Pay attention when police stops you

[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!

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours 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.

No it's not too hi-tech.

The picture of my car on the cops smartphone was clear and speed indicated.

Sure they are linked.

Up here it usually happens before reaching a district town with the police box/station roadside. Short walk to the cashier

I was about 20 km/h over the limit and paid 500.

I still don't quite buy the story of 4 km/h over.

120 being allowed on highways is an exception on a few stretches with specific features (completely "fenced", separated, no junctions or intersections like motorways).

[FriendlyFarang]

12 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

120 being allowed on highways is an exception on a few stretches with specific features (completely "fenced", separated, no junctions or intersections like motorways).

That's what they state in news regarding 120km/h speed limit. But in reality they just temporarily reduce the speed to 90km/h a few hundred meters before a u-turn or a traffic light, and right after you can officially drive 120km/h

You can legally drive 120km/h on probably 90% of the way from Pathum Thani to Nakhon Sawan. But actually you can drive 120km/h all the way because they don't enforce the short 90km/h limits.

Edited May 22, 2023 by FriendlyFarang

[Dogmatix]

They offer to send the fine notification by mail but, if it's the same price, most will opt to pay on the spot and avoid getting points off their licence, assuming they have one.

[keithcresswell]

A lot more sophisticated now than a few years ago when it was just a number written on the back of a cigarette box.

[kwilco]

I take it that this is one of the highways that has had its speed limit increased to 120kph?

[Max Brok]

I did already 35000 KM in Thailand and and pulled one time by a high way checkpoint. When I showed my face when opening the window I had to drive again. I never have to show my driver license in all 20 years I drive in Thailand although I have only 3 years a Thai DL.

[DJ54]

OP Thanks … good information…. Got a ticket it NE for 3 km over speed limit cash process. Showed me picture but I didn’t take much notice of it other than same model as my car…. I was relieved it was 3 km over cause I know I was @ 30 over.. ..next time I’ll have to take a better look…

[Skeptic7]

LOS... Land of Scams.

Scamland. 

[Sticky Rice Balls]

On 5/21/2023 at 3:13 PM, tgw said:

moral of the story:

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

I just tape a 500 bt bill to my motorbike for quicker drive thru service ????

[MrJ2U]

8 hours ago, FriendlyFarang said:

No, I guess because I wasn't speeding

Good deal!

 

500 baht can go towards your gas instead of the rotten police. 

[Wuvu2]

Yes, and as the officer was swiping through photos looking for my infraction I noticed some porn shots which I immediately said I wanted to see. After some joking around I left without any fine ???? 

[kwilco]

It helps if you speak Thai - over the years, I've been asked to pay less frequently when I'm stopped.. A couple of times we've both ended up falling about laughing. I've also had occasions when I've had some fairly well-to-do or influential Thai people in the car..For a period of time there was a plump officer operating on Motorway 7 behind a toll booth.....had a long running "duel" with him - he never got a penny out of me..

 

It's a strange situation as you are utterly powerless, you have to rely on your social skills to mitigate the situation.

 

BTW - I've never paid 500 baht - always 200 . I also keep lots of small notes lying about - they don't like it if you count it out onto the hood of your car.in 20 baht notes. and keep dragging more out o your pockets.

Edited May 22, 2023 by kwilco

[nightfox]

Here in Issan cops just pull you over on the highways without any proof of speeding. It's called falang tollway fee.

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, nightfox said:

Here in Issan cops just pull you over on the highways without any proof of speeding. It's called falang tollway fee.

Really? Never experienced

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 5/21/2023 at 1:52 PM, FriendlyFarang said:

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

I hear what you are saying.

 

I've been getting pulled over a few times a year for a decade now, they keep asking to see my red plate to check if legit but I swapped it out for a white plate after having it for only 8 weeks. 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

7 hours ago, nightfox said:

Here in Issan cops just pull you over on the highways without any proof of speeding. It's called falang tollway fee.

2001, I drove up to Phetchabun, I got pulled over by the cops, when I lowered the drivers window the cop nearly fell over, he lent across and started talking to the Mrs, he then gave my license back and gave me a Wai.

I asked the wife what he said, she said the officer was honored to pull me over as I was his first foreigner he'd ever pulled over, he also said to have a safe journey. 

 

The problem is too many bloody foreigners here in Thailand, they have ruined Thailand, too many cranky, horrible foreigners being nasty and rude. 

 

You can't blame the cops, they've had enough. 

 

I miss the good old days 

 

[Speedhump]

I made an illegal u-turn on a big road in BKK I didn't know it but after I saw that was correct. The BIB that flagged me down had it  already sketched out on the back of his pad. Obviously his regular tea money earner. He said fine was something like 1500 Baht, how much I pay him. I say forget it. He said OK I give you ticket. I said OK do it. Back and forth a couple of times, and also firmly get him to give me my license back. Ends up I give him just 100 Baht just to get on my way back to Hua Hin (I almost just handed him 50). I'm a pragmatist, and I win on the shonky legal system here far more than I lose, so all good. 

[josephbloggs]

21 hours ago, nightfox said:

Here in Issan cops just pull you over on the highways without any proof of speeding. It's called falang tollway fee.

So when they see you speeding from a distance they know you are a farang?

Or they let you go past, see you are a farang then give chase? Wow, exciting. Which one is it?

Or are you just making stuff up and have a paranoid farang chip on your shoulder like so many people here?

[josephbloggs]

On 5/22/2023 at 11:07 AM, 4MyEgo said:

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.

Wow, you're so tough.  Wish I was as tough as you penalising random Thais - go you!

Seriously what a pathetic attitude. And almost certainly made up.

[nightfox]

49 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

So when they see you speeding from a distance they know you are a farang?

Or they let you go past, see you are a farang then give chase? Wow, exciting. Which one is it?

Or are you just making stuff up and have a paranoid farang chip on your shoulder like so many people here?

I see that sarcasm is more then a hobby for you....Do you even drive in Thailand as you sound like you just watch car chase movies all day and are disgruntled of the outcome and posting your frustrations here.

[4MyEgo]

7 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Wow, you're so tough.  Wish I was as tough as you penalising random Thais - go you!

Seriously what a pathetic attitude. And almost certainly made up.

You must be a fun guy to have a drink with.

[josephbloggs]

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

You must be a fun guy to have a drink with.

I am, thank you.

[4MyEgo]

12 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

I am, thank you.

Says one to self.....LMFAO

 

Have a good one.

[phetphet]

On 5/21/2023 at 2:59 PM, FriendlyFarang said:

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.

 

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.

Perhaps they have printed fake "official looking" receipts, or have an accomplice in the office that sends out the fines. Or as you suggested, quota filling. Certainly seems suspicious.

 

[bluejets]

On 5/21/2023 at 4:52 PM, FriendlyFarang said:

But he insisted that I was 4km/h too fast and would have to pay 500 baht fine for this.

Use the argument my parents always used to use when I was a kid.............. this is for the times I didn't catch you.

Think youself lucky and move on.

Arguing with police could be looked on as a rather dick*** move.

[sikishrory]

On 5/21/2023 at 2:11 PM, 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. 

 

[Big Bert]

Did you not say "Do you know who I am?"

[AhFarangJa]

On 5/21/2023 at 2:12 PM, FriendlyFarang said:

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.

An apology........Here...............Oh, that is the best joke I have heard this year.......

[Sticky Rice Balls]

7 hours ago, Big Bert said:

Did you not say "Do you know who I am?"

I tell them im related to somchai....