What happens if a foreigner doesn't pay a traffic infringement fine? Saw a video on Youtube

[bbi1]

Just saw a video where a falang was stopped on Beach Rd outside the Cop Shop and didn't have a Thai motorbike licence or IDP. Cops issued him a 500 baht fine. He didn't have enough cash on him apparently, went into the cop shop to pay with a card if they would accept it, but they said cash only. He walked back out and back to his motorbike and rode off without paying.

 

We all know many Thais don't bother paying any traffic infringement fines but what happens with foreigners? Do they even lodge those paper fines into the computer system and do they issue the fines to the owners of the bikes if not paid? For example, rental company or rental person if privately rented?

 

Here's the video, start around the 18:15 mark: 

 

[Bill97]

They pull your fingernails out one a day, one for each 100 Baht owed, then proceed to toe nails if necessary.

[richard_smith237]

There - I think the video shows what happens...  Question answered isn't it ?

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

I think most of the time nothing happens.

I had a ticket which I paid maybe a year later. The police told me I am late, but I paid the regular amount, no problem. 

 

But I guess as usual there is a difference about what normally happens and what could possibly happen. Maybe they hold him back at the airport and tell him to go to the local police station and pay the fine before he can leaf. I don't say this will happen, but nothing would surprise me in Thailand. 

[johng]

No shirt on whilst driving a motorbike and no IDP to show the cops,

was he wearing his helmet  when they pulled him over ?

doesn't pay and then says he can work  and they don't say anything

Jesus  then goes onto to say he has been drinking smoking weed and taking pills whist driving !!!!!  FFS !!!

[bob smith]

when they wave you in just speed up.

 

that usually does the trick!

 

BOB.

[scubascuba3]

Either nothing happens or they fine you when you pay your annual tax, lucky dip

[johng]

2 minutes ago, bob smith said:

when they wave you in just speed up.

That does sometimes work bit risky though as sometimes they have other cops waiting a bit further along  and in rare cases they will give chase.

 

They also have spotters before the checkpoint  looking for those without helmet or wearing seatbelts.

 

Still its a hell of a lot better than the Orwellian total surveillance 24/7 spy cameras that "western" countries use to subjugate their populations.

[bbi1]

24 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think most of the time nothing happens.

So when the cops ask you to go inside and pay the fine, you just get on your motorbike and ride off and they will just watch you go lol

[bbi1]

13 minutes ago, bob smith said:

when they wave you in just speed up.

 

that usually does the trick!

 

BOB.

I always speed up and cut through traffic on Beach Rd near the cop shop when I seem them standing there ready to pull over motorbikes. Never once have they been able to see and stop me because I'm driving too fast, would become too dangerous for them to try and run into the middle of the road. Because I don't want to waste my time and theirs. I've got my Thai licence and helmet on all the time so they wouldn't be able to fine me for anything anyway.

[johng]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

So when the cops ask you to go inside and pay the fine, you just get on your motorbike and ride off

Normally they will take the keys  and you have to show a receipt to get keys back..maybe this joker had a spare set of keys ?

[bbi1]

2 minutes ago, johng said:

Normally they will take the keys  and you have to show a receipt to get keys back..maybe this joker had a spare set of keys ?

If you go a few minutes earlier in the video, the cops had his keys and he asked for them back before going into the cop shop and the cop gave the keys back to him when asked.

 

Plus cops can't take your keys when you have remote keyless entry like many of the newer bikes these days 😉

[johng]

2 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

If you go a few minutes earlier in the video, the cops had his keys and he asked for them back before going into the cop shop and the cop gave the keys back to him when asked.

Well I didn't see that in the video (can you give a timestamp)

but the cop messed up then.

[OneMoreFarang]

14 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

So when the cops ask you to go inside and pay the fine, you just get on your motorbike and ride off and they will just watch you go lol

When the police stop you, there are two options (at least for me on motorcycle for the last two decades):

a) They want cash there and then. I paid often 100B.

b) They give you a ticket and you have to pay that ticket at the police station. Earliest on the next day, and I think officially within the next 10 days or so.

 

If you have a driver license then they confiscate your driver license and keep it. When you pay the fine at the station then they give you back the license. 

[Liverpool Lou]

26 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

So when the cops ask you to go inside and pay the fine, you just get on your motorbike and ride off and they will just watch you go lol

The fine does not have to be paid there and then, it is still outstanding, he can leave and return when he has cash...if he chooses.

[rexpotter]

Keep a few hundred baht paper clipped to any card underneath and solve it right there and leave. Race away? Ok, you can but be careful. They rarely chase people. Unlike the Kiwi deal, where the cop chased him a with loaded gun.

That's my not 100% correct solution.

