Shakedown Street...

[KhaoYai]

1 hour ago, Salerno said:

A few years ago indeed, time flies when you're having fun, been what, 6 years since Bed Supper closed?

 

Club in question above, Q Bar by any chance?

Really, its closed?  Yes time flies but I don't think the event I describe was over 6 years ago. I didn't even know Bed was closed so it could have been closed at the time. It was in that area though, could have been Q bar, I know that name but I really can't remember.

[ThomasThBKK]

On 11/18/2019 at 4:46 AM, RedPill said:

Are you carrying your passport around at all times?

 

Well, I don't ... I'm already constantly losing my sunglasses.

Imagine I would always carry my passport, it's a PITA to get a new one. 

 

But to be more real, I've never in years been asked to show my passport, the driving license always did it.

 

Not saying it could happen ... but I trust a picture I have on my phone if I really need to show it. If not sufficient, I will see 

where it goes to get my passport from home.

 

Showed them my passport on phone last songkran, then they snatched it and browsed through my whatsapp chats...avoid! print it out and get a pink id card and have your phone locked at all times. Glad we movin away from Bangkok next year...

 

 

21 hours ago, Just Weird said:

No, the stories are not "countless", there have been, maybe two or three first-hand stories recently, that's all.

https://time.com/3674200/thailand-tourism-police-corruption-shakedown-extortion/

 

How come thai politicians give interviews about it then in the TIME magazine, because it never happens? ... It happens ALL the time especially in a taxi from silom to sukhumvit, taxi drivers drive you on purpose through their fake checkpoints...

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

Showed them my passport on phone last songkran, then they snatched it and browsed through my whatsapp chats...avoid! print it out and get a pink id card and have your phone locked at all times. Glad we movin away from Bangkok next year...

 

 

https://time.com/3674200/thailand-tourism-police-corruption-shakedown-extortion/

 

How come thai politicians give interviews about it then in the TIME magazine, because it never happens? ... It happens ALL the time especially in a taxi from silom to sukhumvit, taxi drivers drive you on purpose through their fake checkpoints...

 

 

 

 

The article you quoted is from 2014 - there were a lot of shakedowns at the time, such so that they gained media attention and then international media attention. The 'shakedowns' were carried out by the Thonglor Police at the time who clearly thought they were on to a good thing before they were shut down and told by the Chief of Police to behave. 

 

Since then there has been very little in the news or first hand reports. Sure this issue still exists but there is usually more to the story. We can walk down the streets without issue now, but if you stop and talk to an African at 1am and end up paying a 40,000 baht bribe to the BiB, there is usually a lot more to the story than is being let on. 

 

 

Regarding your comment above [ThomasThBkk] - you showed them a photo of your Passport and the BiB when though the rest of your private photos? why did you allow them to do that? I know its difficult, but you can stop them, they shouldn't even take your phone off. 

 

I keep the photos of my Passport, ID page, TM6 and Stamp on Dropbox - scrolling is not possible outside of the specific folder the file is saved in.

 

 

Now... to place this 'issue' into perspective: I have lived in Bangkok for over 20 years. 

- I have been stopped in Bangkok by the Traffic Police (while driving) about 5 times in that time, each time I had made some innocuous traffic infraction, a couple of those times it was explained to me what I did wrong and was just let go, another couple of times it cost me 100 or 200 baht. 

- I have stopped twice on my Motorcycle, the first time I opened my helmet and the BiB just waved me on, they weren't interested in stopping a foreigner (they didn't even ask for my license). The second time I was riding where I shouldn't be (centre lanes of Vibhavadi-rangsit rd) - it cost me 100 baht after a little negotiation. 

 

- More on topic: I have been stopped by the BiB 4 times, never while walking down the road, 4 times while a passenger in a Taxi. 

- 1st time: stopped (back streets of Sukhumvit 31 area about 2am) asked where you go & waved along.

- 2nd time: Stopped (between Ekammai & Thonglor at 2am), I opened the window 1" the BiB asked for passport, I answered no. asked for ID, I answered no, that was it, we were waved along.

