A Night in the Thai Police Station

[Upnotover]

  On 4/21/2025 at 9:14 PM, MangoKorat said:

I am told that when I do renew it, I'll only get a 2 year one at first

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You'll get a 5 year licence but you'll have to do the theory and practical tests. I did this last year.

[Trippy]

You're lucky I'm not in charge, I'd put a 5 day mandatory minimum jail time for all drunk drivers. Taxis are cheap and abundant here, never a reason to drink and drive.

[MangoKorat]

  On 4/22/2025 at 2:13 AM, jvs said:

If you live here you are supposed to have a Thai DL.

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Please read my post fully - I stated that I am not resident. As far as I know I do not need a Thai licence unless I stay longer than 12 months.

[Cameroni]

  On 4/22/2025 at 2:31 AM, Trippy said:

You're lucky I'm not in charge, I'd put a 5 day mandatory minimum jail time for all drunk drivers. Taxis are cheap and abundant here, never a reason to drink and drive.

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Deportation would be justified. People like this are ruining it for all of us. Why do you think farang have this reputation as being lawless criminals? People like this. Drinks whiskey and goes for a drive. Then complains about being in a jail cell.

 

I completely understand the Thai police officer telling the gf her bf is a criminal. He is! No wonder he wanted to deport him. I say let's do it, let's get all these undesirables out of Thailand.  The Thais will love it, Thailand will be a better place, and it will be better for us Farang with less of these lawless drunks as our reputation will improve. Everyone wins.

[jvs]

  On 4/22/2025 at 2:36 AM, MangoKorat said:

Please read my post fully - I stated that I am not resident. As far as I know I do not need a Thai licence unless I stay longer than 12 months.

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You have that wrong,you should look up what the rules are.

Resident or not has nothing to do with it.

 

[sungod]

  On 4/21/2025 at 9:22 PM, MangoKorat said:

No, he shouldn't be helping perpetuate corruption, although I think he's been treated harshly, he shouldn't actually have been driving.

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A night in a cell and going to court, versus 20 grand and sleeping at home and all forgotten. You sure you are not under the influence?

[MangoKorat]

  On 4/22/2025 at 3:21 AM, sungod said:

 

A night in a cell and going to court, versus 20 grand and sleeping at home and all forgotten. You sure you are not under the influence?

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So you're one of those that thinks drink driving is OK?  Police corruption is also OK?

[sungod]

  On 4/22/2025 at 3:47 AM, MangoKorat said:

So you're one of those that thinks drink driving is OK?  Police corruption is also OK?

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Didnt say drink driving is OK, read again.

 

Imagine being in an accident in your car, cops will always come down on you whether you are right or wrong. You want to go to jail and then have years of court cases to fight (cause that's what happens here) or a few quid to make it go away and life continues as normal?

 

Its not supporting corruption, its being realistic.

[sungod]

  On 4/22/2025 at 3:47 AM, MangoKorat said:

Police corruption is also OK?

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Way of life

[roo860]

  On 4/21/2025 at 7:44 PM, Packer said:

 

The inhumanity?

 

Spend 24 hours as a displaced Gazan mother and come back to us. 

 

Your ego took a hit because for the first time in your over privileged life you were the black boy being barked at by simpletons. Then after 24 hours you went home and normal service was resumed. Give us a break. Having to sleep on a floor. Backpackers and squatters choose to do that for years. Barked at by simpletons, 14 hours a day businessmen pay $200 an hour for that. 

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I see the medication 💊 isn't working 😕 

[roo860]

  On 4/22/2025 at 3:02 AM, Cameroni said:

 

Deportation would be justified. People like this are ruining it for all of us. Why do you think farang have this reputation as being lawless criminals? People like this. Drinks whiskey and goes for a drive. Then complains about being in a jail cell.

 

I completely understand the Thai police officer telling the gf her bf is a criminal. He is! No wonder he wanted to deport him. I say let's do it, let's get all these undesirables out of Thailand.  The Thais will love it, Thailand will be a better place, and it will be better for us Farang with less of these lawless drunks as our reputation will improve. Everyone wins.

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And another one forgot to take his meds this morning 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Cameroni]

  On 4/22/2025 at 4:20 AM, roo860 said:

And another one forgot to take his meds this morning 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Another drunk defending Ukrainians getting blotto on Whiskey and then going for a joydrive. 

