Give Us A Break - Rant

[carlyai]

Left from Pattaya back to home in Isaan yesterday at 0430 hr. Great, tollways free for the long weekend. Was someone actually thinking of the people? ????

Then hit 2 radar traps, one at 30kph, which had lots of stopped cars, but I was waved thru, then another at 90kph that I was stopped at. I was doing 90kph but the police said B500. So we politely argued and I asked him what speed I was doing and he said 91kph. He eventually let me go but said I have to remember to drive less than 90kph as that's what the 90 kph sign means. (Richard). So that brings the first bad taste to my mouth. ????

Next near Kalasin the 3 lane highway traffic going back to Bangkok is fairly heavy but moving OK, until I get to an overhead bridge across the highway where they have diverted all the highway traffic into 1 lane to decorate the bridge. The traffic was banked up for kms. ????

Why try and fine someone for doing 91kph in a 90kph zone, and why decorate a bridge in the middle of a long weekend? Rhetorical question. End of rant.

 

[IsaanAussie]

My experience in Thailand. 1999 I came here as a senior level Aussie diplomat, a specialist Automotive Trade Commissioner. The Thai government welcomed me as they tried to be number one in SEA and attract FDI. I enjoyed Bangkok nightlife and was not early to sleep. Problem basically was every meeting at the GM and Ford factories on the eastern seaboard was "early" and I lived in Sathorn Soi 1. So the instruction to the driver to get there on time was "bury your boot in the headlight" (Holden V6 Calais) 160km/hr down the freeway. I would see the BIB with their little lollypop stop signs standing beside the road. They would step out to stop us, see the diplomatic plate and come to attention at the roadside and salute.

Move on, posting at the embassy finishes and I stay on as a farang. I had been schooled during my "immune" time that unroadworthy and overloaded truck drivers were never stopped by the cops. The answer was a M150 bottle cap with 100 baht folded inside tossed out the window.

It is what it is and always will be. Remember it is the Land of Smiles. Keep smiling.

[Pilotman]

so as a "Senior Diplomat" and a representative of your country, you felt entitled to ignore the law in the country you were in and ignore the  speed limits? Very public spirited of you. And if you had caused an accident, which is all too  easy here, no doubt you would have claimed diplomatic immunity and skulked off back to Australia. I should keep quiet about that if I was you, oh, too late. No wonder Thais sometimes think farangs are arrogant ass holes, some are.  

[IsaanAussie]

No that was never my intent or what happened on open roads. Speeding yes, guilty. My point is we all have to live in what is the reality of Thai culture. Don't get angry, get even, doesn't cut it here. We are the guests and should respect local norms as different as they are to those at home. Make no judgements of others.

 

 

[bwpage3]

35 minutes ago, IsaanAussie said:

My experience in Thailand. 1999 I came here as a senior level Aussie diplomat, a specialist Automotive Trade Commissioner. The Thai government welcomed me as they tried to be number one in SEA and attract FDI. I enjoyed Bangkok nightlife and was not early to sleep. Problem basically was every meeting at the GM and Ford factories on the eastern seaboard was "early" and I lived in Sathorn Soi 1. So the instruction to the driver to get there on time was "bury your boot in the headlight" (Holden V6 Calais) 160km/hr down the freeway. I would see the BIB with their little lollypop stop signs standing beside the road. They would step out to stop us, see the diplomatic plate and come to attention at the roadside and salute.

Move on, posting at the embassy finishes and I stay on as a farang. I had been schooled during my "immune" time that unroadworthy and overloaded truck drivers were never stopped by the cops. The answer was a M150 bottle cap with 100 baht folded inside tossed out the window.

It is what it is and always will be. Remember it is the Land of Smiles. Keep smiling.

There are times in rural Isaan, I just pull up to the roadblock and hand 100 baht out the window.

 

The police always seem respectful of this and it is not worth my time or energy to argue over 100 baht, whether right or wrong

 

The low level police manning the check points are under orders to collect money and not really their fault. 

 

This is the way it is and always will be. 

 

You have to accept Thailand is corrupt and a way of life.

 

Once again, not worth the time to get into it over such a small amount.

