I came down a deserted walking street in Pattaya today to meet the boys in brown at the end. They check the tax, licence, helmet of my scooter etc and then charged me 500 for coming the wrong way. i didnt actually know another way out apart from back to the pier, so i came that way. Is 500 right? 

They took the money on the spot? Yeah that would be right lol.

Years ago I drove the wrong way down Soi 13......me new to the area. Cop took my license and sent me to the police station.  600 Baht fine.  When I goof up like that.....a few times in 25 years here......I pay the fine.  Knowing that a fine for a similar infraction in the US would be 10 or 10s of times more.  

The 'deserted' in your story isn't important to the story.  You drove the wrong way and got caught.

If Thai it would be free. and waved on.

The fine depends on

1) how much you've got in your pocket

2) how much you argue and

3) if you insist on a receipt

10 minutes ago, fishtank said:

If Thai it would be free. and waved on.

 

Anyone with a bit of tact can get out of fines in Thailand, this isn't exclusive to Thais.

The answer to your question is :

 

Whatever the guy in the uniform says it is ! As we all know that can vary day by day and who you see on the day.

 

The key with these if you want to be bothered with it, is to sayyou got no cash on you and to meet him at the local cop shop. There you can pay and be given the receipt, if they(he) can be bothered to accomadate you and not just send you on your way.

nothing to do cause you actually broke a law,

the day wont come when i start arguing when i already know i was in the wrong.

500 sounds about right

I sometimes wonder if there's a fine for driving the right way up a one way street.

I got fined 200 Baht for driving without any license. 800 Baht for driving 91km/h in 90km/h zone (not my opinion, they told me I was doing 91 in 90). And everything inbetween these prices. Whatever they say goes.

The OP can console himself with the thought that back home, that would be a $300 ticket and points on his license leading to higher insurance rates.

 

Police always wait there in the late afternoon, easy pickings when tourists around

 

"But officer, I was only going one way!"

I thought it was fine to drive a motor bike any which way in Thailand. at least it is in Khon kaen. I see it every day. 

48 minutes ago, sirineou said:

I thought it was fine to drive a motor bike any which way in Thailand. at least it is in Khon kaen. I see it every day. 

That's only if driving on the sidewalk...on the road you must follow the rules

15 hours ago, Regain said:

I came down a deserted walking street in Pattaya today to meet the boys in brown at the end. They check the tax, licence, helmet of my scooter etc and then charged me 500 for coming the wrong way. i didnt actually know another way out apart from back to the pier, so i came that way. Is 500 right? 

Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522, Section 41 confirms maximum B500 fine is correct.

14 hours ago, CharlieH said:

The answer to your question is :

 

Whatever the guy in the uniform says it is ! As we all know that can vary day by day and who you see on the day.

 

That's right, police officers have discretion up to the maximum.

9 hours ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

I got fined 200 Baht for driving without any license. 800 Baht for driving 91km/h in 90km/h zone (not my opinion, they told me I was doing 91 in 90). And everything inbetween these prices. Whatever they say goes.

There are maximum fines laid out in the Land Traffic Act but the police have discretion to fine whatever amount they feel is appropriate up to that amount and it will be notated on the ticket (if that's the route you choose to go).