Fine for No Driving License

[Joeski]

I forgot my international driving license and got pulled up the roadside and got fined 1000 baht. I plan on getting a Thai License, until I get the Thai License is there anything I can do to avoid the 1000 baht fine.

[nigelforbes]

I can't answer your question but I can offer some related advise which is not to pay fines just because you are stopped, instead demand a ticket which is then paid at the police station or elsewhere. You have that right which avoids the temptation to trouser the bills you just handed over. .

[brianthainess]

4 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

I can't answer your question but I can offer some related advise which is not to pay fines just because you are stopped, instead demand a ticket which is then paid at the police station or elsewhere. You have that right which avoids the temptation to trouser the bills you just handed over. .

Going by the OP it sounds like he got a ticket, hence the OP's question 'should I pay the 1000 b fine' unless he is still with the cops awaiting our fantastic advice  

 

[Joeski]

brianthainess if Peter Kay retires I think I could make my first Billion Dollars being your manager.

[bob smith]

1 hour ago, Joeski said:

I forgot my international driving license and got pulled up the roadside and got fined 1000 baht.

1000 baht??? it was 200 baht last time i got pulled, where the hell are you lol.

pants well and truly pulled down there mate!

[Smokey and the Bandit]

1 minute ago, bob smith said:

1000 baht??? it was 200 baht last time i got pulled, where the hell are you lol.

pants well and truly pulled down there mate!

I believe its now 400 baht, same as for no helmet?

[Sparktrader]

What visa are you on? Dont need idp if visa exempt.

 

No such thing as international license. It is only a permit ie English copy.

 

You got scammed.

 

Please 1 learn to speak Thai 2 not get scammed.

 

 

[BritManToo]

12 minutes ago, bob smith said:

1000 baht??? it was 200 baht last time i got pulled, where the hell are you lol.

pants well and truly pulled down there mate!

They want 1kbht in Chiang Mai as well these days.

[Sparktrader]

9 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

I believe its now 400 baht, same as for no helmet?

If living in Thailand you need a Thai license. If tourist you dont need IDP unless home license isnt in English.

 

If farangs learnt how to speak Thai and not be so gullible they wouldnt get scammed.

 

 

 

 

[Sparktrader]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

They want 1kbht in Chiang Mai as well these days.

Scammers want 1000 baht? Learn the game and dont pay scammers.

 

 

[DrPhibes]

2 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

What visa are you on? Dont need idp if visa exempt.

 

No such thing as international license. It is only a permit ie English copy.

 

You got scammed.

 

Please 1 learn to speak Thai 2 not get scammed.

 

 

The embassy's caution that your need a valid license from your home country and an International Driving Permit (or License depending on which country is your home).  Driving on just your home country license even as a short time tourist is not allowed.

[bob smith]

2 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

If tourist you dont need IDP unless home license isnt in English.

where is this law? all i know is all farangs, regardless of nationality need an IDP wiht their home licence. 

[Sparktrader]

Just now, bob smith said:

where is this law? all i know is all farangs, regardless of nationality need an IDP wiht their home licence. 

Since forever.

[Sparktrader]

1 minute ago, DrPhibes said:

The embassy's caution that your need a valid license from your home country and an International Driving Permit (or License depending on which country is your home).  Driving on just your home country license even as a short time tourist is not allowed.

Yes it is.

[Sparktrader]

According to the UN Traffic Act of 1949 and the Thai Traffic Act of 1979, an IDP is not required if you are a tourist/visitor in Thailand as long as your license is in English, has a photo, and your country is a contracting state of the 1949 treaty, which most are.

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

I can't answer your question but I can offer some related advise which is not to pay fines just because you are stopped, instead demand a ticket which is then paid at the police station or elsewhere. You have that right which avoids the temptation to trouser the bills you just handed over. .

Whilst I agree with you, instead of demanding a ticket, it might be wiser to politely ask for one?????

[nigelforbes]

6 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

According to the UN Traffic Act of 1949 and the Thai Traffic Act of 1979, an IDP is not required if you are a tourist/visitor in Thailand as long as your license is in English, has a photo, and your country is a contracting state of the 1949 treaty, which most are.

You tell em that, you say, 'ere PC Somchai, the UN Traffic Act of 1949 ...blah blah blah, I'm certain he'll be really keen to understand the detail.