 

 

[samsensam]

35 minutes ago, IsaanAussie said:

My experience in Thailand. 1999 I came here as a senior level Aussie diplomat, a specialist Automotive Trade Commissioner. The Thai government welcomed me as they tried to be number one in SEA and attract FDI. I enjoyed Bangkok nightlife and was not early to sleep. Problem basically was every meeting at the GM and Ford factories on the eastern seaboard was "early" and I lived in Sathorn Soi 1. So the instruction to the driver to get there on time was "bury your boot in the headlight" (Holden V6 Calais) 160km/hr down the freeway. I would see the BIB with their little lollypop stop signs standing beside the road. They would step out to stop us, see the diplomatic plate and come to attention at the roadside and salute.

Move on, posting at the embassy finishes and I stay on as a farang. I had been schooled during my "immune" time that unroadworthy and overloaded truck drivers were never stopped by the cops. The answer was a M150 bottle cap with 100 baht folded inside tossed out the window.

It is what it is and always will be. Remember it is the Land of Smiles. Keep smiling.

 

last year a diplomats wife broke the law while driving in the uk and killed a young lad. she then cowardly fled the country.

 

there is nothing clever or humorous about breaking the law and putting other road users in danger just because you can.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-50030750

 

 

[Pilotman]

11 minutes ago, IsaanAussie said:

No that was never my intent or what happened on open roads. Speeding yes, guilty. My point is we all have to live in what is the reality of Thai culture. Don't get angry, get even, doesn't cut it here. We are the guests and should respect local norms as different as they are to those at home. Make no judgements of others.

 

 

indeed so. 

[richard_smith237]

A similar thing happened to me a few years ago... I stopped at traffic lights - BiB came up to the car in front, pulled him over to the side and indicated for me to pull over behind him.

 

The Police officer spoke with the other vehicle for 5mins, then moved on to me. Told me I was speeding. 

A polite debate ensued, he couldn’t tell me I what speed I was doing and couldn’t prove it, I couldn’t prove I wasn’t. 

It ended up with me telling him if he’s going to give me a ticket what is it going to be for because he can’t prove speeding...  I was waved on with a ‘please drive carefully’... 

I had been speeding along with the car in front !!! 

 

Just over last week (in the UK) I was in somewhat of a rush (no excuse) and caught doing 36 mph in a rural 30 zone (just couple of houses near a road) - I saw the Mobile speed unit, glanced at my speedo and saw I was doing about 36 mph so the fine was accurate - 3 points, £100 fine. I have to put my hands up and say I’m guilty of that one !!!

 

 

I don’t mind getting done for speeding - its breaking the law, but those check points in Thailand are a waste of time. 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2020 by richard_smith237

[tso310]

500B ! It was a standard 200B a couple of years ago. Inflation is rampant in Thailand

[carlyai]

Really my point was that I feel for the my countrymen here, the Thais. I am only a guest, but they have to put up with this <deleted> and they know it's <deleted>. 

Doing 100kmh in a 90km zone, OK fine me. But not 91kmh.

Creating a huge traffic jam on the first long weekend with Covis, to put up birthday decorations. Put the decorations up before the long weekend. A bit of thought and care about fellow countrymen from these people with power would be nice.

[scammed]

back home 9 km/h extra and they cant charge even if they have proof,

why would it be different here ?

[Pilotman]

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

A similar thing happened to me a few years ago... I stopped at traffic lights - BiB came up to the car in front, pulled him over to the side and indicated for me to pull over behind him.

 

The Police officer spoke with the other vehicle for 5mins, then moved on to me. Told me I was speeding. 

A polite debate ensued, he couldn’t tell me I what speed I was doing and couldn’t prove it, I couldn’t prove I wasn’t. 

It ended up with me telling him if he’s going to give me a ticket what is it going to be for because he can’t prove speeding...  I was waved on with a ‘please drive carefully’... 

I had been speeding along with the car in front !!! 

 

Just over last week (in the UK) I was in somewhat of a rush (no excuse) and caught doing 36 mph in a rural 30 zone (just couple of houses near a road) - I saw the Mobile speed unit, glanced at my speedo and saw I was doing about 36 mph so the fine was accurate - 3 points, £100 fine. I have to put my hands up and say I’m guilty of that one !!!

