everything for your poor preparation to be in another country.

 

[ezzra]

To be fair, Thailand have been for too long a haven for people who rode/drove cars willi-nilli with no licenses, no insurance and at times not even qualified to drive at all, so i'm all for this to end because you never know which unlicensed clown driving around will kill someone and flee the scenes leaving the dead and injured behind... 

[MysteryX]

In my case I'll message the Mexico embassy in Bangkok see if I can get my license translated via mail.

 

For others, I think the best advice for short stay is to rent car instead (then no need to worry about international driving license), and for long-term, pay $500 to get a 5-year Visa in Cambodia instead.

 

On a side note, I went on a 12-day roadtrip across Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukothai and Lampang provinces and had no issue. Crossed some roadblocks in Lampang main highway but they were not into collecting tax from foreigners and he let me go. It's only touristy areas that are an issue.

 

I guess this is not worse than China who started enforcing "arbitrary laws" and even issuing exit bans. I was practicing Tai Chi in the mountains but knew it was time to get out.

Edited September 2, 2019 by MysteryX

[Blue Muton]

12 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

In my case I'll message the Mexico embassy in Bangkok see if I can get my license translated via mail.

 

For others, I think the best advice for short stay is to rent car instead (then no need to worry about international driving license), and for long-term, pay $500 to get a 5-year Visa in Cambodia instead.

 

On a side note, I went on a 12-day roadtrip across Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukothai and Lampang provinces and had no issue. Crossed some roadblocks in Lampang main highway but they were not into collecting tax from foreigners and he let me go. It's only touristy areas that are an issue.

 

I guess this is not worse than China who started enforcing "arbitrary laws" and even issuing exit bans. I was practicing Tai Chi in the mountains but knew it was time to get out.

collecting tax from foreigners

 

collecting fines from law-breakers.

 

There, I fixed it for you.

 

Why do you think there's no requirement for an International Driving Permit for tourists who drive rental cars?

[MysteryX]

8 minutes ago, Blue Muton said:

Why do you think there's no requirement for an International Driving Permit for tourists who drive rental cars?

Ask them.

 

Fact is, my friend is driving her car instead of motorbike (with valid license) for the simple reason that she'd get stopped every week while driving motorbike. Not a single time by car.

[Blue Muton]

1 minute ago, MysteryX said:

Ask them.

 

Fact is, my friend is driving her car instead of motorbike (with valid license) for the simple reason that she'd get stopped every week while driving motorbike. Not a single time by car.

Her license (assuming it isn't a Thai license) is not valid in Thailand unless it is accompanied by an IDP and then only for a maximum of 90 days.

[MysteryX]

Just now, Blue Muton said:

Her license (assuming it isn't a Thai license) is not valid in Thailand unless it is accompanied by an IDP and then only for a maximum of 90 days.

She did it the local way. I'm asking her right now how long she had to wait.

 

Look. From a purely technical perspective, maybe I'm in an illegal situation by not having the translation booklet. But the way the police is collecting cash is 100% illegal. Need to call the military to crack down on corrupt police practices?

[Blue Muton]

1 minute ago, MysteryX said:

She did it the local way. I'm asking her right now how long she had to wait.

 

Look. From a purely technical perspective, maybe I'm in an illegal situation by not having the translation booklet. But the way the police is collecting cash is 100% illegal. Need to call the military to crack down on corrupt police practices?

You'll probably find that when you have the correct documents you'll not get fined,  officially or unofficially. I have been stopped at countless checkpoints and have never been asked for money, whether in my car or on my bike.

 

I have been asked to pay 400 Baht once, having been stopped for speeding. I had to drive up the road to the police station to pay the fine - for which a receipt was promptly issued. I'm not denying that others have been required to pay corrupt cops, but it seems to usualy be when they're doing something wrong anyway.

[Puchaiyank]

Tell them: "Be Prepared!"... bring lots of "Tea money or gift money"...

 

But not to worry...a longtime living Thailand expat has assured me there are neither scams nor corruption in Thailand!  ????

[Isaanbiker]

Because 95% of people never drive motorbike in Canada.

 

This tax collection scheme based on people's inability to get the papers is really infuriating and killing tourism and the economy as a whole. In my case, I *can* get the local license, it's just the process is so damn long and complicated.

 

Who cares how many people are riding a motorbike in Canada? That's got absolutely nothing to do with you not having a valid license for Thailand.

 

  How can an ordinary law kill tourism? Why didn't you think about that earlier, you'd have saved a lot of tea money and a lot of hassle.