 

Great.

 

Now our reputation as farang criminals will get even worse.

 

Thanks a lot.

[MangoKorat]

  On 4/22/2025 at 3:56 AM, sungod said:

Didnt say drink driving is OK, read again.

 

Imagine being in an accident in your car, cops will always come down on you whether you are right or wrong. You want to go to jail and then have years of court cases to fight (cause that's what happens here) or a few quid to make it go away and life continues as normal?

 

Its not supporting corruption, its being realistic.

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That's an argument I've heard time and time again but my experience has been the complete opposite. I stand up to them if I know I'm in the right and its worked for me for 22 years. I've had Thai friends visibly gobsmacked that I dare to challenge a cop who's making up the usual 'you go too fast' crap etc.

 

Most of the time the cops are just trying it on with foreigners - when you stand up to them (politely) they almost always back down and wave you on, they can't be bothered. They also know that there is more likelihood of there being some sort of backlash if they try it on with foreigners.

 

Years of court cases for what?  I've never been in a serious accident but I know of a few that have and in all of those cases, the police actually acted like a mediator and encouraged settlement.

 

'Cause that's what happens here' - is it? You know that for a fact or that's what you've heard is it?  As far as I'm concerned its just barstool talk or at best, the experiences of people who don't have the spine to stand up for themselves.  If people stopped paying the police, the problem would go away.

 

I've been involved with court action - as the plaintiff, twice in Thailand, both cases I won and on both occasions the courts themselves actively engaged in getting the parties to settle before court. Yet the barstool folk say 'The farang always loses'.

 

Having a decent lawyer on hand can be helpful if you are in the wrong.

 

Paying bribes very much IS supporting corruption - just like all the Thai's that moan about the police being useless and ripping them off - but they pay.  In the right or wrong, they pay.  They can't moan about corruption and take part in it.

[roo860]

  On 4/22/2025 at 4:22 AM, Cameroni said:

 

Another drunk defending Ukrainians getting blotto on Whiskey and then going for a joydrive. 

 

Great.

 

Now our reputation as farang criminals will get even worse.

 

Thanks a lot.

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Is it your time of the month? Calm bloody down!!!!

[sungod]

  On 4/22/2025 at 4:27 AM, MangoKorat said:

'Cause that's what happens here' - is it? You know that for a fact or that's what you've heard is it?  As far as I'm concerned its just barstool talk or at best, the experiences of people who don't have the spine to stand up for themselves.  If people stopped paying the police, the problem would go away.

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Know for a fact, you may want to google a bit, , many cases in the press.

 

If people stop paying the police? You in cuckoo land, its a way of life.

 

Anyway, good luck with your UK license if you get stopped and start quoting the law.......even more so if you end up in a prang. What you going to do, tell them whats right or wrong cause its not like that where you come from? 

 

[sungod]

  On 4/22/2025 at 4:27 AM, MangoKorat said:

Years of court cases for what?  I've never been in a serious accident but I know of a few that have and in all of those cases, the police actually acted like a mediator and encouraged settlement.

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Yes, and the police get their cut..... wake up.

[FritsSikkink]

  On 4/21/2025 at 5:25 PM, Hellfire said:

We've all read and seen films about Thai prisons. We all know it's not the most pleasant place to spend your time. And yet, nothing compares to personal experience—what you go through yourself...

From the very start, I'll admit that I fully recognize my guilt for the violations I committed. First, I drank about 70-80 grams of Thai 35% whiskey and got behind the wheel. Second, I drove without having either Thai or international driver's licenses. Did I deserve the punishment I received? According to many grumpy, old men from this forum—yes, I deserved to be quartered. From my point of view, however, I was treated unfairly and even in a dirty way.

That day, my Thai wife was with me. We went for a short drive around the city, and during it, I had a little whiskey. A police patrol stopped us when we were about 200 meters from our condo. It was around 11 PM. I should mention that I felt 100% sober at that moment, and I'm sure I looked that way too. I didn't refuse to blow into the breathalyzer. The result was 27 "milligrams percent"… As the young officer explained, it was a full 7 points above the legal limit. About 15 minutes later, a young Thai man breathed into the same device, and his result was 120 "milligrams percent". He looked, by the way, quite respectable.