[rexpotter]

Just now, rexpotter said:

Keep a few hundred baht paper clipped to any card underneath and solve it right there and leave. Race away? Ok, you can but be careful. They rarely chase people. Unlike the Kiwi deal, where the cop chased him a with loaded gun.

That's my not 100% correct solution.

Also, they are not going to stop you at the airport. Forget about it, have another Chang.

[Liverpool Lou]

26 minutes ago, johng said:

Normally they will take the keys  and you have to show a receipt to get keys back..maybe this joker had a spare set of keys ?

No, they don't, they normally retain the driving licence which is returned when the fine is paid, they cannot confiscate the keys and, effectively, the bike.  When they take the keys it is usually just to stop the bike being ridden away until they have issued the ticket or accepted the fine/payment.

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, they don't, they normally retain the driving licence which is returned when the fine is paid, they cannot confiscate the keys and, effectively, the bike.  When they take the keys it is usually just to stop the bike being ridden away until they have issued the ticket or accepted the fine/payment.

They ain't allowed to take the licence anymore!

[BritManToo]

40 minutes ago, johng said:

Normally they will take the keys  and you have to show a receipt to get keys back..maybe this joker had a spare set of keys ?

My Honda doesn't have any keys!

[Trip Hop]

7 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, they don't, they normally retain the driving licence which is returned when the fine is paid, they cannot confiscate the keys and, effectively, the bike.  When they take the keys it is usually just to stop the bike being ridden away until they have issued the ticket or accepted the fine/payment.

 

Not in my experience.  Last time I got fined for no helmets and IDP they stopped us on 3rd road, confiscated the keys/bike at the roadside and sent us off to Soi 9 on a motorbike taxi, 3 up with no helmets.  🤣

[johng]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

My Honda doesn't have any keys!

Yeah cos you stole it !!!  5555   😋

[Trip Hop]

46 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

I always speed up and cut through traffic on Beach Rd near the cop shop when I seem them standing there ready to pull over motorbikes. Never once have they been able to see and stop me because I'm driving too fast, would become too dangerous for them to try and run into the middle of the road. Because I don't want to waste my time and theirs. I've got my Thai licence and helmet on all the time so they wouldn't be able to fine me for anything anyway.

 

Yep, just use the lane nearest the beach and avoid eye contact.  Dolphin roundabout/Terminal 21 can be a little bit trickier though!

[PJ71]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Either nothing happens or they fine you when you pay your annual tax, lucky dip

Who told you they fine you when pay tax, have you experienced this first hand?

 

I must have hundreds of tickets i've never paid, never been questioned whilst taxing any of my vehicles, not once.

[transam]

11 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Who told you they fine you when pay tax, have you experienced this first hand?

 

I must have hundreds of tickets i've never paid, never been questioned whilst taxing any of my vehicles, not once.

Of course, you have...............

[PJ71]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Of course, you have...............

Hey Tranny, you don't hang about do you.

 

Believe what you want buttercup......

[transam]

4 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Hey Tranny, you don't hang about do you.

 

Believe what you want buttercup......

About 4 years back, Mrs.T went to road tax her bike, they said, "Sorry, you must go to the police station to pay a parking fine", do that then come back".

 

She said, "I haven't had a parking fine".. 🤔

 

She went to the police station to ask what it was about, out came a photo of her bike parked not close enough to the curb, she had to pay up. Went back and taxed her bike......😏

[Chetzee]

1 hour ago, johng said:

No shirt on whilst driving a motorbike and no IDP to show the cops,

was he wearing his helmet  when they pulled him over ?

doesn't pay and then says he can work  and they don't say anything

Jesus  then goes onto to say he has been drinking smoking weed and taking pills whist driving !!!!!  FFS !!!

he is a total helmet .......  

I was directed to his videos last week and as I commented at the time .....  fine should have been 1500 

500 no Int Permit  500 no shirt 500 driving like a total tool 

he's rather the epitome of the tourist Thailand does not need ..... gobby  and  disrespectful

he'll probably end up getting a hiding off someone before long ..... just sayin" ! 

[PJ71]

13 minutes ago, transam said:

About 4 years back, Mrs.T went to road tax her bike, they said, "Sorry, you must go to the police station to pay a parking fine", do that then come back".

 

She said, "I haven't had a parking fine".. 🤔

 

She went to the police station to ask what it was about, out came a photo of her bike parked not close enough to the curb, she had to pay up. Went back and taxed her bike......😏

Ok, that's nice for Mrs Tranny, sounds like a great day out....

[scubascuba3]

37 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Who told you they fine you when pay tax, have you experienced this first hand?

 

I must have hundreds of tickets i've never paid, never been questioned whilst taxing any of my vehicles, not once.

Various reports that they linked up the systems, other reports people were charged at renewal