 

  Your way of thinking seems to be complicated, that's all. 

 

  

[MysteryX]

My friend got the whole process done within 2 weeks. My guess is the delays are much longer now because of crackdowns.

 

She gave me some numbers of people who "might" be able to accelerate the process. Thankfully I have useful friends. Whether they can help, at least they're trying.

[from the home of CC]

22 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

She did it the local way. I'm asking her right now how long she had to wait.

 

Look. From a purely technical perspective, maybe I'm in an illegal situation by not having the translation booklet. But the way the police is collecting cash is 100% illegal. Need to call the military to crack down on corrupt police practices?

who are you to comment on how things are in another country? You do know that Trudeau subverted the legal system in allowing the corruption in the SNC case? Ever heard the term stones and glass houses? And no, a motorcycle licence is not a 'luxury' in Canada. Everyone who drives a bike has one and if caught without one it's a 12,000 bt fine plus up to 6 months in jail. And in Ontario they can confiscate your vehicle for a week. You've been fined repeatedly for breaking the law and you're lucky they don't throw your ass out of the country. You're also giving Canadians a bad name with your idiotic statements.. 

[MysteryX]

1. Motorbike is a luxury because you need a car anyway. Few people will get a secondary vehicle for summer only.

 

2. I'm looking for solutions, not for excuses or trolling.

[Gulfsailor]

10 minutes ago, MysteryX said:

My friend got the whole process done within 2 weeks. My guess is the delays are much longer now because of crackdowns.

 

She gave me some numbers of people who "might" be able to accelerate the process. Thankfully I have useful friends. Whether they can help, at least they're trying.

So only now that they’re cracking down on having a valid license, do many bother actually applying for one,  as evidenced by the longer than normal wait times. So I guess the crackdown is getting the desired result.

If you had just organized things immediately and not after police started cracking down you wouldn’t have had to wait so long to fix it. 

But I must applaud you on your reactive behaviour, you’ll fit in well in Thailand ????

[Tayaout]

As a canadian, I would say pay the tax if it's less expensive than getting the license. In Thailand do like the thai. 

Edited September 2, 2019 by Tayaout

[MysteryX]

3 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

As a canadian, I would say pay the tax if it's less expensive than getting the license. In Thailand do like the thai. 

So far best option seems to be translating the Mexican license, but I'll have more details tomorrow.

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, MysteryX said:

This tax collection scheme based on people's inability to get the papers is really infuriating and killing tourism and the economy as a whole.

"This tax collection scheme based on people's inability to get the papers is...killing tourism and the economy as a whole".

 

Nonsense.  Neither tourism nor the Thai economy is dying or showing any signs of it.

 

"...foreigners who can't get local license on tourist visa..."

Tourists can drive on their home licences with their IDP, they don't need a Thai licence, what's the big problem there?  Or are you referring to foreigners who stiff the system by trying to live here on a Tourist Visa?

Edited September 2, 2019 by Just Weird

[Mattd]

1 hour ago, MysteryX said:

For others, I think the best advice for short stay is to rent car instead (then no need to worry about international driving license)

What strange advice! A valid license is required to rent the vehicle in the first place, or should be!

To drive a car or ride a motorbike without a valid license is pure madness, I know the locals do so, but any foreigner who thinks that it is some sort of right to do this in a foreign country, must have a screw loose IMHO, I certainly hope you do not have an accident and hurt, or worse still kill someone whilst driving unlicensed.

 

The police tax is a fine BTW, for not being legal.

 

I am assuming from your comments that CM DLT will not issue a Thai DL to a foreigner who has a tourist visa, a lot of other areas will issue the 2 year license, even to those on a visa exempt entry, you should look at doing this elsewhere.

[Just Weird]

 

That's the fault of the RTP?  How, exactly?...

 

Police Crackdown on Licenses

Edited September 2, 2019 by Just Weird

[IvorBiggun2]

28 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

As a canadian, I would say pay the tax if it's less expensive than getting the license. In Thailand do like the thai. 

Depends. If you do not have a Thai license 3 months after driving on a IDP your insurance is negated. You have an accident without that insurance you'll be requesting a 'GoFundMe'. Make yer mind up. One Two Three...………..

[Just Weird]

3 hours ago, MysteryX said:

Unless they purposely want to reduce tourism by 80% to recover more of their local culture.

Where did that bizarre statistic come from?

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, MysteryX said:

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why can't tourists get an International Driving License?

If I did it would have already expired.

IDPs are valid for 12 months, aren't they, why would that be a concern to tourists, who can renew their IDPs?