 

 

I don’t mind getting done for speeding - its breaking the law, but those check points in Thailand are a waste of time. 

 

 

I have a dash cam that records my speed, plus date and time. It's a simple solution to the bent cop problem and costs less than 2,000 Baht to have fitted. 

Edited July 29, 2020 by Pilotman

[2 is 1]

13 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

The low level police manning the check points are under orders to collect money and not really their fault. 

Yeah! In our area head police officer oder hes guy's to get him 1 million bth one month! So coz i heard this from my misses i know where is road block until "big A hole" get his money! Point is normal police not see any "coffee money" . Most anyway go to somebody else's pocket! Have you seen how nice house and car's police officers have if even little high rank! That kind's not buy whit salary!

Edited July 29, 2020 by 2 is 1

[bwpage3]

10 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I have a dash cam that records my speed, plus date and time. It's a simple solution to the bent cop problem and costs less than 2,000 Baht to have fitted. 

And the Thai cop is just going to have a look at let you go?

 

LOL!

[NanLaew]

10 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I have a dash cam that records my speed, plus date and time. It's a simple solution to the bent cop problem and costs less than 2,000 Baht to have fitted. 

Chocolate fireguard syndrome.

 

(mine was only 900 baht, fitted it myself)

[Pilotman]

34 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Chocolate fireguard syndrome.

 

(mine was only 900 baht, fitted it myself)

anyone with half a brain can fit a bog standard dash cam. One that records your speed data needs to be connected to a GPS system, have a GPS input, or have that incorporated into it.  You don't get those for 900 Baht.    

[richard_smith237]

11 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I have a dash cam that records my speed, plus date and time. It's a simple solution to the bent cop problem and costs less than 2,000 Baht to have fitted. 

 

Doesn’t work if I have actually been speeding !!! - Cop wasn’t bent, he was just chancing his luck but couldn’t prove it. 

Everyone on the road was speeding !!!!!!!  Just like ±80% of vehicles on the elevated expressway travel at about 130-140kmh as soon as the Bang-Na toll booth has been passed (when exiting Bangkok). 

 

 

I’ve had dash-cams in my last 4 cars. 

Someone on another thread mentioned that Xiaomi 70mio Pro now comes with a rear cam. 

 

 

[EVENKEEL]

15 hours ago, Pilotman said:

anyone with half a brain can fit a bog standard dash cam. One that records your speed data needs to be connected to a GPS system, have a GPS input, or have that incorporated into it.  You don't get those for 900 Baht.    

My half a brain would pay some one to install for me.

[MJKT2014]

On 7/28/2020 at 8:23 PM, IsaanAussie said:

My experience in Thailand. 1999 I came here as a senior level Aussie diplomat, a specialist .....The Thai government welcomed me ..... I enjoyed Bangkok nightlife and was not early to sleep. Problem basically was every meeting at the GM and Ford factories on the eastern seaboard was "early" and I lived in Sathorn Soi 1. So the instruction to the driver to get there on time was "bury your boot in the headlight"  160km/hr down the freeway. I would see the BIB ... They would step out to stop us, see the diplomatic plate and come to attention at the roadside and salute.

 Keep smiling.

What an obscene thing to reminisce over in public. Best kept as private banter whilst on the sauce at the local methinks.

[KarenBravo]

Firstly, some of that money collected does get passed up the chain, but, much of it is spent on office supplies like copier paper, pens, paper clips, cleaning materials etc.

Not many police stations are given enough money for the station's true costs.

 

Secondly, I don't consider myself a "guest", that implies a host and the duties that go with it.

Nope, I consider myself a consumer. Thailand competes with other countries for my cash.

Edited July 30, 2020 by KarenBravo

[RichardColeman]

On 7/28/2020 at 11:33 PM, carlyai said:

 

Doing 100kmh in a 90km zone, OK fine me. But not 91kmh.

