Police will face trouble if caught taking bribes - tourists stopped by traffic cops in Phuket creates stir

[andersonat]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Debatable but a copy should be enough

 

"RTP Spokesman: Tourists do not Need To Carry Passports" ( - albeit from 7y ago, and Times and People/Personnel *do* change.)

 

https://www.stickboybkk.com/news/rtp-spokesman-tourists-need-carry-pasports-times/

[smew]

3 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Finances are clearly tight if they are stopping and fining Thais now. A few years ago I was at this location and watched the cops stopping many bikes. They were only stopping farangs, most who were wearing helmets, for licence checks and fining pretty much all of them. At the same time there were hundreds of Thais riding past helmetless and often 3 or 4 per motorbike who didn't even get a glance from the cops. 

 

hey, you forget to mention Thai children driving motorbikes passed check stops without even a glance by the BiB( police0 

[yogi yogi]

now im confused. if i give all the right information. what would be the scenerio? for the police to give a legal fine?  do they give you some sort of form with the amount stated on it? is that how it works.  and can i offer half that amount to just make problem go away. is that bribery on my part and can i get fined extra for trying that?  has anyone gone thru this ticket business before? what is the typical scenerio.

[vandeventer]

4 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Finances are clearly tight if they are stopping and fining Thais now. A few years ago I was at this location and watched the cops stopping many bikes. They were only stopping farangs, most who were wearing helmets, for licence checks and fining pretty much all of them. At the same time there were hundreds of Thais riding past helmetless and often 3 or 4 per motorbike who didn't even get a glance from the cops. 

 

Just what are the tourist to do? It seems everywhere they go somebody is in their pocket.

[farangroby]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He notes that Phuket provincial chief Pol Maj-Gen Sermphan Sirikhong would stand for no backhanders being taken by traffic police and promised offenders would face disciplinary action or criminal prosecution.

 

But he also noted that police were within their rights to let off those who were breaking the law as a first offence and show leniency.

So will they show leniency for all tourists or just for Thais?

I ask for a friend!!!

[hellohello123]

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Police will face trouble if caught taking bribes

 

Maybe this headline should read - Police will face trouble if caught NOT taking bribes .............................LOL

Yes, consistency is very important!

[Grusa]

A bribe:- money goes into policemans' pocket.

 

A fine:- money goes into his bosses' pockets, he might get a small % commission.

 

No wonder he is in trouble if he takes bribes!

 

Rice bowls need filling! Boss needs a new Lambo! 

[Chiang Mai Will]

3 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

`i have to carry passport with me.  how about a copy of it

After being stopped and having to hand over my licence -- which was then taken from me and no explanation given just told to drive on! Eventually I found out that the system was to go to the police station, pay the fine and also pay the ''fine'' to get my licence back -- which was more than the fine!

 

After this I carried photocopies of my licence and passport -- but when stopped I was told photocopies were not acceptable!  I paid the fine -- in cash!

 

I still only carry photocopies.

[kiwikeith]

3 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

`i have to carry passport with me.  how about a copy of it

If a well dressed Thai rides a bike with no helmet they are far more likely than a poor person on a clapped out bike, to be stopped and fined, logic prevails.

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, yogi yogi said:

what if im shirtless with nipple piercing will that be frowned upon by the white helmet cops

I guess you are writing this tongue in cheek, but it is illegal to ride a bike, or drive a car whilst shirtless..........as for riding a bike, I suggest you google gravel rash. Should be enough incentive to wear a shirt. 

[Cabradelmar]

Just wear your helmet... Problem solved ???? we all know there are 2 standards for nearly everything in THA (always have been). Stop  acting surprised by this.

[Zack61]

If and only if caught. Highly unlikely then. 

[Will B Good]

4 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

`i have to carry passport with me.  how about a copy of it

No.....you have to have some form of ID.

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

I guess you are writing this tongue in cheek, but it is illegal to ride a bike, or drive a car whilst shirtless..........as for riding a bike, I suggest you google gravel rash. Should be enough incentive to wear a shirt. 

If you google ‘gravel rash’... its enough incentive to go ATGATT !!! (all the gear all the the time) with full on leathers !!!

 

Due to the heat and perhaps some nonchalance and a little overconfidence I’ve found myself wearing full gear less often these days - when nipping down to 7-11 its an open face helmet, trainers and gloves, and T-shirt&shorts of course...  longer distances when going on the major roads a full face helmet, ankle riding boots and jacket... but its so hot in the jacket (airwave)... but I’ve started just wearing shorts on the bike a lot instead of the riding pants or jeans...  Silly, I know.. 

[richard_smith237]

The real issue at hand... 

 

A mate of mine now a senior officer in the the Police force...  Masters educated in the UK, from the right family, doesn’t really need the money but likes the job etc...  he entered the police force in a relatively high ranking position....  He didn’t want to take bribes or back handers...

