I was stopped by the police at their checkpoint on the way home today (2nd time ever) and was asked where I was going. I pointed to my condo building and told him, then he just waved me through. No breath-test or license check or anything.

 

When I was first stopped a few months ago they almost pulled me out of my car to search it for an unexplained reason. Instead, about 8 of them pointed their torches through all the windows in the car and decided that was good enough. Nothing further.

 

I'm just wondering what they're looking for when they stop people and why my two experiences were so different. Any ideas or just cops following arbitrary orders?

29 minutes ago, tom in bangkok said:

I'm just wondering what they're looking for when they stop people and why my two experiences were so different. Any ideas or just cops following arbitrary orders?

They are usually looking for driver's license or alcohol in my experience. During the day time it's always for proof of driver's license, at night they are looking for signs of alcohol. I suspect this will increase, if the headlines are true about cracking down on road traffic accidents etc. 

The only thing that they search is money, what else ?!

 

 

If people see they looking BIB justify they are working. Bit like the Thai construction guy nearby is building  a roof, I am told he will take 2 years to complete, phew. Everyday for an hour or so he either drops metal sheeting constantly on the ground or hits a metal pole with a hammer. Farang neighbor asks why he makes all that noise, I said its his way of saying I am working, LOL.

On 12/26/2019 at 12:25 AM, tom in bangkok said:

 

I'm just wondering what they're looking for when they stop people

Depending on the orders of the day, but when they actually search the vehicles it's usually for weapons and drugs

I think it's getting better, for whatever reason. Seems I used to get stopped and shaken down almost weekly. Used to keep hundreds (and twenties for out in the provinces) stuck in the visor for just such occasions,

 

I bet I haven't been stopped for anything more than a cursory look in over five years. 

The rare occasion that I've been stopped and they give any BS, I just point to my dashcam and they wave me on!

Ask them: "do you speak english?" and they will wave you immediately trough!

And where did this happen?

On 12/26/2019 at 12:56 AM, Tounge Thaied said:

They are usually looking for driver's license or alcohol in my experience. During the day time it's always for proof of driver's license, at night they are looking for signs of alcohol. I suspect this will increase, if the headlines are true about cracking down on road traffic accidents etc. 

No, the Usual crackdowns only last for 24 hours. ????