Patong traffic checks

[bangkokbrain]

BiB doing their bit for tourism in central Patong by stopping all motorbikes with obvious foreigners on them wearing helmets or not and checking driving licenses before issuing random fines. Locals free to pass through even though they ride helmet less...stood watching for 10 mins or so to check for confirmation bias. Shame.

[Kwasaki]

????  

[Mavideol]

why didn't you took a video and post it

[bangkokbrain]

16 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

why didn't you took a video and post it

And why would I do that? Just reporting what I observed.

[OneMoreFarang]

There are also lots of police officers on the street near Klong Toey fresh market.

I saw them stopping a pick up and a motorcycle with a Thai.

They didn't stop me - they didn't even try.

[ThaiBunny]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are also lots of police officers on the street near Klong Toey fresh market. I saw them stopping a pick up and a motorcycle with a Thai.

Getting some pocket money for a late lunch

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, bangkokbrain said:

checking driving licenses before issuing random fines.

Was told by a friend, so cannot confirm it first hand, that now if farangs are stopped, they have to show either a Thai driving licence or an international driving licence, whereas a licence issued in their own country is now not accepted.

 

Apparently a 1000 baht fine is the penalty for this – – anyone have any update on this?

[bangkokbrain]

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are also lots of police officers on the street near Klong Toey fresh market.

I saw them stopping a pick up and a motorcycle with a Thai.

They didn't stop me - they didn't even try.

Perhaps Bangkok police have a different target audience?

[bangkokbrain]

7 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Was told by a friend, so cannot confirm it first hand, that now if farangs are stopped, they have to show either a Thai driving licence or an international driving licence, whereas a licence issued in their own country is now not accepted.

 

Apparently a 1000 baht fine is the penalty for this – – anyone have any update on this?

These motorists were fined 500 baht if they only had their national licence from what I could see and hear.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 minute ago, bangkokbrain said:

Perhaps Bangkok police have a different target audience?

Or they know me by now and they know I am kineau and I won't give them more than 100B.

[bangkokbrain]

44 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Or they know me by now and they know I am kineau and I won't give them more than 100B.

Very possibly. Jumped up traffic wardens.

[noise]

The law has always required a Thai license or International License for the type of vehicle being operated.  Enforcement is a separate issue.

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, bangkokbrain said:

And why would I do that? Just reporting what I observed.

to show the unbelievers that Thainess xenophobia still here,  and police/IMO bashing is supported by such evidence

[Gweiloman]

How can you determine that they were random fines? Were they wearing helmets, in possession of a valid motorbike license and vehicle properly taxed and insured?

[farang51]

A couple of days ago they stopped everybody on two wheels (Thai and foreigners) just south of Central Festival. I can't say that I oppose that, it would be great if they did more to enforce the use of helmets and even better if they were going on patrol and stopping people instead of an occasional checkpoint.

[stevenl]

3 hours ago, noise said:

The law has always required a Thai license or International License for the type of vehicle being operated.  Enforcement is a separate issue.

No. Home license provided with photo and in English suffices. They might still try though. Of course for a scooter a full motorbike license is required.

[LivinginKata]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

No. Home license provided with photo and in English suffices. They might still try though. Of course for a scooter a full motorbike license is required.

 

This point has always been debated here on Thaivisa. I consider this is correct if not staying in Thailand more than 90 (??) days. Then Thai license is required. 

[stevenl]

11 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

This point has always been debated here on Thaivisa. I consider this is correct if not staying in Thailand more than 90 (??) days. Then Thai license is required. 

Agree, but we were talking about requirements for tourists here.

[ChipButty]

19 hours ago, xylophone said:

Was told by a friend, so cannot confirm it first hand, that now if farangs are stopped, they have to show either a Thai driving licence or an international driving licence, whereas a licence issued in their own country is now not accepted.

 

Apparently a 1000 baht fine is the penalty for this – – anyone have any update on this?

