How are the checkpoints these days around Pattaya?

[TexasDude]

Are there still as many checkpoints pulling over tourists as I remember? I'm planning on renting a bike for about 1 month. 

[Eindhoven]

Only illegal ones that you can safely ignore with a knowing smile.

[TexasDude]

So no official checkpoints anymore?

[ChipButty]

If you've got everything in order, nothing to worry about

[Eindhoven]

18 minutes ago, TexasDude said:

So no official checkpoints anymore?

 

I haven't seen any of late. 

[Kerryd]

As far as I know, there have never been any "checkpoints pulling over tourists" here. Ever.

Then again, I've only been riding here for 15 years (and living/visiting for 12 years before that). 

All the checkpoints I've seen pull everyone over, Thai and tourist, and the vast majority being checked are Thai naturally (and that was long before the covid crisis).

Checkpoints for drunk driving checks were cancelled (for awhile) by the new top police general, specifically because of the lack of "transparency" when it came to how they were being run.

However, they've since come up with a new "plan" for checkpoints that has something like 12 things they have to do in order to set one up.
They mainly deal with checking for alcohol but they may also check for other things (license, tax decal, helmet) at the same time.

Each (official) checkpoint now requires power for lights and cameras, some officers have to have live cameras, there has to be live camera feeds available to supervisors (back at the police station), tables and signs set up (within specified distances of other activities), numerous officers (some to pick who should be checked, some who then check those drivers and try to detect if they've been drinking - maybe while looking at their licence and tax decals and under their scooter seats, then there's the "testing" officers who will test the people suspected of being drunk, then there's the arresting officers to arrest any who turn out to be drunk, then there's the officers manning the prisoner truck and finally a couple more officers who are designated to chase anyone that tries to avoid the checkpoint). So something like 10-12 officers per checkpoint minimum.

Due to the amount of time and effort that will be required, I suspect that there won't be many checkpoints around unless there's a spike in accidents (due to drunk drivers) or on special occasions (New Year's Eve, Chinese New Years, Songkran and pretty much any other holiday where people tend to get plastered all day long).

As for regular "helmet, license, tax decal" checks ? 

They've been pretty rare here for a long time. Last time I recall being stopped was probably a year or so ago. There may have been a lot that were set up when I wasn't out and about to see them of course.
(Remember those mass checks they used to do just before the South Pattaya Intersection, where the Highway Police office is ? Used to cause a major traffic jam as they had cops strung out across the highway flagging motorcycles to go through the checkpoint, even moto-taxis with passengers. They always had a score of TPVs there as well to deal with any foreigners that came along. Got ticketed once (forgot my license on my other motorcycle). Couple other times they checked my stuff and waved me on as it was all legal and up to date. Once I was a passenger on a moto-taxi. Luckily he was all legal to and we were waved on through.)
Haven't seen them doing that checkpoint in a long, long time now.

There's a couple spots on the railway bypass they used to like to set up on. Once I was stopped at about 8:30 in the morning just a couple hundred meters from a temple I'd just been at (where my father's remains are ensconced). They glanced at my license and tax decal and asked if I'd been drinking then waved me on.
The next time was further down the same road. I'd taken a shortcut to get to the bypass from the highway and the cops had set up a checkpoint about 50 meters to my right when I got to the bypass road, but they had 2 more guys on the left to catch anyone coming from that shortcut).
They too checked my particulars and looked under the seat of my scooter and asked if I'd been drinking (I laughed, it was almost 11am and I was just coming from grocery shopping at Big C but I guess there are a lot of people who start drinking early in the day around here).

Note that I have never been asked for any "donations" at any checkpoint I've ever been stopped at and I seem to get stopped at most of them. Some here will claim that they are hit up for "donations" every time they see a cop (anywhere) which I suspect is mostly pure B.S. (or they are always being caught with no helmet, no license and no current tax decal on whatever they were driving at the time).

Been ticketed twice in 15 years. Once when I forgot my IDP (as mentioned above) and once because my passenger didn't put on the helmet I'd given her, even after I pointed out 2 spots where the police used to set up to catch people not wearing them. (We got stopped at a 3rd spot. The cop said he was giving me a ticket for no helmet and I pointed at mine, then he smiled and pointed behind me. I turned and sure enough, Miss Soon To Be Dumped was sitting there with a dumb smile on her face, holding the helmet in her hands.)

Neither time was it even suggested that I could "avoid" the ticket in exchange for a lesser amount. And I don't keep a certain sized bill paperclipped to my driver's license like some people claim they do. 

Assuming one is legal to drive, and is driving legally, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about while in Pattaya, regardless if you are a "tourist" or an "expat" or a "local".
 

[anfh]

It was said, on various sites, that the police had been told to stop the regular license, helmet checks during start of covid as people had no money to pay fines etc. I have noticed a complete lack of them in and around Pattaya for some months now. Not sure about the drink drive stops as dont drive into Pattaya at night etc. 

