Unannounced, the local police, not in uniform, just now, showed up at my house. Three of them, in a non descript dark blue truck. The brave police were so afraid of my Golden Retriever, I have to go outside to talk to them. They take a photo of my passport. They don't care if I have a valid visa. They didn't even look. Then they want a picture of me standing next to my truck showing the license plate. What's up with this????

 

Immigration Police were here 3 weeks after my last extension & wasted about 1.5 hours of my time. Can these people not communicate with each other?

Edited March 4, 20206 yr by Tagaa

5 minutes ago, Tagaa said:

Immigration Police were here 3 weeks after my last extension & wasted about 1.5 hours of my time. Can these people not communicate with each other?

Isn't it only immigration police checking for overstays generally?  why would the regular cops be coming around unless a crime or disturbance had been committed? 

 

 

Edited March 4, 20206 yr by Nakmuay887

You don't say where in Thailand this is, a bit difficult for other posters to do anything but make sympathetic noises.

You lent your Truck to anybody ?

No crime, no disturbance. I was taking a nap when all hell breaks loose with the dogs.

 

Not sure why the location makes a difference, but it's Issan, not in a city.

 

Nobody drives my truck but me.

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 20206 yr by Tagaa

I would have refused to show them anything. Nada. You guys get off my property now. You are a nuisance. What do you want anyway? Go away. I treat the police and immigration here with an extraordinary amount of disdain. That is what they deserve. 

8 minutes ago, Tagaa said:

Can these people not communicate with each other?

No.

8 minutes ago, Tagaa said:

picture of me standing next to my truck showing the license plate. What's up with this????

Maybe it's time to give it back 

 

. Just sayin 

Did you not ask them what they wanted,and why photo

of your truck showing number plate, I would want to know.

regards Worgeordie

Did you ask them why they visit you?

And did you ask them who is in charge and to whom you can talk at their police station?

Just now, madmen said:

Maybe it's time to give it back 

 

. Just sayin 

Just sayin what exactly? The truck was paid for when I drove it off the lot.

Receiving calls from a farang down the road. Sounds like they are going door to door at farang houses around here.

Edited March 4, 20206 yr by Tagaa

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I would have refused to show them anything. Nada. You guys get off my property now. You are a nuisance. What do you want anyway? Go away. I treat the police and immigration here with an extraordinary amount of disdain. That is what they deserve. 

Are you sure that is a good idea?

The police never visited me at home but they stopped me many times on my bike (for not riding on the left lane). Normally the conversation is very friendly and sometime we even joke with each others.

I don't say let them do anything they want. But I also don't think it is a good idea to make enemies out of them.

2 minutes ago, Tagaa said:

Receiving calls from a farang down the road. Sounds like they are going door to door at farang houses around here.

Maybe there was an accident with a truck and a farang and now they make lots of pictures to show them to the (possible) victim.

 

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Are you sure that is a good idea?

The police never visited me at home but they stopped me many times on my bike (for not riding on the left lane). Normally the conversation is very friendly and sometime we even joke with each others.

I don't say let them do anything they want. But I also don't think it is a good idea to make enemies out of them.

I usually give them a hard time. They usually let me go. They do not want to deal with people who give them a hard time. They are local franchisees, working the franchise. They are looking for easy marks. I find as foreigners, for whatever reason, they tend to give us alot of leeway. I have literally just driven away from a police stop, after trying to negotiate a reasonable fine. They stuck with 1000 baht. I just drove away. When I looked in my rearview, they were screaming at me. But, nobody followed me. And even if they had, so what? Not like the US where they would likely shoot you. 

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I usually give them a hard time. They usually let me go. They do not want to deal with people who give them a hard time. They are local franchisees, working the franchise. They are looking for easy marks. I find as foreigners, for whatever reason, they tend to give us alot of leeway. I have literally just driven away from a police stop, after trying to negotiate a reasonable fine. They stuck with 1000 baht. I just drove away. When I looked in my rearview, they were screaming at me. But, nobody followed me. And even if they had, so what? Not like the US where they would likely shoot you. 

Be the shark.

