1st April 2007

[Tarqin]

Tarqin has been hearing for months that a massive crackdown on Pattaya was on the way commencing 1st April 2007.

Amongst other things falangs will be stopped in the streets and passports demanded. Copies of any kind will not be accepted and those not in possessing of both their original passport with valid visa will be carted off to the monkey house until it is all sorted out.

Further Thais bar and condo owners will be encouraged to report any falang they think may not have a valid visa.

Further non-Thai working girls are to be swept away and deported and any deals their bosses might have done are hereby moot.

Further bars will be viewed and any activity by a falang owner not holding a work permit, even picking up empty glasses and returning them to the bar will be seized upon and punished.

Sun up at 6am and Tarqin is going to proceed with caution over the next few days (although he won't get up until 4pm anyway).

[retirednavyman]

Tarqin has been hearing for months that a massive crackdown on Pattaya was on the way commencing 1st April 2007.

Amongst other things falangs will be stopped in the streets and passports demanded. Copies of any kind will not be accepted and those not in possessing of both their original passport with valid visa will be carted off to the monkey house until it is all sorted out.

Further Thais bar and condo owners will be encouraged to report any falang they think may not have a valid visa.

Further non-Thai working girls are to be swept away and deported and any deals their bosses might have done are hereby moot.

Further bars will be viewed and any activity by a falang owner not holding a work permit, even picking up empty glasses and returning them to the bar will be seized upon and punished.

Sun up at 6am and Tarqin is going to proceed with caution over the next few days (although he won't get up until 4pm anyway).

I noticed April 1 as the date all this is supposed to take place. Is this your way of suggesting an April Fools Joke?

If it is, it's really not funny!

Mike

[Cuban]

If it is, it's really not funny!

Agreed, no wit evident, I am assuming the OP was drunk, stupid or both?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If it is, it's really not funny!

Agreed, no wit evident, I am assuming the OP was drunk, stupid or both?

1.21 am. Drunk or on waccy baccy

[Ulysses G.]

It is almost 11 AM and I haven't been arrested yet.

[Tyree D.]

worst April Fools joke ever

[Thai-Spy]

The OP may be referencing something that was posted on ThaiVisa several weeks ago, at least as regards possession of original passports. That post in turn may just have been the set up of a joke, but the first of the month (any month) and the first day of a calendar quarter would be a logical time to implement any new non-emergency policy.

[midas]

Tarqin has been hearing for months that a massive crackdown on Pattaya was on the way commencing 1st April 2007.

Amongst other things falangs will be stopped in the streets and passports demanded. Copies of any kind will not be accepted and those not in possessing of both their original passport with valid visa will be carted off to the monkey house until it is all sorted out.Further Thais bar and condo owners will be encouraged to report any falang they think may not have a valid visa.

Further non-Thai working girls are to be swept away and deported and any deals their bosses might have done are hereby moot.

Further bars will be viewed and any activity by a falang owner not holding a work permit, even picking up empty glasses and returning them to the bar will be seized upon and punished.

Sun up at 6am and Tarqin is going to proceed with caution over the next few days (although he won't get up until 4pm anyway).

if they really do become this heavy-handed- it would make an interesting little topic on programs like " Fast-Track " on BBC world aimed at

Travelers - or CNN, Fox News etc. - then watch this place turn into a ghost town

[kratindaeng]

I dont really think that the Police would waste their time checking all farang for passports, They have other more important duties without wasting time on farang. And no I aint joking.

KD

[chiang mai]

Perhaps not the best April Fools joke but maybe (only in part) because the issues are too close to the bone!

[unforgiven]

Tarqin has been hearing for months that a massive crackdown on Pattaya was on the way commencing 1st April 2007.

Amongst other things falangs will be stopped in the streets and passports demanded. Copies of any kind will not be accepted and those not in possessing of both their original passport with valid visa will be carted off to the monkey house until it is all sorted out.

Further Thais bar and condo owners will be encouraged to report any falang they think may not have a valid visa.

Further non-Thai working girls are to be swept away and deported and any deals their bosses might have done are hereby moot.

Further bars will be viewed and any activity by a falang owner not holding a work permit, even picking up empty glasses and returning them to the bar will be seized upon and punished.

Sun up at 6am and Tarqin is going to proceed with caution over the next few days (although he won't get up until 4pm anyway).

Ya I'm here in Pattaya right now , lots of BIB everywhere and road blocks,I'm going to my hotel to get my passport right now

[Jai Dee]

April Fools Day joke or not, there is a big immigration crackdown going on in the Pattaya region at the moment.

[gharknes]

yup road blocks all over the place and at late times too, I've gone through 3 so far and not been stopped, looks to me like they are stopping more thais than falangs, perhaps a crackdown on guns and gangs, nice to see an effort in the right direction

[Jonny]

Been working here for six years and have just been asked by the company to start reporting every 90 days because of immigration crackdown

[britmaveric]

crackdowns are what they are - SHOW!!! Then its back to normal business.

[Tarqin]

Yup was an April fool and I thought a pretty good one!