[NoshowJones]

On 11/16/2020 at 9:10 AM, TexasDude said:

Are there still as many checkpoints pulling over tourists as I remember? I'm planning on renting a bike for about 1 month. 

There are the checkpoints which check your Licence etc, then there are the ones who are looking for a contribution to their tea money fund. So be prepared to have the proper motorcycle license, or some extra money put aside.

But to answer your question, there are plenty of both.

[KhunBENQ]

Helmet on?

Sober (<50 mg)?

Appropriate/valid driving license?

Bike taxed/insured (sticker)?

Copy of green book?

Rental contract if applicable?

Pillion footrest up if riding alone

Head/back/brake lights working?

...

Who can add to the checklist?

 

The only foolproof option for driving license is a valid Thai motorbike license.

All else opens "room for discussion".

 

I was in Pattaya three times in 2020 driving rented bike.

Stopped two times overall.

Last time in August zero checkpoints experienced.

The "tourist traps" at Soi 9 (police station) and forbidden left turns on red at 3rd rd or 2nd rd deserted.

Most activity observed: tickets and tow away on south Pattaya rd.

 

Edited November 17, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[BigStar]

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

There are the checkpoints which check your Licence etc, then there are the ones who are looking for a contribution to their tea money fund. So be prepared to have the proper motorcycle license, or some extra money put aside.

But to answer your question, there are plenty of both.

Nonsense. @Kerryd has it exactly right in his above post, as I can attest from driving in Pattaya almost daily.

[Laughing Gravy]

On 11/16/2020 at 11:42 AM, Kerryd said:

As far as I know, there have never been any "checkpoints pulling over tourists" here. Ever.

????You must be visually challenged or have been in prison. I have been around (although not at the moment) a little longer than you and they were Checkpoints on a daily basis.

[BigStar]

48 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

The "tourist traps" at Soi 9 (police station) and forbidden left turns on red at 3rd rd or 2nd rd deserted.

Not tourist traps at all. You can sit at the Red Cat bar just up from Soi 9 and watch the cops pulling over plenty of Thais. My Thai gf was herself ticketed after making that left turn on 3rd. Haven't seen any cops there for quite a long time.

 

Sign has long been changed at 2nd Rd., no longer a trap for stupid farangs.

[scoupeo]

Tourist traps ! they are everywhere at night and check THC also ! Even if you use legal cannabis oil they want money...

 

 

[BigStar]

3 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

????You must be visually challenged or have been in prison. I have been around (although not at the moment) a little longer than you and they were Checkpoints on a daily basis.

Rather, your reading glasses must need updating or you suffer reading comprehension impairment. He didn't say "no checkpoints." I leave the rest as a homework exercise.

[richard_smith237]

59 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Helmet on?

Sober (<50 mg)?

Appropriate/valid driving license?

Bike taxed/insured (sticker)?

Copy of green book?

Rental contract if applicable?

Pillion footrest up if riding alone

Head/back/brake lights working?

...

Who can add to the checklist?

 

Pillion foot-pegs up (when riding alone).

 

Is that an actual law or just a face saving measure to obtain a ‘fine’ when / if the BiB stop a motorcyclist? 
 

It seems like one of those made up regulations  which became a money spinner and thus the incidence of getting caught for this ‘scam regulation’ spread such that it became the norm and accepted as a real rule !!! 

Just like the A4 sheet of paper measuring the licence plate so the cops can claim the plate is illegal at 2mm too small !!! (Yes, I know someone this happened to).
 

 

[Eindhoven]

8 minutes ago, scoupeo said:

Tourist traps ! they are everywhere at night and check THC also ! Even if you use legal cannabis oil they want money...

 

 

 

 

Really? I don't think so. Did you get fined? 

Where did it happen or is it just hearsay?

[BigStar]

Just now, Eindhoven said:

 

 

Really? I don't think so. Did you get fined? 

Where did it happen or is it just hearsay?

Just fantasy. The OP's question has been rightly answered, but we just haven't had a good thread for our paranoids and police bashers lately, so this will do. Have at it, boys.

[Kerryd]

21 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

????You must be visually challenged or have been in prison. I have been around (although not at the moment) a little longer than you and they were Checkpoints on a daily basis.

Right. Sure.
Read it (the OP). That part that says "still as many checkpoints pulling over tourists".

Checkpoint for pulling over TOURISTS.

Get it ? 

The insinuation being that supposedly the police set up checkpoints where they ONLY pull over tourists.
Of course, if you'd read the WHOLE post you would have noted that I mentioned numerous checkpoints that have been set up in the past - where they pull everyone over - not just "tourists".

Like the 3rd line of that post where I said "All the checkpoints I've seen pull everyone over, Thai and tourist,".

I know, that thrashes some people's conceptions that all cops are just out to specifically target tourists, which, if you been here longer than I have, you'd know is total B.S.

[scoupeo]

13 minutes ago, Eindhoven said:

 

 

Really? I don't think so. Did you get fined? 

Where did it happen or is it just hearsay?

 

 

5000 yes !