They kept us there for about an hour and a half, right where we were stopped. All this time, through my wife, the police explained that they would process us at the station, we'd pay a 20,000 baht bail, and most likely, we'd be in court the next day. At the station, they kept us for at least another hour (together with the 120%-Thai). There's no need to explain the discomfort of being in a police station: various rude, ignorant men of different ages take pleasure in making you feel small, desperately exaggerating their importance. If there's anywhere that the meaninglessness of human nature fully reveals itself—it's during close interaction with police officers (or "dogs," as they're commonly called in Russia).

Just when it seemed that the cheap spectacle was about to end, a higher-ranking officer (which means the most immoral of them all) declared that I could escape the country, and the 20,000 baht bail wasn’t a guarantee for such a horrible criminal as me. The conclusion—I'd spend the night in jail.

I didn't argue, handed my personal belongings to my wife, and, together with the 120%-Thai, walked into the police cell.

There were about 15 other Thai prisoners already in the cell (although among them were also Burmese and some other Asians). The surprising thing was that they were all fast asleep. Another surprising part was that they were sleeping on the completely bare stone floor. It finally hit me where I was. The room smelled strongly from the toilet located within the cell. The floor, on which the prisoners were sleeping, was not just stone, but also quite dirty. I sat in a corner and immediately realized I wouldn’t be able to sleep here. My Thai companion also sat in a corner, and initially, it seemed like he, too, wouldn't sleep (by the way, he was sent to jail only because he didn’t have the money for bail). However, I was wrong. Half an hour later, he dozed off while sitting, and an hour later, he comfortably stretched out on the dirty floor and began snoring.

And here I was, alone in this terrifying room, surrounded by 15 sleeping Asians. Just a few hours ago, I had been expecting a very different end to my evening. I noticed a small window near the ceiling of the cell. Now, it became my main point of reference for the coming hours. I had to wait for dawn.

I won’t go into the details of my thought process. Naturally, it was a tough night for me—both physically and mentally. What I didn’t know was that at the same time the officer who sent me behind bars was interrogating my wife. He asked her about me, how I earned a living, whether I had broken the law before... When he saw my wife’s reluctance to turn me in, he started yelling at her, reminding her that I was a foreigner and that by defending me, she was betraying her country and her people. In the end, he promised her that I’d be deported. Such a nice guy, a true son of a land of smile.

Meanwhile, I kept changing positions: I sat when my back hurt, then stood, then walked. I did this all night. The thing that bothered me the most was the fear that they wouldn’t let me go in the morning and would keep me for another day or two. The fifteen Asians peacefully and soundly slept on the floor the whole time.

Finally, it started to get light. The birds began singing. My cellmates started to wake up. They treated me quite amicably, but without any excess.

I should mention that aside from the stone floor, another problem was drinking water. They gave me a small bottle when I entered, but only after my wife insisted. I stretched it out throughout the night. Surprisingly, my Thai neighbors didn’t seem too bothered by the lack of water—they drank very little. However, when they brought some kind of food (rice and something wrapped in paper), everyone sat down happily and ate with gusto. From this, I concluded that, after a night on the stone floor, everyone’s mood was surprisingly good.

Around noon, they loaded us into a van and took us to court. Dirty and unwashed. I was fined 10,000 baht.

Did my attitude towards Thailand change after all this? Definitely.

Be careful—you really don't want to end up in jail here, even for just one day. And don't forget, we're all guests here (in the worst sense of the word).

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So don't drink and drive and have a valid drivers license, next.

[flexomike]

  On 4/21/2025 at 7:26 PM, jts-khorat said:

 

I am not in disagreement, that he was not much over the limit; and that the likely reason he was put in a cell was some kind of fee to be negotiated (which his wife seemingly boggled up badly).

 

However, he indeed did the crime, and that right after Songkran, where everybody knows the police are on the lookout for DUIs.

 

His treatment was not harsh, he had 15 friends "enduring" the same...

 

And I see the issue more from the viewpoint, that it is unlikely he will be a repeat offender (with wife, he likely will be a long-term resident, so carelessness with alcohol could endanger poeple later).

 

I think he got off lightly, learned a lesson and has a nice story to tell. All that for not sleeping well for a night is a steal.

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And maybe he should get a license if he is going to continue to drive, if he gets into an accident with no license he will be paying big time out of pocket

[flexomike]

  On 4/21/2025 at 7:29 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think so...   We have other forum members on here who've admitted to regularly driving while stoned... others who brag about DUI after 14 beers...