- 3rd time: With Wife (afternoon entering the expressway), stopped the police looked in a waves us on without word.

- 4th time: stopped (awoke Junction about 7pm), I opened the window 1", asked for passport, I answered no and showed my Thai DL, asked for Passport again, I said no. I was told to get out of the taxi, I said no, called up a friend (a Thai Policeman) who spoke with them, I was waved on my way. 

 

The last one of these on Asoke was about 5 years ago - it felt like a real shakedown, the others were just curious police roaming the streets, perhaps trying to shakedown people but with just two of them they seemed less forceful. 

 

So - in 20 years I've had minimal interaction with the Police here - certainly not enough to make me want to move. 

 

Perhaps these stories are being exaggerated or the outrage at just a couple of questions is enough to upset peoples sensitivities and push their anger / hurt etc through the roof ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThomasThBKK]

Oh please... this isn't old, it's simply ongoing since decades, the first time i came here i read in an old lonely planet edition about all of this and till today there are tons of recurring reports, every year, from all kinds of travellers. 

Is this old too? 

 

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/breakingnews/30358843 Two Bangkok policemen suspended, probed for allegedly extorting money from Hong Kong tourist Nov 19. 2018

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/cop-sacked-accused-of-framing-extorting-canadian-65773.php Cop sacked, accused of framing, extorting Canadian 30 January 2018

 

 

 

Quote

Regarding your comment above [ThomasThBkk] - you showed them a photo of your Passport and the BiB when though the rest of your private photos? why did you allow them to do that? I know its difficult, but you can stop them, they shouldn't even take your phone off. 

 

Oh right, how? Punching him to get it back? Snapping it out of his hands? They are criminals dude, get over it, they do a lot of things they shouldn't by law...

 

 

They kill their own people dude if they try to do sth against corruption, it's just how it is: https://www.thephuketnews.com/former-cop-who-exposed-police-corruption-shot-dead-70770.php this is from MARCH 2019 - does that count as recent? 

 

[Just Weird]

3 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

On 11/18/2019 at 11:54 AM, Just Weird said:

No, the stories are not "countless", there have been, maybe two or three first-hand stories recently, that's all.

https://time.com/3674200/thailand-tourism-police-corruption-shakedown-extortion/

 

How come thai politicians give interviews about it then in the TIME magazine, because it never happens? ... It happens ALL the time especially in a taxi from silom to sukhumvit, taxi drivers drive you on purpose through their fake checkpoints...

That magazine article was from 4 years ago about events that obviously happened well prior to it being written and only one politician was quoted, not multiple politicians!    There have not been "countless 1st-hand, confirmed reports recently!

 

"...taxi drivers drive you on purpose through their fake checkpoints..."

No, they don't, give it rest unless you can back up your accusations.

[ThomasThBKK]

1 hour ago, Just Weird said:

That magazine article was from 4 years ago about events that obviously happened well prior to it being written and only one politician was quoted, not multiple politicians!    There have not been "countless 1st-hand, confirmed reports recently!

 

"...taxi drivers drive you on purpose through their fake checkpoints..."

No, they don't, give it rest unless you can back up your accusations.

 

Yes there are, and many on this forum. All these news articles are just made up, police guys get fired for no reason, gotcha.

 

All these members with 10 000 posts are lying and you are the savior and bringer of truth, alright.

 

All these studies and report, all made up: https://www.ganintegrity.com/portal/country-profiles/thailand/ 

Quote

 Almost four out of five Thai believe most or all of the police to be corrupt (GCB 2017). 

At least the thais aren't as naive.

 

 

Oh look a post from September in the nation, but that's also "too old" right? https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30354299

 

Quote

Six Bangkok policemen were yesterday transferred to inactive posts and are the subjects of a fact-finding probe over allegations that they raided the home of a 49-year-old food vendor and allegedly imposed a bogus Bt50,000 charge in exchange for his freedom on the night of August 10.

