Pay attention when police stops you

[FriendlyFarang]

I got pulled over at the big police checkpoint on Highway 32, which is operating nearly every day.

Not the first time getting pulled over there, usually they just want to check if the red license plate on the car is legit.

They inspected the license plate, but they also told me that I was going too fast.

 

The police officer swiftly (like a second or two) showed me the picture of the car on his phone and then zoomed in on the speed, which showed 124km/h.

I said that I doubt that I was going too fast because I pass here often and just set my cruise control at 120km/h and was never suspected of speeding.

But he insisted that I was 4km/h too fast and would have to pay 500 baht fine for this. No tea money, but an official fine, he even told me that they could send me the fine in the mail if I preferred this.

 

Then I requested to see the picture again, and upon closer inspection I noticed that this isn't my car, it was of the same brand and same color, but a different model. I also noticed that the picture didn't even show the license plate, it was cut off.

So I pointed this out, upon which he was "oh, one moment", and started doing something on this phone. After 10 seconds he had another picture, claiming that the first picture was wrong but this one is the correct one.

Again, same brand, same color, but different model, definitely not my car, license plate again cut off.

 

Did you ever experience this?

 

 

 

[brianthainess]

And then what happened ? 

[OneMoreFarang]

You should have asked him if a police officer who lies to get money will be disciplined?

Maybe just show him a random picture of another police officer so that he understands the idea. 

[FriendlyFarang]

10 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And then what happened ? 

Then he walked away and I could continue, obviously he didn’t have any evidence of me going too fast, I didn’t get an apology.

[JustAnotherHun]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

You should have asked him if a police officer who lies to get money will be disciplined?

Maybe just show him a random picture of another police officer so that he understands the idea. 

Good idea if you're looking for further trouble.

 

The officer offered to send the fine so it was clearly not a try to get some pocket money.

 

The OP could drive on unfined because the officer could not provide evidence or maybe he recognized to be wrong. An apology would have been a face loss for him. One should not expect that.

 

[StayinThailand2much]

24 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

You should have asked him if a police officer who lies to get money will be disciplined?

Maybe just show him a random picture of another police officer so that he understands the idea. 

And then get arrested and charged for defamation...

[OneMoreFarang]

15 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Good idea if you're looking for further trouble.

 

The officer offered to send the fine so it was clearly not a try to get some pocket money.

 

The OP could drive on unfined because the officer could not provide evidence or maybe he recognized to be wrong. An apology would have been a face loss for him. One should not expect that.

 

I didn't really expect that anybody would do what I "suggested".

And about paying that fine: I had lots of officers stop me on my bike and then they start to fill out a form. And then they show their good heart and told me I can also pay cash to them directly. ???? 

[FriendlyFarang]

40 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

The officer offered to send the fine so it was clearly not a try to get some pocket money.

I didn't get any "teamoney" vibe, so I'm quite certain that this isn't what he was after.

Maybe they have a quota that they need to fulfill.

Most of the drivers are aware of this checkpoint, so they don't drive too fast. Somebody who is unaware or just doesn't care has a really hard time to drive faster than 120km/h on this patch due to all the cars following the speed limit, thus police surely don't catch many people for speeding there.

 

40 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

The OP could drive on unfined because the officer could not provide evidence or maybe he recognized to be wrong. An apology would have been a face loss for him. One should not expect that.

After the first wrong picture, and if he had said something at least slightly apologetic I would have believed that it was by mistake. But after he tried it again with another picture and then just walking away after being unsuccessful, I doubt it was by accident.

Also considering that the license plates were cut off from the pictures... I failed to look if there was a date on the picture, if it should happen again I will look if it is maybe even a picture from last month or similar.

[tgw]

moral of the story:

put a colored sticker on your car so it can be easily recognized.

[KhunBENQ]

Better have it sent by mail where the license plate has to be clearly visible. And you can identify and dispute in case.

And then the argument starts whether their measurement is accurate or your cruise control.

 

And that was on a stretch of HW 32 where 120 is explicitly allowed?

(I remember some parts of highways being elevated to 120)

Major parts of HW 32 are ordinary divided highway where 90 is allowed.

 

[blackshadow]

report him should have got photo of his name number etc

[PeachCH]

When I was living and driving in Thailand, I never argued with the police, just asked, " today, how much" ? Never asked the reason why stopped. Also told them, no any receipt needed. Was either 100-200 (Bangkok mostly) or 500 - 1000 on the highways. 

[Tarteso]

 

[Chongalulu]

17 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

And then get arrested and charged for defamation...

Now look up "Poe’s law" ????‍♂️ 

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, PeachCH said:

When I was living and driving in Thailand, I never argued with the police, just asked, " today, how much" ? Never asked the reason why stopped. Also told them, no any receipt needed. Was either 100-200 (Bangkok mostly) or 500 - 1000 on the highways. 

And that’s the negotiating start point. See you’ve got this sussed ! ???? 

[actonion]

Next time  request the fine via  the post........My Mrs..  receives regular traffic  fines  via  the post  dating  back  2 years, and  has never paid one,    their systems are obviously so dis- organised  so they cant keep up with who's paid and,  who has'nt paid ............and yes she still taxes her car annually without a problem..

[Tango777]

Did OP say 4 Km/H ? That's like 2.5 mph over ! I don't think they can see that closely. Over here in the States tickets basically start at 10 mph over, in most cases. 