From what I know where I live you cannot even rent a bike without a IDL That covers the bike also the hire shope are getting a 2000 Baht fine

[madmitch]

Spoke to someone yesterday who was stopped coming out of Patong on Saturday. Hadn't been drinking, had a valid licence and was wearing a helmet. He was told to join the long queue to get his documents fully checked or he could pay 1000 baht with no receipt and continue on his way back to Karon. Hee decided to take the easy way out and paid the money.

 

Not long ago this type of extortion cost a mere 200 baht. 500% inflation!

 

Sounds like the police are expecting hard times so are making the most of the remaining tourists.

 

 

[steelepulse]

14 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Spoke to someone yesterday who was stopped coming out of Patong on Saturday. Hadn't been drinking, had a valid licence and was wearing a helmet. He was told to join the long queue to get his documents fully checked or he could pay 1000 baht with no receipt and continue on his way back to Karon. Hee decided to take the easy way out and paid the money.

 

Not long ago this type of extortion cost a mere 200 baht. 500% inflation!

 

Sounds like the police are expecting hard times so are making the most of the remaining tourists.

 

 

Ouch!  Funny to see the bib following the plan.  Less tourists, raise the price to make up for the shortfall.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

Spoke to someone yesterday who was stopped coming out of Patong on Saturday. Hadn't been drinking, had a valid licence and was wearing a helmet. He was told to join the long queue to get his documents fully checked or he could pay 1000 baht with no receipt and continue on his way back to Karon. Hee decided to take the easy way out and paid the money.

 

Not long ago this type of extortion cost a mere 200 baht. 500% inflation!

 

Sounds like the police are expecting hard times so are making the most of the remaining tourists.

 

 

I know a Farang that got stopped and everything was in order or so he thought then the police said to him Farang not allowed to wear a Black helmet 500 Baht fine

[stevenl]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I know a Farang that got stopped and everything was in order or so he thought then the police said to him Farang not allowed to wear a Black helmet 500 Baht fine

I don't believe stories like this.

[billythehat]

7 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I know a Farang that got stopped and everything was in order or so he thought then the police said to him Farang not allowed to wear a Black helmet 500 Baht fine

…and if he’d also been wearing a yellow wife-beater tee shirt he’d have got 25 years to life…

????

[stevenl]

16 hours ago, billythehat said:

…and if he’d also been wearing a yellow wife-beater tee shirt he’d have got 25 years to life…

 

????

Maybe he wasn't wearing a shirt at all, which is of course not allowed.

[bbi1]

On 2/9/2020 at 4:26 PM, Mavideol said:

why didn't you took a video and post it

Exactly. Should've video'd it then posted it all over social media and Youtube.

[bbi1]

On 2/9/2020 at 5:11 PM, xylophone said:

Was told by a friend, so cannot confirm it first hand, that now if farangs are stopped, they have to show either a Thai driving licence or an international driving licence, whereas a licence issued in their own country is now not accepted.

 

Apparently a 1000 baht fine is the penalty for this – – anyone have any update on this?

Your friend doesn't know that there's no such thing as an "international driving license". There is however a thing called an "international drivers permit" which is a book thing that you use together with your drivers license from your home country.

[bbi1]

On 2/9/2020 at 6:45 PM, noise said:

The law has always required a Thai license or International License for the type of vehicle being operated.  Enforcement is a separate issue.

I doubt that the law "always" allowed an international license. I'm pretty sure that the law states you need your international licsnes PLUS an international drivers permit.

[xylophone]

4 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Your friend doesn't know that there's no such thing as an "international driving license". There is however a thing called an "international drivers permit" which is a book thing that you use together with your drivers license from your home country.

Well I suppose someone had to point it out!!!

 

And yes, he and I know there is such a thing as an international driver's permit, however just like most folks know that there is no such thing as a "retirement Visa", it often gets quoted as such.

I shall have to be careful with my terminology in future!!!

 

And for the record I drove here for many years on international drivers permits and even for a few years on my own country's driving licence, and whenever I was stopped, producing either got me waived on.

[stevenl]

17 hours ago, bbi1 said:

I doubt that the law "always" allowed an international license. I'm pretty sure that the law states you need your international licsnes PLUS an international drivers permit.

Home license (provided in English with photo) is sufficient.