Police checking motorbike links at checkpoint

 

Phuket-GO have received several messages in recent days about the number of  foreigners being targeted by police for fines, usually in late morning checkpoints on busy west coast roads. And the fine appears to have increased too.

 

Whilst in the past the checks were mostly about wearing a bike helmet, lately, according to our sources, the checks are for legal motorbike licenses, which most foreigners don’t have. The fines are now, routinely, 1000 baht. In the past tourists going through checkpoints without a helmet or the correct license could usually expect an on-the-spot fine of 500 baht. Oh well, inflation…

 

These payments are all required in cash only. Exactly what happens to all the cash collected at these pre-lunch checkpoints is not clear.

 

To legally rent and ride a motorbike in Thailand you MUST have a Thai motorbike driving license, not a car driving license or a foreign car driving license. If you have a foreign motorbike license AND a current International Driving Permit you will be legal.

 

Apart from being the law, it also pertains to your insurance liability if you have an accident. Insurance will not cover you if you don’t have the proper license. If you have a bad accident, and end up in hospital, your insurance will not cover your hospital expenses.

 

Still, many foreigners hire motorbikes everyday, and the local rental shops happily rent them out – going price now is around 5000 baht per month, up from 2000 – 2,500 per month in the years before Covid. Again, inflation…

 

So, if you want to rent a motorcycle in Thailand…

 

• Make sure you have a Thai motorbike license or a foreign motorbike license and International Driving Permit.

 

• NEVER leave your passport with the rental shop as a guarantee, and never let your passport out of your site when they want to make a copy.

 

• If the shop offers insurance, check the details. Apart from costing you additional money, it’s probably not worth the paper it’s printed on.

 

• Take plenty of photos of the motorbike, from all angles, before you drive it out of the shop, and make sure the renter sees you taking the photos. There are many scams when damage on a motorbike, perhaps out of sight, will be blamed on YOU and your hire. Of course you end up paying inflated repair fees.

 

• If you’ve never driven a motorbike in your home country DON’T ride one for the first time in Thailand.

 

• Don’t get into an argument with Thai police. You will lose, and potentially end up in a whole lot more trouble. If you’ve been drinking and driving as well you’re in a whole new world of trouble and should contact your consulate, embassy or tourist police immediately.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-travel/beware-thai-police-checkpoint-on-the-spot-fines-jumped-to-1000-baht/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-01-18

 

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9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

These payments are all required in cash only. Exactly what happens to all the cash collected at these pre-lunch checkpoints is not clear.

Just use your imagination .....???? , price up ..maybe they give you a choice , 1000 baht cash,

or a fine with receipt and points.....  

regards Worgeordie

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

Just use your imagination .....???? , price up ..maybe they give you a choice , 1000 baht cash,

or a fine with receipt and points.....  

regards Worgeordie

So does that work for a tourist with a proper license and IDP from his/her country, I mean you can not deduct points......10 years ago in Phuket I was stopped because my partner on the back did not have a helmet, they made me park the bike, walk to the ATM, get cash, pay them 500 baht for having a passenger with no helmet.  The helmet had been stolen off of the bike at the gym we were at just an hour before, and we were on our way to the local office in Chalong to make a report.....no slack. I was told I should have gone and bought a new helmet before riding to make the report.....

10 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So does that work for a tourist with a proper license and IDP from his/her country, I mean you can not deduct points......10 years ago in Phuket I was stopped because my partner on the back did not have a helmet, they made me park the bike, walk to the ATM, get cash, pay them 500 baht for having a passenger with no helmet.  The helmet had been stolen off of the bike at the gym we were at just an hour before, and we were on our way to the local office in Chalong to make a report.....no slack. I was told I should have gone and bought a new helmet before riding to make the report.....

I am sure they are not only stopping tourists , they will be taking as many drivers

1000 Baht's as they can , but I think the increase will be related to the points system,

regards Worgeordie

One could just drive around legally ????

 

Consider yourself lucky if only 1000, as new fines, 'driving without helmet' now 2000 baht.

https://phuket-motorbike-rental.com/the-penalties-for-traffic-offenses-in-thailand/

6 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I am sure they are not only stopping tourists , they will be taking as many drivers

1000 Baht's as they can , but I think the increase will be related to the points system,

regards Worgeordie

Having lived in Phuket, the Chalong and Rawai Areas, most of the people I observed riding motor bikes were tourists and a few long term expats, very few locals on the coastal road.

No discrimantion n Thailand, but it seems that more foreigners are fined than Thai..How many drivers are there without a driverslicense in cars and motorcycles... Indeed everyone has to follow the law, with the same fines and no double standards

Why are these idiot tourists still coming to this god forsaken place?

On seeing a check point ahead I like to do a U turn

and proceed smartly in the opposite direction.

If they want on the spot payment then they need to take payment via phone scan QR code, this ensures it goes to the correct place once checked 

Asking foreigners for an international driving permit is a favourite here in Kanchanaburi too during high season. Got asked for mine a while ago, said I didn't have one and was directed to the roadside table to write up a fine. When I was asked for id I handed over my Thai motorcycle license. Fortunately the cop had a sense of humour and waved me on although my wife later suggested I was being a little provocative.