[cliveb]

1 hour ago, Tarteso said:

 

Maybe a Motorway where Bikes ar not allowed . Just saying !!!

[jesimps]

Many years ago I was pulled over on a motorway slip road when returning to Pattaya from Suvarnabhumi. The copper had no English, but showed me a crumpled bit of paper with 120 kph written on it in pencil. Being that I was only doing about 80 I argued the toss, but he was insistent. I gave in when he stuck his hand in the car and said "200 baht". I know I know, but it had been a long day and I was anxious to be on my way.

After that, I downloaded a navy badge from the internet and stuck it on my windscreen. I haven't been stopped again in 16 years.

[fondue zoo]

18 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I didn't really expect that anybody would do what I "suggested".

And about paying that fine: I had lots of officers stop me on my bike and then they start to fill out a form. And then they show their good heart and told me I can also pay cash to them directly. ???? 

 

This is why I always wear my "I Love Big Joke" t-shirt when driving, big picture of him, bright letters in Thai.

 -points at officer - You love Big Joke yeah, I love Big Joke too!    ....then I get arrested for being a smartass.

 

[wildpuppet72]

2 hours ago, PeachCH said:

When I was living and driving in Thailand, I never argued with the police, just asked, " today, how much" ? Never asked the reason why stopped. Also told them, no any receipt needed. Was either 100-200 (Bangkok mostly) or 500 - 1000 on the highways. 

Yes you are the root of the tea money problem. are you not okay up there paying without knowing what you did wtf is that about ????????

[Grusa]

Please tell me what phone gives a photo with a speed measurement? or is it linked to the speed camera system. 

Sounds too hi-tech to be workable by plod.

[Will B Good]

Not had that happen, but did have to pay 400 baht for "driving on a dual carriage way".......?????......along with all the other road users.

 

I was told that if we went to the police station it would be 100 baht, but there would be a five hour wait to be processed.

[MrJ2U]

Good for you.

 

Did they ever get the right picture? 

[vinci]

its call lunch money, we know he know everybody know, no point of arguing with him, you can sit there and fight with him for hour and hour or go down to the station for another half a day, your choice

 

me, i just ask him can i pay fine here with him and he bring it down to that station for me, 5 minute and im on my way, time is a luxury that we can't waste.

[FriendlyFarang]

31 minutes ago, Grusa said:

Please tell me what phone gives a photo with a speed measurement? or is it linked to the speed camera system. 

Sounds too hi-tech to be workable by plod.

From past experience long ago: The guy looking at the screen of the camera takes a picture and sends it to his colleague through Line.

I don't know where the pictures this time came from. Wouldn't surprise me if he has an album on his phone with random speeding pictures though...

 

12 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Did they ever get the right picture? 

No, I guess because I wasn't speeding.

 

6 minutes ago, vinci said:

its call lunch money, we know he know everybody know, no point of arguing with him, you can sit there and fight with him for hour and hour or go down to the station for another half a day, your choice

 

me, i just ask him can i pay fine here with him and he bring it down to that station for me, 5 minute and im on my way, time is a luxury that we can't waste.

After pointing out both times that the cars on the pictures aren't mine he gave up and I could continue without paying anything, took a few minutes.

[4MyEgo]

21 hours ago, FriendlyFarang said:

they also told me that I was going too fast.

This happened to me at a usual road block, but I also have cruise control on, and when he said you speeding, I said no, here is video of me driving and speed, oh, ok, very good, you go to tent and pay 400 baht for being in overtaking lane....LOL

 

Bastard got me, couldn't argue with him, long of the short, I made sure I got my 400 baht off the next Thai guy when I negotiated his price down on the item I was buying, not that I usually do this, but I wasn't going to get fleeced, so revenge is bitter sweet, what goes around comes around, didn't bother me that it was someone else paying for my fine.

[Theyreallrubbish]

Many years ago was pulled over at toll road exit booth and was told I was speeding.  I thought it was probably true so I was ready to pay 

 

then he pulled out a ring binder full of A4 printed pictures of cars and opened it to show my car

 

i was impressed they could get a camera picture printed and in the folder in the short amount of time I’d been on the highway so I started to reach for my wallet

 

then I noticed the Autocar logo on the corner of the picture of “my” car. I pointed at the logo and started laughing and the cop was upset and put his folder away and said, “100 Baht “

 

I gave him that and he waved me away quickly

[owl sees all]

16 hours ago, blackshadow said:

report him should have got photo of his name number etc

Think there is to much pussy-footing around with these people. They are out to get whatever they can from the unsuspecting.

 

If you are trying hard not to get ripped off by remaining cool, and explaining that they have it wrong, but it's falling on deaf ears, try a different approach. First, learn to pronounce the area's chief peeler's name very correctly. Then mutter it a few times; as though he is your best buddy.

 

Or, as some do, stand your ground and throw a few obscenities at the peeler trying to extract your dosh. That often brings home the bacon.

 

 

[Captor]

5 hours ago, PeachCH said:

When I was living and driving in Thailand, I never argued with the police, just asked, " today, how much" ? Never asked the reason why stopped. Also told them, no any receipt needed. Was either 100-200 (Bangkok mostly) or 500 - 1000 on the highways. 

That's why it never ends with corruption. Well done!