 

If you want to advertise Thailand do it on TripAdvisor. 

 

 

 

[atyclb]

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

Yes there are, and many on this forum. All these news articles are just made up, police guys get fired for no reason, gotcha.

 

All these members with 10 000 posts are lying and you are the savior and bringer of truth, alright.

 

All these studies and report, all made up: https://www.ganintegrity.com/portal/country-profiles/thailand/ 

At least the thais aren't as naive.

 

 

Oh look a post from September in the nation, but that's also "too old" right? https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30354299

 

 

If you want to advertise Thailand do it on TripAdvisor. 

 

 

 

 

the photo and quote from ben carson was my response to someones post and as such in a specific context. i dont know why you only used the photo.

 

could you please clarify what you mean by your last sentence. 

[richard_smith237]

6 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Oh please... this isn't old, it's simply ongoing since decades, the first time i came here i read in an old lonely planet edition about all of this and till today there are tons of recurring reports, every year, from all kinds of travellers. 

Is this old too? 

 

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/breakingnews/30358843 Two Bangkok policemen suspended, probed for allegedly extorting money from Hong Kong tourist Nov 19. 2018

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/cop-sacked-accused-of-framing-extorting-canadian-65773.php Cop sacked, accused of framing, extorting Canadian 30 January 2018

 

 

 

 

Oh right, how? Punching him to get it back? Snapping it out of his hands? They are criminals dude, get over it, they do a lot of things they shouldn't by law...

 

 

They kill their own people dude if they try to do sth against corruption, it's just how it is: https://www.thephuketnews.com/former-cop-who-exposed-police-corruption-shot-dead-70770.php this is from MARCH 2019 - does that count as recent? 

 

 

Thomas 'dude'... Your comments would have been accurate 5 years ago.

 

What was happening 5 years ago was significantly worse than what is sporadically reported today, either the media has changed (social media included) or these events are not happening with the frequency they once were.

 

For anyone who has lived in central Bangkok over at least the past 10 years they will recognise the change.

 

Regarding your other comments (the phone snatching etc) you must realise you are starting to get a little silly...  of course no one would punch a policeman to get their phone back, or snatch it back etc... but that doesn't mean they won't just hand it back if you tell them / ask them to. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThomasThBKK]

7 hours ago, atyclb said:

 

the photo and quote from ben carson was my response to someones post and as such in a specific context. i dont know why you only used the photo.

 

could you please clarify what you mean by your last sentence. 

I linked to the main post, i don't know why the forum shows the picture - i guess it just uses the first picture found in a thread. I was just pointing out that this stuff happens all the time, still happens and many members like you report it, and me too. Everyone who's in denial is full of it - if you ask me.

That just weird guy does nothing than denying the <deleted> going on here in literally every of his posts, that's why i said if he wants to advertise thailand he should do it on a platform with people who are new to thailand.

 

Also i don't think it got less, it's literally still the same. Even stickman reports about it, the last time in november.

 

[moontang]

39 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

I linked to the main post, i don't know why the forum shows the picture - i guess it just uses the first picture found in a thread. I was just pointing out that this stuff happens all the time, still happens and many members like you report it, and me too. Everyone who's in denial is full of it - if you ask me.

That just weird guy does nothing than denying the <deleted> going on here in literally every of his posts, that's why i said if he wants to advertise thailand he should do it on a platform with people who are new to thailand.

 

Also i don't think it got less, it's literally still the same. Even stickman reports about it, the last time in november.

 

he is a better advertisement for the IGNORE functions.

[Just Weird]

10 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

11 hours ago, Just Weird said:

That magazine article was from 4 years ago about events that obviously happened well prior to it being written and only one politician was quoted, not multiple politicians!    There have not been "countless 1st-hand, confirmed reports recently!

 

"...taxi drivers drive you on purpose through their fake checkpoints..."

No, they don't, give it rest unless you can back up your accusations.

 

Yes there are, and many on this forum. All these news articles are just made up, police guys get fired for no reason, gotcha.