 

Stop moaning, if you were 91 you broke the law and deserved the fine  - assuming they can prove it

[CorpusChristie]

On 7/28/2020 at 11:00 AM, carlyai said:

Why try and fine someone for doing 91kph in a 90kph zone,

Because you were breaking the law , as 91 is above 90 

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

On 7/29/2020 at 5:33 AM, carlyai said:

 

Doing 100kmh in a 90km zone, OK fine me. But not 91kmh.

 

Stop moaning, if you were 91 you broke the law and deserved the fine  - assuming they can prove it

 

1 minute ago, CorpusChristie said:

On 7/28/2020 at 11:00 AM, carlyai said:

Why try and fine someone for doing 91kph in a 90kph zone,

Because you were breaking the law , as 91 is above 90 

 

You do realise how pedantic and pathetic you both appear arguing over 1 kmh.

 

A 1 kmh excess is never enacted upon in the west due to known inaccuracies. 

 

Slip effect: If a speed camera is held perfectly still and pointed at a stationary it will recored 0 kmh. 

However, if a speed camera is moving slightly and pointed at a stationary car there will be radar reflection from the rear of the car, then the front of the car (or another part). Tests have shown that this can give a result as high as 4kmh. 

 

Other errors commend on here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southwest/series7/speed-cameras.shtml

 

 

 

[CorpusChristie]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

You do realise how pedantic and pathetic you both appear arguing over 1 kmh.

 

A 1 kmh excess is never enacted upon in the west due to known inaccuracies. 

 

 

The OP was arguing over 1 KMH and he was asking why he got fined and the reason as to why he got fined is because 91 is going faster than the permitted limit of 90

[carlyai]

27 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Stop moaning, if you were 91 you broke the law and deserved the fine  - assuming they can prove it

Wasn't a moan but a rant. You missed the point.

[carlyai]

6 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

The OP was arguing over 1 KMH and he was asking why he got fined and the reason as to why he got fined is because 91 is going faster than the permitted limit of 90

You missed the point. Couldn't you tie 91kmh and the decoration of the bridge on a long weekend together?

Thai people have to put up with these frustrations all the time.
 

[richard_smith237]

18 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

The OP was arguing over 1 KMH and he was asking why he got fined and the reason as to why he got fined is because 91 is going faster than the permitted limit of 90

The Op didn’t get fined. His point was that he was stopped for ‘allegedly going 91 kmh’ - the officer was clearly chancing his luck. The annoyance is valid. 

 

The point is also valid that even if the Police had speed camera proof that the Op was travelling at 91 kmh, 1kmh at 90kmh is beyond the tolerance of a speed camera and is one of the reasons why such a minor excess is never fined in western nations with kit which is regularly calibrated. 

 

Additionally, the ops point was that he gets pulled for 91kmh and on the same trip something as dangerous as ‘decorating a bridge’ in a 90kmh zone causing traffic to suddenly slow risking accidents.

 

This makes for a valid rant - on one hand the BiB are acting like sanctimonious puritans on another they are behaving with reckless hypocritical disregard. 

 

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by richard_smith237

[carlyai]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Op didn’t get fined. His point was that he was stopped for ‘allegedly going 91 kmh’ - the officer was clearly chancing his luck. The annoyance is valid. 

 

The point is also valid that even if the Police had speed camera proof that the Op was travelling at 91 kmh, 1kmh at 90kmh is beyond the tolerance of a speed camera and is one of the reasons why such a minor excess is never fined in western nations with kit which is regularly calibrated. 

 

Additionally, the ops point was that he gets pulled for 91kmh and on the same trip something as dangerous as ‘decorating a bridge’ in a 90kmh zone causing traffic to suddenly slow risking accidents.

 

This makes for a valid rant - on one hand the BiB are acting like sanctimonious puritans on another they are behaving with reckless hypocritical disregard. 

 

 

Good, Great, Super .... that's what I meant. Wish I had thought of that. ????

[OneMoreFarang]

On 7/28/2020 at 11:00 AM, carlyai said:

Why

How long are you in Thailand?

And you still think there is a "Why". 555

[CGW]

18 hours ago, NanLaew said:

(mine was only 900 baht, fitted it myself)

Well done, now you have the experience if you have a few hours spare could you bob around and fit mine, its been in the box 2 years now! 

Appreciated