I got stopped by the police on my scooter

[Ralf001]

Just now, Dart12 said:

Would this apply to drivers of rental bikes as well?

 

If the scooter has a current road tax disk it will have CTP insurance.

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, hotandsticky said:

 

In 16 years I have probably picked 70+ fines.

 

 

All were legitimate fines in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1979.

 

 

I am not saying that I agree with all those rules, but all my fines were kosher.

WOW... !!!  you are stopped 4-5 times per year !!.. thats crazy (where are you ?)

 

In Bangkok I’ve been stopped twice on my motorcycle in about 10 years.

 

Mainly in Bangkok, but also outside of Bangkok, I’ve been stopped while driving about 6 or 7 times (in 20+ years). 

(saying that we (wife and I) have loads of express way speeding fines (things like 6kmh over limit etc).

 

------------

 

Exactly how many traffic rules are you breaking ??? !!! 

 

And.. If you know the RTA so well, how come you are still breaking the rules ???

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

44 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Except a few weeks ago in Pattaya they asked for licence which i provided, cop a little disgruntled then asked for green book copy then he was out of options

You're lucky he was lazy and gave up... you obviously ‘indicated no weakness’..... his (the Policeman’s) path of least resistance was to just give up.... 

 

But...   If he was stubborn and determined to catch something and get a pay out he could have pushed it (as many stories in recent and past years highlight)... 

 

... He could have checked your tax, asked for an original copy of your Por-ror-bor.

He could have asked for your original green book...

He could have fined you for your pillion foot-pegs sticking out, or suggested your exhaust was too loud...  etc etc... 

 

Ultimately, if a greedy Policeman wants to find something, they have and do just make stuff up !!!... This seems to be happening a lot less lately, either because there are less tourists here reporting it, or the BiB now have heightened awareness of social media and their ‘attempts to fleece’ riders may go recorded. 

[Ralf001]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

You're lucky he was lazy and gave up... you obviously ‘indicated no weakness’..... his (the Policeman’s) path of least resistance was to just give up.... 

 

But...   If he was stubborn and determined to catch something and get a pay out he could have pushed it (as many stories in recent and past years highlight)... 

 

... He could have checked your tax, asked for an original copy of your Por-ror-bor.

He could have asked for your original green book...

He could have fined you for your pillion foot-pegs sticking out, or suggested your exhaust was too loud...  etc etc... 

 

Ultimately, if a greedy Policeman wants to find something, they have and do just make stuff up !!!... This seems to be happening a lot less lately, either because there are less tourists here reporting it, or the BiB now have heightened awareness of social media and their ‘attempts to fleece’ riders may go recorded. 

Or the policeman takes the keys when handing a no licence fine and you get keys back at police station when you pay the fine.

 

I know of a English fella that was rather annoyed at the keys thing and when he went to pay fine he loudly expressed his annoyance..... when the policeman went to get the keys that had been "lost" and the policeman was not interested in searching for them !!

 

Pays to bite tongue and be patient.

[hotandsticky]

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

WOW... !!!  you are stopped 4-5 times per year !!.. thats crazy (where are you ?)

 

In Bangkok I’ve been stopped twice on my motorcycle in about 10 years.

 

Mainly in Bangkok, but also outside of Bangkok, I’ve been stopped while driving about 6 or 7 times (in 20+ years). 

(saying that we (wife and I) have loads of express way speeding fines (things like 6kmh over limit etc).

 

------------

 

Exactly how many traffic rules are you breaking ??? !!! 

 

And.. If you know the RTA so well, how come you are still breaking the rules ???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not always 'stopped'....many speeding fines were picked up on camera. Between Chonburi and Buriram mainly but all over Thailand. Pattay is a prime area in normal times in view of the volume of check points.

 

Bangkok are the worst b4stards...... twice I was done for being the wrong lane (same wrong lane about 2 years apart) - just a bl00dy money trap and, IMO, unfair as you find yourself in that lane before realising that you need to be in the left.

 

1. Speeding, no helmet, passenger no helmet, no driving licence (left in a hotel photocopier at check in)  wrong lane, U-turn over double lines, running a red (just following the Thais in the inside lane at the top of Pratumnak Hill), driving in the right hand lane, over-loaded car, no red flag on a load that extended beyond the end of the pick up,.....I am sure there are more.

 

2. Some were oversights, some were ignorance, some were just chancing it (motocy, no helmet, parking in a restricted area)...speeding mainly on roads where the speed limit is ridiculously low (as I said, all were justified fines, I chose to exceed the limit)..... I don't pay (camera) speeding fines  -  learned that from Thais. 