 

His car got scratched up, he received a couple of death threats !!!.....  

 

Ultimately he was ‘encouraged’ to ‘play the game’ or face the consequences of other poorer policemen loosing out on income - he’s now part of the ’system’ and just accepts this is the way it is.

 

The system is unchangeable. Graft is so systemic the police enter the position with the expectation that they make money on the side. Ripping people off is welcomed, its expected, its the norm. 

 

 

This announcement that ‘Police will face trouble if caught taking bribes' is nothing other than pure theatre. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Harveyboy]

are these bribes the new or pre covid price ...got to make up for lost time eh

[tonysilly]

What a Joke! Pay the police more money and things like this will not happen. 

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, tonysilly said:

What a Joke! Pay the police more money and things like this will not happen. 

Pretty galling, but an element of truth in it.

[xylophone]

4 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

`i have to carry passport with me.  how about a copy of it

I went to a copy shop and got a copy of my passport, reduced it in size until it was about the size of a large credit card, and had it laminated, and that's what I carry around with me all the time, and every time I've been asked for my passport, I have presented this and it has been accepted.

[wensiensheng]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I think some of these tourist need to get a grip and follow the laws, Lots of tourist I have spoken to seem to think being fined or handing money over at the roadside is some form of corruption or bribe,

I remember talking to a couple of tourist in the bar a couple of years ago and they was asking me about police corruption, if you are committing a road traffic offence and you get fined how is that corruption............? 

Right now you are drinking in the bar you have no helmets, I saw you pull up, do you have a license on you.........Nope! so right away there is 3 offenses, Oh bye the way do you have your passports on you? Nope, ok add that to the list

So if you get fined tonight with that little lot you are calling that corruption? 

I told them I have lived here 25 years and been fined twice and both times was my fault,

I follow your logic. Where it falls down is when the cops allow those same people they just fined, to continue on their way still helmetless, without licence ( therefore no insurance) and without passport.

 

can you explain that?

[rott]

2 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

what if im shirtless with nipple piercing will that be frowned upon by the white helmet cops

Trodden on would be better. 

[Humpy]

''....  no backhanders being taken by traffic police and promised offenders would face disciplinary action or criminal prosecution.''........ what about all the other police ?

[spidermike007]

Please stop the nonsense. They are all corrupt beyond imagination. They are barely law enforcement, and are better referred to as franchisees. And the level of corruption simply escalates, the further up the food chain you go. The police and army are not expected to be honest, and they are not expected to engage in law enforcement, traffic or public safety, on any level.

 

It is an irrevocably broken and dysfunctional system. Any hyperbole to the contrary, is just a smoke screen, intended to deceive the most naive amongst us.

[Marley01]

Just when you think it couldn’t get funnier this happens. 
bloody funny. 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The spokesman told Manager that police were requesting that motorcycle rental shops checked tourists' documents and said that it was important that tourists knew the requirements and road rules before taking to the roads.  

How about offering a helmet to riders?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I think some of these tourist need to get a grip and follow the laws, Lots of tourist I have spoken to seem to think being fined or handing money over at the roadside is some form of corruption or bribe,

I remember talking to a couple of tourist in the bar a couple of years ago and they was asking me about police corruption, if you are committing a road traffic offence and you get fined how is that corruption............? 

Right now you are drinking in the bar you have no helmets, I saw you pull up, do you have a license on you.........Nope! so right away there is 3 offenses, Oh bye the way do you have your passports on you? Nope, ok add that to the list

So if you get fined tonight with that little lot you are calling that corruption? 

I told them I have lived here 25 years and been fined twice and both times was my fault,

Fair comment.

[Albert Zweistein]

5 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Finances are clearly tight if they are stopping and fining Thais now. A few years ago I was at this location and watched the cops stopping many bikes. They were only stopping farangs, most who were wearing helmets, for licence checks and fining pretty much all of them. At the same time there were hundreds of Thais riding past helmetless and often 3 or 4 per motorbike who didn't even get a glance from the cops. 

 

Been watching the cops at the same location many times and fully agree with you, mom, dad and 2 kids on the motorbike, no helmets but the cops didn't bother to stop them. Not even looked at them.

[overherebc]

2 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

what if im shirtless with nipple piercing will that be frowned upon by the white helmet cops

It is actually an offence to be shirtless, obviously not on the beach.

Re wearing helmets, if your head is only worth 200baht or less, then you don't need to wear one.

[Almer]

5 hours ago, yogi yogi said:

what is a backhander?

What my mother used to give me if I tried it on 

[Almer]

3 minutes ago, overherebc said:

It is actually an offence to be shirtless, obviously not on the beach.

Re wearing helmets, if your head is only worth 200baht or less, then you don't need to wear one.

An offense to bare one’s skin and under wear is a requirement when out and about