I find Isan very laid back regarding IO and police, never had any bother with them. IO did turn up at my house 3 days after I got my extension, photo shoot of me and my passport, all done and dusted after 15 minutes with apologies, "sorry we have to do this, orders from big boss, the photo is to prove that we have visited the farangs, we would rather be at home now". I wouldn't worry, it's probably nothing.

Smile a lot, Nod yes, do what they ask.

As the post above me stated, that is probably the reason. Was when it happened to me anyway.

Like my Daddy said - "Life has 2 Rules"

#1 - don't sweat the small stuff

#2 - it's all small stuff

"They take a photo of my passport. They don't care if I have a valid visa. They didn't even look. Then they want a picture of me standing next to my truck showing the license plate. What's up with this????" - Sounds like they're setting you up for the future. Be careful that someone doesn't steal your car in the middle of the night and then the car is used in an armed robbery.

This has been going for a while now. Local cops have been told that they must know what foreigners are in their jurisdiction in case something happens to them. Naturally they have to have pics to prove to the boss that they have contacted you. Nothing sinister at all, smile and be friendly, it may help in the future.

30 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Did you not ask them what they wanted,and why photo

of your truck showing number plate, I would want to know.

regards Worgeordie

It may not have even been the coppers. Just like I said, be careful about the car.

26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe there was an accident with a truck and a farang and now they make lots of pictures to show them to the (possible) victim.

 

That could also be a possibility.

Almost 9 years and no official visit. I am so sad.

Did you repaint your truck or is it still in the police color scheme?

45 minutes ago, Tagaa said:

Can these people not communicate with each other?

They also can't speak a word english, (the immigration police who do house visits).

And they don't know how to behave in a farangs home, like shaking hands and telling your name...

 

They just love to waste your time, i had to show them loads of pics of me and my wife in the house, when they came we had to make exact same pictures again....

 

They wanted me to bring a neighbour to be interviewed by them which i did (they had to take a holiday for that, each of them) and when they arrived at our home the neighbours had to be here again!

 

So frustrating, like i'm the biggest criminal ever.

 

 

12 minutes ago, Mister T said:

This has been going for a while now. Local cops have been told that they must know what foreigners are in their jurisdiction in case something happens to them. Naturally they have to have pics to prove to the boss that they have contacted you. Nothing sinister at all, smile and be friendly, it may help in the future.

Do you think they know me... Mr T?  ooh that rhymes  

Bogus police some years ago in Phuket my wife <deleted> them off and she took photo's of them and their truck, 

5 minutes ago, poohy said:

Do you think they know me... Mr T?  ooh that rhymes  

They even know where you live and sail, that is why we never get stopped at the checkpoints.

29 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I usually give them a hard time. They usually let me go. They do not want to deal with people who give them a hard time. They are local franchisees, working the franchise. They are looking for easy marks. I find as foreigners, for whatever reason, they tend to give us alot of leeway. I have literally just driven away from a police stop, after trying to negotiate a reasonable fine. They stuck with 1000 baht. I just drove away. When I looked in my rearview, they were screaming at me. But, nobody followed me. And even if they had, so what? Not like the US where they would likely shoot you. 

i go for onemorefarangs  style myself.   in 25 years i've only encountered  one or two cops that had a bit of an attitude.   the other 99% have been either friendly  or  businesslike....  with a quick wave of the hand to move on.     oops,  forgot,  had one bad experience with a  TOURIST police that I asked to come to our property for a problem with a neighbor.   He took the thai

neighbors side immediately and didn't even want to speak with me.  And yes,  i speak thai.

But in all other cases (on the road)  nothing but good treatment.  

The older I get I do tend to just be matter of fact with cops and many others.  The idea that

thais love to joke with farangs i have done away with.   The ones you know, no problem.

Others,  well.....  i just keep it simple   ????  .   Come to think of it,  I now treat farangs i don't know much the same way.  555

33 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Smile a lot, Nod yes, do what they ask.

As the post above me stated, that is probably the reason. Was when it happened to me anyway.

Like my Daddy said - "Life has 2 Rules"

#1 - don't sweat the small stuff

#2 - it's all small stuff

Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

George Carlin