[nigelforbes]

8 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Whilst I agree with you, instead of demanding a ticket, it might be wiser to politely ask for one?????

You can use that as a starting point, by all means.

[Sparktrader]

Just now, nigelforbes said:

You tell em that, you say, 'ere PC Somchai, the UN Traffic Act of 1949 ...blah blah blah, I'm certain he'll be really keen to understand the detail.

I dont tell them anything. Never been asked.

[EVENKEEL]

18 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Whilst I agree with you, instead of demanding a ticket, it might be wiser to politely ask for one?????

I got a no helmet ticket in Ban Chang, I tried to pay the cop and he laughed and refused. 500thb

[Tropicalevo]

23 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

If farangs learnt how to speak Thai and not be so gullible they wouldnt get scammed.

Speaking Thai does not solve that problem.

My friend speaks, reads and writes pretty fluent Thai.

He was stopped two days in a row by the same policeman for riding his bike with no helmet.

The first day his excuse was that he was just going to the shop to buy one. Fail!

The second day,  the cop said 'you were going to buy a helmet'.

My friend replied 'I was but you took my money'. Cop laughed and fined him again. This was all in Thai.

[DrPhibes]

15 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

According to the UN Traffic Act of 1949 and the Thai Traffic Act of 1979, an IDP is not required if you are a tourist/visitor in Thailand as long as your license is in English, has a photo, and your country is a contracting state of the 1949 treaty, which most are.

Well someone better set the embassies straight.  This right off the British Thai Embassy:

 

"If you would like to drive, either vehicle or motorcycle, while visiting Thailand, you are required by law to hold an international driving license. When asked for, you need to show your international driving license along with your passport and national driving license."

 

Good to know, just need the above statement in Thai and be on the embassy website in the area where you get your Visa and such. 

 

Thanks!

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

The fine might be nothing if you are in an accident driving illegally... 

[blackshadow]

short list of fines in thailand

 

 

Traffic Violations
Fine
Fine
Driving without a license
200฿
200฿
Illegally stopping in restrict ...
300฿
300฿
Using an unroadworthy vehicle
400฿
400฿
Reckless driving
400฿

[mikeymike100]

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

I got a no helmet ticket in Ban Chang, I tried to pay the cop and he laughed and refused. 500thb

I believe officially its 400 baht for no helmet,unless its increased very recently. maybe you should have offered 1000 baht?????

[blackshadow]

28 minutes ago, bob smith said:

where is this law? all i know is all farangs, regardless of nationality need an IDP wiht their home licence. 

why not look our friend     GOOGLE ???

[nigelforbes]

2 minutes ago, blackshadow said:

short list of fines in thailand

 

 

Traffic Violations
Fine
Fine
Driving without a license
200฿
200฿
Illegally stopping in restrict ...
300฿
300฿
Using an unroadworthy vehicle
400฿
400฿
Reckless driving
400฿

All the fines were increased massively in September, they are now in the thousands each:

 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/traffic-fines-see-a-hefty-price-spike-on-monday

[mikeymike100]

25 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

According to the UN Traffic Act of 1949 and the Thai Traffic Act of 1979, an IDP is not required if you are a tourist/visitor in Thailand as long as your license is in English, has a photo, and your country is a contracting state of the 1949 treaty, which most are.

Not disputing anything you say, but explaining that to traffic cop might prove difficult?????

[BangkokReady]

45 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I got a no helmet ticket in Ban Chang, I tried to pay the cop and he laughed and refused. 500thb

44 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

He was stopped two days in a row by the same policeman for riding his bike with no helmet.

The first day his excuse was that he was just going to the shop to buy one. Fail!

The second day,  the cop said 'you were going to buy a helmet'.

My friend replied 'I was but you took my money'. Cop laughed and fined him again.

Nice to hear of some decent cops doing their jobs and refusing bribes.

[brewsterbudgen]

2 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

If living in Thailand you need a Thai license. If tourist you dont need IDP unless home license isnt in English.

 

If farangs learnt how to speak Thai and not be so gullible they wouldnt get scammed.

 

 

 

 

Why on earth would a tourist want to learn to speak Thai?  And if you're being very naive if you really think that a smattering of Thai will get you off being fined for breaking the law!