44 Foreign Drivers Arrested in Patong with No Driving Licenses

[webfact]

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

Patong – Forty-four foreign drivers have been arrested in Patong for not having driving licenses.

 

The crackdown was launched last night (February 9th) after twenty French motorbike racers had been arrested after causing a public nuisance this week.

 

The Patong Police told the Phuket Express that last night from 7:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. they arrested 39 foreign drivers for not wearing helmets, 44 with no driving license, and eight for jumping red-lights.

 

Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2023/02/10/44-foreign-drivers-arrested-in-patong-with-no-driving-licenses/

 

-- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2023-02-11

 

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[Stargeezr]

Good, if you cannot get an international drivers license, as a tourist you have

no business renting a motorcycle in Thailand.

[Aussie999]

This is 100% racism, as we all know, an extremely high number of thais do the same things, every day, and nothing is done to stop it.

[windas]

Hi guys

It's an international driving "PERMIT" and it's not required in Thailand unless your staying for a long period, then you get a Thai licence.

 

 

 

[Pique Dard]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Forty-four foreign drivers have been arrested in Patong for not having driving licenses.

sometimes it's wrong to think in rome one has to be roman

[Andre0720]

"arrested 39 foreign drivers for not wearing helmets, 44 with no driving license,"

 

Well, this makes me feel so much safer on the roads now. Police work, all about safety right?...

 

"and eight for jumping red-lights."

They must have forgotten to sound the horn before doing so. Lesson learned...

[Dazkkk]

41 minutes ago, windas said:

Hi guys

It's an international driving "PERMIT" and it's not required in Thailand unless your staying for a long period, then you get a Thai licence.

 

 

 

 

An IDP and your country of origin Driving licence is required if you want to drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Thailand.
After a year, if you want to continue to drive in Thailand you have to take a Thai driving test, as the IDP is no longer valid. 

[nigelforbes]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

This is 100% racism, as we all know, an extremely high number of thais do the same things, every day, and nothing is done to stop it.

How can it possibly be racist when every nationality is stopped for so obviously breaking the law, even Thai's got stopped and fined for those things all the time.

[sammieuk1]

No mention of bodycams so expect the unofficial figure to be much higher ????

[steve187]

1 hour ago, windas said:

Hi guys

It's an international driving "PERMIT" and it's not required in Thailand unless your staying for a long period, then you get a Thai licence.

 

 

 

most will not have a home country motorbike licence, so no licence in Thailand

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Patong Police told the Phuket Express that last night from 7:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. they arrested 39 foreign drivers for not wearing helmets, 44 with no driving license, and eight for jumping red-lights.

Great news.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

This is 100% racism, as we all know, an extremely high number of thais do the same things, every day, and nothing is done to stop it.

Nothing to with racism... you come here you abide by the law of the land..

regardless of what locals do.

[FriendlyFarang]

44 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

How can it possibly be racist when every nationality is stopped for so obviously breaking the law, even Thai's got stopped and fined for those things all the time.

If you look at the police checkpoints in tourist places it's indeed racism. They pull over everybody who doesn't look Thai, but a Thai without helmet and no license plate can just pass.

[ikke1959]

Soft power to attrack more tourists.... Motor rentalshops will be happy too as their business is being ruined.... It is no problem that the RTP is doing is, but why not first check all the Thais and make them to have a driverslicense and wearing a helmet....Than it would be fair.. I have to think that here they see a splinter in someones eyes instead of the bar in their own eyes

[spidermike007]

While 10 year old kids are allowed to ride motorbikes, they are arresting foreigners without Thai driver's licenses. Meanwhile it is perfectly legal for a Thai to drive in the US, with a Thai drivers license. Fair or extremely xenophobic? 

 

The United States driving laws state that you’re required to have a valid driving license in possession to be able to drive in the US. This can be either issued by a US State or a foreign country. So, yes, you can drive with a foreign license in the US.

 

https://www.stilt.com/blog/2020/06/how-long-can-you-drive-with-a-foreign-license-in-the-u-s/

 

 

[IamNoone88]

Fifteen rental motorbikes were seized and legal action will be taken against motorbike rental operators for allowing drivers with no driving license to rent motorbikes.

 

....... At last they are going after the operators as well ... no license - no rent! Perfect.

[RichardColeman]

Any mention of arresting the Thai lenders of the bikes for renting to people with no licence ? 

[ChrisY1]

RTP money grab.....there's got to be hundreds, if not more, Thai drivers and riders without a license in Phuket.....but foreigners are always an easy target! Don't talk about helmets!