 

 

[richard_smith237]

The only ever ‘near unfair’ treatment I received at the hands of the BiB was after an accident. 
The other vehicle had no insurance so the BiB decided it was my fault (I had 1st class insurance). I rejected to accept fault, after a few hours of discussion at the station the BiB relented and said 50:50 (which it probably was). 
This was ok for me. They were just looking for the easiest way out.

 

Usually waved through any checkpoints in the car or bike. My thoughts are that the BiB ate not really interested in me & are most certainly not specifically targeting foreigners but anyone who fits a ‘chancing the regulations’ profile, 

 

[Eindhoven]

11 minutes ago, scoupeo said:

 

 

5000 yes !

 

 

 

Did you miss the other question? Where did it happen and when?

 

I haven't seen any checkpoints for alcohol of late and when I have seen them they get you to blow into some sort of yellow toy trumpet. So what test did they do on you? 

 

Let's have some detail, as opposed to piecemeal and having to ask ten questions to get a fuller picture..

[Laughing Gravy]

37 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Rather, your reading glasses must need updating or you suffer reading comprehension impairment. He didn't say "no checkpoints." I leave the rest as a homework exercise.

Not at all multitasking doing other things as well. I think you should get out your dictionary and find out have never been any "checkpoints pulling over tourists" here. Ever".

Here is what he said. Maybe use them glasses you are talking about

"As far as I know, there have never been any "checkpoints pulling over tourists" here. Ever".

[Eindhoven]

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The only ever ‘near unfair’ treatment I received at the hands of the BiB was after an accident. 
The other vehicle had no insurance so the BiB decided it was my fault (I had 1st class insurance). I rejected to accept fault, after a few hours of discussion at the station the BiB relented and said 50:50 (which it probably was). 
This was ok for me. They were just looking for the easiest way out.

 

Usually waved through any checkpoints in the car or bike. My thoughts are that the BiB ate not really interested in me & are most certainly not specifically targeting foreigners but anyone who fits a ‘chancing the regulations’ profile, 

 

 

 

There are some that target foreigners, but they aren't always official.

A couple had a try at extortion recently, but after a few words with them, they were happy to abandon their endeavour with a smile.

[KhunBENQ]

48 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is that an actual law or just a face saving measure to obtain a ‘fine’ when / if the BiB stop a motorcyclist? 

I can't show you a law for that.

I am certain that such was posted here.

 

[Ireland32]

I haven’t seen a checkpoint in two months during daytime , everybody driving around without helmets Farang included 

[Kerryd]

33 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

I can't show you a law for that.

I am certain that such was posted here.

 

Been looking at can't find a reference other than a 2014 thread that links to a FB page where a post was made in 2012 showing a pic of a cop riding a scooter on his way to work. The poster noted that the cop wasn't wearing a helmet, had no mirrors on the scooter and his passenger foot pegs were in the "down" position.


Checking with some friends (a couple of whom are/were RTP Traffic cops) to see if they can give a definitive answer.

Lol - one of the posts in that thread was from a member who said that whenever he goes through a checkpoint they "always wave the farangs through" and only pull over the Thais.

Edited November 17, 2020 by Kerryd

[CanadaSam]

On 11/16/2020 at 8:10 AM, ChipButty said:

If you've got everything in order, nothing to worry about

 

If he had everything in order, would he be asking the question?

 

Reminds me of the time I had to pay almost 10k baht for blood alcohol over 50 not so long ago...

 

More importantly, didn't make my date for fishing in a lake, which would  have made that day wonderful....

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, BigStar said:

Nonsense. @Kerryd has it exactly right in his above post, as I can attest from driving in Pattaya almost daily.

I don't live in Pattaya, but every time I go there, the police checkpoints are there all over the place, I know personally people who sick to the back roads to avoid them.

but maybe things are different now as I have not been to Pattaya since the Virus.

[BigStar]

2 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Not at all multitasking doing other things as well. I think you should get out your dictionary and find out have never been any "checkpoints pulling over tourists" here. Ever".

Here is what he said. Maybe use them glasses you are talking about

"As far as I know, there have never been any "checkpoints pulling over tourists" here. Ever".

But, without the reading glasses, you missed the "pulling over tourists" restriction and falsely generalized the subject to they were Checkpoints. Then you either failed to see, or comprehend, the rest of @Kerryd 's post where he elaborates.

 

So the meaning was perfectly clear that he was addressing the OP's paranoia that he's going to be targeted as a tourist at checkpoints targeted at tourists, or farang, one of the favorite bugbears of our tinfoil hat and professional victims brigade.

 

Farang spotter on duty at "farangs targeted" listening post off Soi Buakhao

 

So then he explained it all again to you here. There are no such checkpoints. Please don't let multitasking prevent you from completing your homework assignments correctly. Are we done?

[tinca tinca]

On 11/16/2020 at 9:10 AM, TexasDude said:

Are there still as many checkpoints pulling over tourists as I remember? I'm planning on renting a bike for about 1 month. 

get on your bike and take a chance like we all do here....

who knows when and where a checkpoint will be......silly post really