 

All these members with 10 000 posts are lying and you are the savior and bringer of truth, alright.

 

All these studies and report, all made up: https://www.ganintegrity.com/portal/country-profiles/thailand/ 

Quote

 Almost four out of five Thai believe most or all of the police to be corrupt (GCB 2017). 

At least the thais aren't as naive.

 

 

Oh look a post from September in the nation, but that's also "too old" right? https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30354299

 

Quote

Six Bangkok policemen were yesterday transferred to inactive posts and are the subjects of a fact-finding probe over allegations that they raided the home of a 49-year-old food vendor and allegedly imposed a bogus Bt50,000 charge in exchange for his freedom on the night of August 10.

 

If you want to advertise Thailand do it on TripAdvisor. 

 

Ok, this is going  to be fun!

 

"Yes there are, and many on this forum. All these news articles are just made up, police guys get fired for no reason, gotcha".

That doesn't make any English-language sense, can you re-do it in comprehensible English? 

Non-specific examples of hearsay mean nothing.  Neither do 5-year old stories in the press.  And that link from "atyclb" that you included was over 2-years old also!  Haven't you got anything recent and relevant?

 

"All these members with 10 000 posts are lying..."

Not one member "with 10,000 posts" has given an empirical example of what you're claiming, not one!  If you know of one please be specific about it. Hearsay and secondhand rumours do not count!

 

"Almost four out of five Thai believe most or all of the police to be corrupt"

Believe?  So what?  Now you're citing alleged "beliefs"?  You know that means nothing, yes?  Beliefs are opinions, not empirical facts.

 

"Oh look a post from September in the nation, but that's also "too old" right? https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30354299

Six Bangkok policemen were yesterday transferred to inactive posts and are the subjects of a fact-finding probe over allegations that they raided the home of a 49-year-old food vendor and allegedly imposed a bogus Bt50,000 charge in exchange for his freedom on the night of August 10".

Yes, you're right, that has absolutely nothing to do with Sukhumvit shakedowns!  Nothing!

 

"If you want to advertise Thailand do it on TripAdvisor".

If you want to discuss this seriously, get some relevant facts. 

[ThomasThBKK]

12 hours ago, Just Weird said:

Not one member "with 10,000 posts" has given an empirical example of what you're claiming, not one!  If you know of one please be specific about it. Hearsay and secondhand rumours do not count!

Well, he has only 9,193 posts. Ok sorry, but just bs nitpicking. My last report about getting ripped off here is from April 2019 on songkran for not having a passport. Another one when cops tried to steal from my friends backpack at night near ottos bar. But this all doesn't count because you decide it doesn't - get the f off, i made my own, bad experiences here many times and you aren't in the position to tell me all is fine, nothing is fine here except the weather and tits.

 

Quote

Believe?  So what?  Now you're citing alleged "beliefs"?  You know that means nothing, yes?  Beliefs are opinions, not empirical facts.

https://www.ganintegrity.com/portal/country-profiles/thailand/

 

There are countless studies on corruption in thailand, like really.... Name me one member here who has never experienced corrupt police...

 

Quote

"Yes there are, and many on this forum. All these news articles are just made up, police guys get fired for no reason, gotcha".

That doesn't make any English-language sense, can you re-do it in comprehensible English? 

Non-specific examples of hearsay mean nothing.  Neither do 5-year old stories in the press.  And that link from "atyclb" that you included was over 2-years old also!  Haven't you got anything recent and relevant?

 

Totally does. I delivered tons of recent articles/stories, you are just ignoring everything on purpose because you are a fanatic. 