22 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

On seeing a check point ahead I like to do a U turn

and proceed smartly in the opposite direction.

Haha, yes seen that and they don't follow ever....try that in the west and it would be a chase and some additional rule broken on top of the fine.

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

I was stopped because my partner on the back did not have a helmet, they made me park the bike, walk to the ATM, get cash, pay them 500 baht for having a passenger with no helmet.  The helmet had been stolen off of the bike at the gym we were at just an hour before,

I'm very careful with my helmet when I'm in the gym.

Can't go loosing that.  

 

 

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

Why are these idiot tourists still coming to this god forsaken place?

Many of us are atheists, and figure a good way to get away from the god crowd....

They have some financial damage to make up for after the financially disastrous C season.
 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Apart from being the law, it also pertains to your insurance liability if you have an accident. Insurance will not cover you if you don’t have the proper license. If you have a bad accident, and end up in hospital, your insurance will not cover your hospital expenses.

Factually incorrect,

Thai government minimum insurance (for the motorbike) covers all riders, legal or illegal, for medical expenses up to 40,000bht.

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Factually incorrect,

Thai government minimum insurance (for the motorbike) covers all riders, legal or illegal, for medical expenses up to 40,000bht.

Won't get very far on 40k!

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

To legally rent and ride a motorbike in Thailand you MUST have a Thai motorbike driving license, not a car driving license or a foreign car driving license. If you have a foreign motorbike license AND a current International Driving Permit you will be legal.

Not if you have a licence that is in English, then it is legal for around 6 months from entering the country. 

This is very true - if you don't have the proper license and are doing anything illegal like this on vacation your insurance will simply not pay for your medical care due to an accident.  Full stop.  

It's important to be mindful of decisions abroad and be careful and think of the consequences.  

I always have an IDL with me because many countries are insisting on them now.  ITs worth getting it done in your home country, but ours only lasts for one year.  

 

Question:  Do you need a Thai Drivers license for a motor scooter?  ????  

4 hours ago, Orinoco said:

I'm very careful with my helmet when I'm in the gym.

Can't go loosing that.  

 

 

I wear a jock strap and cup at all times, and strap pillows around my body.  Beat that buddy!  

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Factually incorrect,

Thai government minimum insurance (for the motorbike) covers all riders, legal or illegal, for medical expenses up to 40,000bht.

Won't get very far on 40k!

Indeed...  especially if you come off and smash your head without a helmet...  some hospitals charge 18,000 baht for a few stitches !!! 

40 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

Not if you have a licence that is in English, then it is legal for around 6 months from entering the country. 

Is "around" a legal definition of time...........

Can you give a citation for that...............?

FYI, THB 1,000 is the highest they can charge for licence and is only for foreigners. 

For the same offence Thais get a ticket as low as THB 300. 

7 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Asking foreigners for an international driving permit is a favourite here in Kanchanaburi too during high season. Got asked for mine a while ago, said I didn't have one and was directed to the roadside table to write up a fine. When I was asked for id I handed over my Thai motorcycle license. Fortunately the cop had a sense of humour and waved me on although my wife later suggested I was being a little provocative.

I got an IDP for a recent visit.  My US license is for a car, but I had the guy also stamp the motorcycle endorsement.  I do have a Thai motorbike license I got in 1978.  It's still valid as I  paid for the lifetime license. 

8 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Haha, yes seen that and they don't follow ever....try that in the west and it would be a chase and some additional rule broken on top of the fine.

Did that in Hua Hin once and surely they followed me. 2 minutes later a cop on a big bike cornered me. I just paid up and off I went again. Will never do that again. I have a Thai license now. Always wear a helmet. Papers are in order (it's my own bike). And when I go out I take a taxi so no drunk driving. Never had any issues since that one encounter. Just drive how you would drive in your country of origin. Say what you want about LOS but we all known that driving without a license is not a smart thing to do. If only because of insurance.

10 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

Why are these idiot tourists still coming to this god forsaken place?

Do you live in this god forsaken place or are you an off-shore expert on Thailand? 

Isn't "driving while farang" itself enough to demand money?

 

 

Don’t ever pay “CASH”! Ask for the ticket and go to the nearest police station and pay!

 

Why do the police look for farang in Phuket and Pattaya because it’s easy money in the pocket!

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The fines are now, routinely, 1000 baht. In the past tourists going through checkpoints without a helmet or the correct license could usually expect an on-the-spot fine of 500 baht. Oh well, inflation…

Inflation??? - I rote about this as soon as it was announced that there was a new range of fines for various road traffic offices. Inevitably this is a green light to any for of fines that they want to "impose" at check points.

As yet Thailand has neither the trained traffic police nor the court system to enforce or deal with modern traffic violations - they do however have a pretty good system for collecting money at the side of the road.

Tea Money went up I see.