 

 

 

 

Note: I am certainly not 'bragging' about the number of fines - or trying to turn this into a pi55ing contest. 16 years a long time and I am on the road most days. My sole point here was that ALL my fines have been legitimate and despite the number of occasions that I have been stopped, I have never encountered a fallacious charge.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Not true, government minimum insurance pays out no matter what, assuming you purchased it.

Up to what limit though?

[Pmbkk]

3 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Motor Vehicle Act, : 
Section 42-2 
“In case there’s a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver’s license, an alien may drive a motor vehicle with a driver’s license issued by such a foreign government, 

 

I've seen this basic thread before, with many say yes or no. 

For the sake of a few quid I'd get one.

 

According to the Post Office you do need an IDP to drive in Thailand

 

"To drive in Thailand you will need an International Driving Permit 1949"

 

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/international-driving-permit#IDP-Checker

[KhunLA]

37 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Up to what limit though?

 

[eisfeld]

23 minutes ago, Pmbkk said:

 

I've seen this basic thread before, with many say yes or no. 

For the sake of a few quid I'd get one.

 

According to the Post Office you do need an IDP to drive in Thailand

 

"To drive in Thailand you will need an International Driving Permit 1949"

 

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/international-driving-permit#IDP-Checker

The UK post office is not the first place I'd consult on road regulations in Thailand. And one can't answer the question if an IDP is needed or not for a specific person just by specifying a country.

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, digibum said:

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

How long have you been in the country @tethys? You are aware I trust that if you stay here more than 90 days you must have a Thai driving license.

 

2 hours ago, digibum said:

I thought the law was that the IDP is valid in Thailand for the normal length of stay that you were permitted when you entered the country.  
 

If you enter on a ME non-O, that’s 90-days. If you enter on a ME tourist visa, that’s 60-days.  If you arrive visa exempt, that’s 30-days.  
 

So, the IDP may be valid for a year, but it’s only valid in Thailand for the duration of your stay based on what they originally stamped in your passport.  Visa extensions don’t extend how long the IDP remains valid for driving in Thailand.  
 

That was always my understanding.  

This may or may not be true but it in no way does it invalid my comment. If someone was staying beyond the validity of their visa, the validity of their drivers license would be the least of their problems.

[Lacessit]

I have only ever been fined once, for going down a one-way street the wrong way. Never seen a cop smile so much, gave him 200 baht and I was on my way with nothing written down.

I've been stopped dozens of times, produce my Thai DL, off I go.

I understand it is possible to be fined for having the side pegs out when one does not have a pillion passenger. As for a foreigner without a helmet - goodnight nurse.

[eisfeld]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Their next bogus excuse is not carrying the 'green book'.

Why is that a bogus excuse? AFAIK there is a requirement to carry the green book or a copy of it.

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

On "most"? You are dreaming. Very dedicated/selected highways only without U-turns, concrete divider etc.

 

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Yes ... On most, dual / divided inter-province, they simply haven't removed the 90 kph signs.  I drive 100-120 constantly, and have yet to get a 'camera' speeding ticket, even though most still posted at 90 kph.

 

Either I'm very lucky, doubtful, or they aren't enforcing the U-turn / barrier rule.  I've gotten my share of 'camera' citations when exceeding 100, before speed limit raised from 90 kph on the same highways.

@KhunBENQ is correct. Only those deemed to safe enough, which generally means 'motorway standard' have had their sped limit increased to 120kph.

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

10 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Only those deemed to safe enough, which generally means 'motorway standard' have had their sped limit increased to 120kph.

And as far as I remember you will see explicit signage allowing 120 km/h.

No signs? -> general rules apply. 80 km/h on undivided highways, 90 km/h on divided highways (for cars, less for big trucks/trailers).

[Pmbkk]

1 hour ago, eisfeld said:

The UK post office is not the first place I'd consult on road regulations in Thailand. And one can't answer the question if an IDP is needed or not for a specific person just by specifying a country.

 

Don't understand that response at all re for a specific person..

 

It is for a specific country - it states for  a UK license you need an IDP.

IDP - is INTERNATIONAL, clue is in the name  

 

 

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

 

[RocketDog]

8 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

So the police don't do their job. Seems to be a frequent comment on this forum. But when they do they are still doing it wrongly?

Good point. But in this case it would hinge on why the OP was stopped. If it was just for tea money, then no, they weren't doing their job. The cop should have spent that time at a grade school checking the 6 yo kids for their licenses.

[Ralf001]

4 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

The cop should have spent that time at a grade school checking the 6 yo kids for their licenses.

Do you really think the police a re that stupid, they know kids that ride scoots to school do not have a licence so why waste time checking them for one.

 

 

[Photoguy21]

8 hours ago, BritManToo said:

No driving licence, 200-400bh fine.