 

All these stories, all already linked are max 2 years old, which is totally recent as absolutely nothing changed here in the last years to the better. All of them about absolute corrupt crimes commited by police. From extortion to murder, to kidnapping, everything is there, and all effects us:

 

 

 

Januar 2018: A traffic policeman based at Bangkok’s Lumpini station has been dismissed from the force and faces “drastic action” for allegedly trying to extort a Canadian national by placing drugs in his possession. https://www.thephuketnews.com/cop-sacked-accused-of-framing-extorting-canadian-65773.php

 

May 2018: Kidnapping at Airport Swampy airport, it  was earlier reported that a Thai immigration officer, Nipon Buddharaksa, was among those arrested in connection with the kidnapping: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=196094&sid=4

 

September 2018: Six Bangkok cops transferred in probe of alleged extortion attempt https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30354299

 

November 2018: Two Bangkok policemen suspended, probed for allegedly extorting money from Hong Kong tourist: https://www.nationthailand.com/breakingnews/30358843

 

March 2019: Former cop who exposed police corruption shot dead https://www.thephuketnews.com/former-cop-who-exposed-police-corruption-shot-dead-70770.php

 

 

 

Quote

Yes, you're right, that has absolutely nothing to do with Sukhumvit shakedowns!  Nothing!

Of course they do. Crimes commited by cops, only an absolute fool would think the same cops wouldn't commit other crime. criminals are criminals.

 

All of these cases are just the tip of the iceberg from an absolute corrupt system, most stuff will never come to light. You are an absolute fanatic who protects criminals, doesn't make sense to discuss further with people like you - out. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

ThomasThBkk.... Do you think the 'Sukhumvit shakedowns' were worse 5 years ago? or are they still occurring to the same extent / frequency ?

[metempsychotic]

On 11/16/2019 at 3:25 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

The sort of person who thinks someone deserves a 5000 baht fine for not being asleep by 1am... 

 

....Don't forget your afternoon nap gramps... 

 

 

 

 

 

If I'm up past 1am, the 5k is already long gone. 

[varun]

The shake-down areas around lower-mid Sukhumvit have really not changed much over the last 10-15 years.

 

In no particular order:

Asoke Intersection

Asoke-Petchaburi Intersection

Sukhumvit Soi 22

Thonglor - Especially around Thong Lo Soi 20

Ekkamai Soi 23 - and the street leading out to Thong Lo Soi 20

The street leading out from Narz club onto Sukhumvit Soi 23

For the most part, it is the "two BIB's on a motorbike" routine.

If you are polite and keep your cool, you can generally be on your way fairly quickly.

 

5000 baht fine for not having one's passport at the time sounds like BS to me.

Probably more to the story.

[ThomasThBKK]

Cops planting drugs in a car, filmed on video, 25 minutes old on Khaosod News: 

 

 

Not recent enough right? gtfo.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Cops planting drugs in a car, filmed on video, 25 minutes old on Khaosod News: 

 

Not recent enough right? gtfo.

 

Quite damning...  looks like a bus or a lorry driver. Not targeting 'Westerners'... 

 

No one has denied bent Police Officers exist - my main point has been that the 'shake-down' is not occurring with sufficient frequency to be of great concern to us. 

The frequency of 'shake-downs' against foreigners along Sukhumvit road in Bangkok has diminished significantly from 5 years ago. 

 

Posting evidence that these issues continue provides good information that we still have to be careful, but it does not show the true picture of 'frequency' and daily risk to us as foreigners walking the streets or taking taxis in Bangkok. 

[holy cow cm]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Quite damning...  looks like a bus or a lorry driver. Not targeting 'Westerners'... 

 

No one has denied bent Police Officers exist - my main point has been that the 'shake-down' is not occurring with sufficient frequency to be of great concern to us. 

The frequency of 'shake-downs' against foreigners along Sukhumvit road in Bangkok has diminished significantly from 5 years ago. 

 

Posting evidence that these issues continue provides good information that we still have to be careful, but it does not show the true picture of 'frequency' and daily risk to us as foreigners walking the streets or taking taxis in Bangkok. 

I think it just depends on how hungry they are and if they don’t line you or your look. 

[BritManToo]

On 11/17/2019 at 9:30 AM, bbi1 said:

How did you acquire a friend from the Royal Thai Police? Do you need to pay him a monthly bribe so he's available on call to tell other cops to back off or is it a free service?