[bkk6060]

16 minutes ago, FriendlyFarang said:

If you look at the police checkpoints in tourist places it's indeed racism. They pull over everybody who doesn't look Thai, but a Thai without helmet and no license plate can just pass.

Not true from my expereince. Thais may pass because there are so many of them all cannot be stopped  Go to the police station and from my observation, the majority of the people there paying tickets are Thais.  

[smedly]

since when were these arrestable offences ?

 

impound the vehicles possibly if it is written in law allowing them to do so and there is a fine for no licence/helmet/insurance and other driving offences - they just can't make it up as they go, I agree going after the rental companies but there must be provisions in law to allow them to do this also.

[AhFarangJa]

2 hours ago, windas said:

Hi guys

It's an international driving "PERMIT" and it's not required in Thailand unless your staying for a long period, then you get a Thai licence.

 

 

 

Wrong, it is a permit, yes, but it is required if you are staying a short time. It is valid for one year, but only three months at a time, any longer and you need a Thai licence.

[brianthainess]

16 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Any mention of arresting the Thai lenders of the bikes for renting to people with no licence ? 

Try reading the full story before you comment. 

[soi3eddie]

As usual the "racism" card is played. These foreigners are not being targeted because of their race. They are being stopped simply as they are easily identifiable as a ready source of funds. Would we ever see a headline "44 Thai drivers arrested in Patong with no driving licences"? No!   I first witnessed these stops in Patong, broad daylight in 2016. Only foreign riders being stopped whilst Thai families of 4 on a bike, all with no helmets were not even looked at. Easy stop at 200+ Baht per time (maybe more now). Best and safest option is only ride/drive with all paperwork in order and follow the rules. I do think that the MC hire shops should be compelled to require valid driving licences though and it remains to be seen what action is actually taken against them. Renting a car without a valid DL at the airport would not be possible (though I'm not sure they always demand an IDP from those without Thai licences).

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by soi3eddie

[NE1]

Damned if they do , damned if they don't !

[MRToMRT]

37 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

While 10 year old kids are allowed to ride motorbikes, they are arresting foreigners without Thai driver's licenses. Meanwhile it is perfectly legal for a Thai to drive in the US, with a Thai drivers license. Fair or extremely xenophobic? 

I always thought you could drive in Thailand on a foreign license for up to 3 months without an IDP. I may be wrong but I have a strong memory of this (many of my memories are questionable due to my age though).

[JoePai]

59 minutes ago, FriendlyFarang said:

If you look at the police checkpoints in tourist places it's indeed racism. They pull over everybody who doesn't look Thai, but a Thai without helmet and no license plate can just pass.

So what ?

[Tropposurfer]

1 hour ago, Dazkkk said:

 

An IDP and your country of origin Driving licence is required if you want to drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Thailand.
After a year, if you want to continue to drive in Thailand you have to take a Thai driving test, as the IDP is no longer valid. 

Actually its 60 days on a foreign license and OR an international driving permit. Then if you continue to drive regardless of what foreign license you have you MUST either stop driving, riding or go get a Thai license (2 year period of validity for the first Thai license).

If you don't get a Thai license at or before the 60 days of continuous presence and riding in LOS expires you are considered under Thai traffic law to be driving license-less and breaking the law. 

[Tropposurfer]

If ya re so monumentally arrogant, anti-social, and stupid as to ride a bike or drive a car here without a valid license, and therefore zero insurance of any kind, you deserve every ounce of punishment is meted out to you.

[soi3eddie]

7 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

If ya re so monumentally arrogant, anti-social, and stupid as to ride a bike or drive a car here without a valid license, and therefore zero insurance of any kind, you deserve every ounce of punishment is meted out to you.

Agreed but have you ever looked at the low insurance coverage offered even when correctly licenced? I have first class motorcycle cover and only 200 Baht day for 20 days hospitalization, Maximum of 80,000 Baht for bodily injury and 500,000 Baht for death. Basic compulsory insurance much less.

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

28 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

I always thought you could drive in Thailand on a foreign license for up to 3 months without an IDP. I may be wrong but I have a strong memory of this (many of my memories are questionable due to my age though).

I though the same but the Thailand embassy page in Australia says this:

 

 

If you do not hold a Thai driver's licence and wish to drive in Thailand, you need an international driving permit (IDP), as well as your Australian licence. If you drive without the correct licence you could be arrested or jailed. An IDP is a document sanctioned by the United Nations.

 

Been a long time since I drove in Thailand so maybe the rules were different back then. 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Fat is a type of crazy