Just think of it as a foreigner tax for driving in Thailand.

If you'd had a d/l he would have just made up another offense.

Been stopped twice by the police driving a car. Both times they asked for my license and I did not receive a fine for anything. If they find something else to you then you must be very unlucky.

If you didn't have a valid driving license then you should be fined. Would you drive without a license in your home country? I doubt if you would

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, tethys said:

I would need some help to understand what he could tell me because I'm not sure.

You showed him an expired International driving licence and your "home country licence"

YOU DO NOT HAVE A THAI MOTORCYCLE LICENCE.

Hope that helps.

 

[tethys]

16 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Would you drive without a license in your home country? I doubt if you would

Its not exactly the same thing. You dont have to pass any test to get your IDP. Its just a formality. Your license issued in your country is valid for a life time.

[RocketDog]

15 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Do you really think the police a re that stupid, they know kids that ride scoots to school do not have a licence so why waste time checking them for one.

 

 

I was assuming that he would want to do his job. But of course he doesn't. So he shakes down farang instead.

[SAFETY FIRST]

9 hours ago, tethys said:

 

He wrote me a fine and told to go to the police to pay

I got 2 tickets not too long ago, jomtien. 

 

Riding wrong way and non original exhaust. 

 

I was shocked at the outrageous price I had to pay. 

 

Total 200 baht (total) for both. 

 

Go soi 9 police station, take a ticket (number) sit down wait for your number to be called, go up to the window, wait for the officer to finish his meal and hand over your ticket and then pay the money ????, wait for your receipt.

 

See you later. 

????

 

[Pinot]

8 hours ago, Dave Aarons said:

Rather than worry about a small fine, what you should be concerned about is the fact that without a Licence, your Insurance is invalid.

Imagine the cost of repairing someone's Mercedes, or worse, a large hospital bill for someone you injure.

A Thai Licence costs a few hundred baht and can be done in one day.

In Phuket I have an appointment to renew my license which has expired...in three months. 

[thailand49]

8 hours ago, Dave Aarons said:

Rather than worry about a small fine, what you should be concerned about is the fact that without a Licence, your Insurance is invalid.

Imagine the cost of repairing someone's Mercedes, or worse, a large hospital bill for someone you injure.

A Thai Licence costs a few hundred baht and can be done in one day.

curious what make you assume he had coverage 3rd party? ????

Nevertheless no use wasting time here go down and get the real answer as noted the fine is what a few hundred baht why pull your into twightlight zone thinking about it you guilty don't do the crime if you can't pay the fine or time. ????

[Petey11]

9 hours ago, BritManToo said:

No driving licence, 200-400bh fine.

Just think of it as a foreigner tax for driving in Thailand.

If you'd had a d/l he would have just made up another offense.

Must be lucky because never had that happen. Stopped numerous times in Chiang Mai, once no documents so fined, other times IDP, helmet, bike legal and was told thank you , on your way. Only times I've been fined in Patraya area was parking illegally, no helmet and , to my shame DUI.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, RocketDog said:

I was assuming that he would want to do his job. But of course he doesn't. So he shakes down farang instead.

They only shakedown foreigners do they ?

[Ralf001]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

No driving licence, 200-400bh fine.

Just think of it as a foreigner tax for driving in Thailand.

If you'd had a d/l he would have just made up another offense.

The official fine for no licence is 200b, Both Thai's and foreigners receive the same.

 

People that are paying 400, sure that is a tax, A stupidity tax.

 

 

[Seismic]

9 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I don't think that is correct. The home country licence is NOT valid on it's own (ironically, I believe you can drive in the UK on a Thai licence for 6 months).

 

 

16 years ago an officer pointed out that my UK DL was not sufficient for driving in Thailand and I needed an IDP.

It is correct, but most Thai police will use it as an excuse to fine you. An IDP is not required if the driver's domestic licence meets the requirements of the 1949 (Geneva) or 1968 (Vienna)  convention's, that is that the domestic license is in English.

[zyphodb]

5 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Or the policeman takes the keys when handing a no licence fine and you get keys back at police station when you pay the fine.

 

I know of a English fella that was rather annoyed at the keys thing and when he went to pay fine he loudly expressed his annoyance..... when the policeman went to get the keys that had been "lost" and the policeman was not interested in searching for them !!

 

Pays to bite tongue and be patient.

The first thing to do when you turn your engine off at a checkpoint is grab your keys and pocket them, this usually gets a rueful smile and aids you in appearing too much trouble to get tea money from...

[San Fran Dan]

11 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

An expired Intl driving permit and your "normal driving license"? From your country?

 

 

They never look the dates, I just let them keep the old international and never go down and pay