Free service for me is provided by my (former) BiL.

[zhounan]

The Thai Police Boys care about you, they want you to go to bed early. In fact, the 5,000 baht serves as a lesson for you to understand that you must go to bed early. 

[metempsychotic]

23 hours ago, varun said:

The shake-down areas around lower-mid Sukhumvit have really not changed much over the last 10-15 years.

 

In no particular order:

Asoke Intersection

Asoke-Petchaburi Intersection

Sukhumvit Soi 22

Thonglor - Especially around Thong Lo Soi 20

Ekkamai Soi 23 - and the street leading out to Thong Lo Soi 20

The street leading out from Narz club onto Sukhumvit Soi 23

For the most part, it is the "two BIB's on a motorbike" routine.

If you are polite and keep your cool, you can generally be on your way fairly quickly.

 

5000 baht fine for not having one's passport at the time sounds like BS to me.

Probably more to the story.

The one thing all. Shakedown areas have 8n common is thonglor police jurisdiction. It's been that way for at least 10-15 years that I can recall.

[metempsychotic]

On 11/19/2019 at 5:22 AM, KhaoYai said:

Really, its closed?  Yes time flies but I don't think the event I describe was over 6 years ago. I didn't even know Bed was closed so it could have been closed at the time. It was in that area though, could have been Q bar, I know that name but I really can't remember.

Q bar is now a villa supermarket. Has been for almost a year, q bar closed maybe 18 months ago.

 

Bed been gone for ages, long enough to be torn down, moved, reopened as chi, which remained in operation for about 20 mins. 

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, metempsychotic said:

Q bar is now a villa supermarket. Has been for almost a year, q bar closed maybe 18 months ago.

 

Bed been gone for ages, long enough to be torn down, moved, reopened as chi, which remained in operation for about 20 mins. 

Think Q Bar has been gone much longer than that, maybe four years or so?

 

Had some amazing nights there and in Bed Club over the years, fond memories.

[moontang]

3 hours ago, metempsychotic said:

The one thing all. Shakedown areas have 8n common is thonglor police jurisdiction. It's been that way for at least 10-15 years that I can recall.

I believe so lom is in lumpini jurisdiction..but thong lo is most notorious.  

[metempsychotic]

4 hours ago, moontang said:

I believe so lom is in lumpini jurisdiction..but thong lo is most notorious.  

I once saw a detailed map lumpini and thonglo police districts, and I beleive you are correct. 

 

However I was speaking to this list of locations in another post

Quote

Asoke Intersection

Asoke-Petchaburi Intersection

Sukhumvit Soi 22

Thonglor - Especially around Thong Lo Soi 20

Ekkamai Soi 23 - and the street leading out to Thong Lo Soi 20

The street leading out from Narz club onto Sukhumvit Soi 23

All of the above is Thonglor. 

 

Almost every tourist or foreigner shakedown I have heard has occurred in thonglor district.

 

I do remember a pair of lumpini cops being involved in a kidnapping and ransom attempt of (I think) an Italian man years back though. 

 

Ah yes, this gem:

 

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtsalamity/2013/08/23/1377250791/

 

 

Lumpini was very active in drug testing at q bar and nearby nightclubs in the Purachi and war on drugs Era, I found myself in the back of police trucks en route to the station with a hundred others on one occasion. 

 

On a few occasions, I was detained in a club until everyone had a chance to test. 

 

All that achieved was a rise in private house parties, making mdma hard to find, and an influx of cocaine though. 

[gk10002000]

well, I rarely carry my original passport.  Always have a photocopy of the photo page and visa stamp page when I visit Thailand.  Over the years no concrete statements covering all cities or provinces on need or non need for having actual passport on person.  Chiang Mai cop chief I believe once said not needed, same I think for some Phuket chief.  But they hardly speak for all of Thailand

[Nyezhov]

On 11/20/2019 at 8:44 PM, richard_smith237 said:

The frequency of 'shake-downs' against foreigners along Sukhumvit road in Bangkok has diminished significantly from 5 years ago. 

Shake me baby. Im under treatment by a Thai Medical Practioner. I have my certificate right here. Wheres the cup ????

[sunnyboy2018]

On 11/17/2019 at 9:51 PM, Skallywag said:

So how many laminated copies have you had stolen?  You carry cell phone?  Room keys? All those items have been stolen from you?

 

No laminated copies stolen. Three lost mobile phones. Room keys on chain, spare copy with neighbour. But  I do not understand your point at all. This thread is about bent or overzealous cops on lower Suk. How are your questions relevant.

[sunnyboy2018]

On 11/16/2019 at 9:01 AM, holy cow cm said:

So if you say walk from Cowboy on the Robinsons side going past Thermae then on to Nana you will be ok.? That has always been traditionally ok as long as I have known. BTW. I know all about the Go Go scene, but what is your Uni girls at Unis statement all about? Is there some sort of street walking now for them?

The Uni girl comment was extraneous nonsense.

[sunnyboy2018]

On 11/19/2019 at 3:22 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

The article you quoted is from 2014 - there were a lot of shakedowns at the time, such so that they gained media attention and then international media attention. The 'shakedowns' were carried out by the Thonglor Police at the time who clearly thought they were on to a good thing before they were shut down and told by the Chief of Police to behave. 

 

Since then there has been very little in the news or first hand reports. Sure this issue still exists but there is usually more to the story. We can walk down the streets without issue now, but if you stop and talk to an African at 1am and end up paying a 40,000 baht bribe to the BiB, there is usually a lot more to the story than is being let on. 

 

 

Regarding your comment above [ThomasThBkk] - you showed them a photo of your Passport and the BiB when though the rest of your private photos? why did you allow them to do that? I know its difficult, but you can stop them, they shouldn't even take your phone off. 

 

I keep the photos of my Passport, ID page, TM6 and Stamp on Dropbox - scrolling is not possible outside of the specific folder the file is saved in.

 

 

Now... to place this 'issue' into perspective: I have lived in Bangkok for over 20 years. 

- I have been stopped in Bangkok by the Traffic Police (while driving) about 5 times in that time, each time I had made some innocuous traffic infraction, a couple of those times it was explained to me what I did wrong and was just let go, another couple of times it cost me 100 or 200 baht. 

- I have stopped twice on my Motorcycle, the first time I opened my helmet and the BiB just waved me on, they weren't interested in stopping a foreigner (they didn't even ask for my license). The second time I was riding where I shouldn't be (centre lanes of Vibhavadi-rangsit rd) - it cost me 100 baht after a little negotiation. 

 

- More on topic: I have been stopped by the BiB 4 times, never while walking down the road, 4 times while a passenger in a Taxi. 

- 1st time: stopped (back streets of Sukhumvit 31 area about 2am) asked where you go & waved along.

- 2nd time: Stopped (between Ekammai & Thonglor at 2am), I opened the window 1" the BiB asked for passport, I answered no. asked for ID, I answered no, that was it, we were waved along.

- 3rd time: With Wife (afternoon entering the expressway), stopped the police looked in a waves us on without word.

- 4th time: stopped (awoke Junction about 7pm), I opened the window 1", asked for passport, I answered no and showed my Thai DL, asked for Passport again, I said no. I was told to get out of the taxi, I said no, called up a friend (a Thai Policeman) who spoke with them, I was waved on my way. 

 

The last one of these on Asoke was about 5 years ago - it felt like a real shakedown, the others were just curious police roaming the streets, perhaps trying to shakedown people but with just two of them they seemed less forceful. 

 

So - in 20 years I've had minimal interaction with the Police here - certainly not enough to make me want to move. 

 

Perhaps these stories are being exaggerated or the outrage at just a couple of questions is enough to upset peoples sensitivities and push their anger / hurt etc through the roof ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thats a lot of unwanted attention!