 

They're the proper cockroaches...  This guy wasn't driving while drunk, he was merely over the lower limit for the Temp License.

 

 

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which he didn't have

[Cameroni]

  On 4/22/2025 at 4:31 AM, roo860 said:

Is it your time of the month? Calm bloody down!!!!

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I guess we shouildn't get upset because Thailand's roads are so safe already, a few drunk Ukrainians more on the roads makes no difference, right?

 

Children could have been killed.

 

Deport this draft dodger and his British cheerleader. Thailand will be the better for it!

 

Zero tolerance for drunk driving. And their apologists.

[faraday]

Some funny comments on here..

"standing up to the Police".

 

😅😅

[jvs]

  On 4/22/2025 at 4:27 AM, MangoKorat said:

That's an argument I've heard time and time again but my experience has been the complete opposite. I stand up to them if I know I'm in the right and its worked for me for 22 years. I've had Thai friends visibly gobsmacked that I dare to challenge a cop who's making up the usual 'you go too fast' crap etc.

 

Most of the time the cops are just trying it on with foreigners - when you stand up to them (politely) they almost always back down and wave you on, they can't be bothered. They also know that there is more likelihood of there being some sort of backlash if they try it on with foreigners.

 

Years of court cases for what?  I've never been in a serious accident but I know of a few that have and in all of those cases, the police actually acted like a mediator and encouraged settlement.

 

'Cause that's what happens here' - is it? You know that for a fact or that's what you've heard is it?  As far as I'm concerned its just barstool talk or at best, the experiences of people who don't have the spine to stand up for themselves.  If people stopped paying the police, the problem would go away.

 

I've been involved with court action - as the plaintiff, twice in Thailand, both cases I won and on both occasions the courts themselves actively engaged in getting the parties to settle before court. Yet the barstool folk say 'The farang always loses'.

 

Having a decent lawyer on hand can be helpful if you are in the wrong.

 

Paying bribes very much IS supporting corruption - just like all the Thai's that moan about the police being useless and ripping them off - but they pay.  In the right or wrong, they pay.  They can't moan about corruption and take part in it.

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You sound pretty arrogant.

Just wait until you get into a major accident and because you do not have a valid DL (Thai) your insurance refuses

to pay for any damage.

Make sure you tell the police that you are right and they are wrong!

See how far that gets you.

You are wrong thinking you can use your UK DL while living here.

Very wrong.

[BritManToo]

  On 4/22/2025 at 5:06 AM, jvs said:

Just wait until you get into a major accident and because you do not have a valid DL (Thai) your insurance refuses to pay for any damage.

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I only have government minimum insurance, and they pay DL or no DL.

[sungod]

  On 4/22/2025 at 5:10 AM, BritManToo said:

I only have government minimum insurance, and they pay DL or no DL.

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Its quite limited to be fair

 

 

[BangkokReady]

  On 4/21/2025 at 5:41 PM, Patong2021 said:

If one removes all the fluff the  event can be summarized as follows

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"If I deliberately remove all the stuff that was bad, it sounds a lot better!"  🤦‍♂️

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/21/2025 at 9:14 PM, MangoKorat said:

  On 4/21/2025 at 7:19 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Avoiding semantics - there is...   the 2 Year Temporary License (before we get the 5 year license).

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Well that's not a provisional licence in the way that we know it - which is for learners.  To be able to drive on your own in Thailand, you need to have passed a test. Learners don't actually get a licence.

 

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As I wrote - avoiding semantics...    What is referred to as a Provisional Licence is the 2 year temporary license.

Thats all you need to understand.

 

  On 4/21/2025 at 9:14 PM, MangoKorat said:

In addition, if I remember correctly, Thailand used to operate a licence exchange scheme - people from certain countries were allowed to have a Thai licence without taking a test provided they held a full licence in their home country subject to passing colour blindness and reaction tests. That was how I obtained my Thai licence.

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Agreed - IF the op had a License from his home country (that is in the English Language) then he can legally drive here (its argued by some that an IDP is also required and I don't want to get into that circular debate), but that also depends on the Ops Visa status - if he is on a resident visa (non-Imm) then he should have a Thai License. 

 

As you point out - IF his home country license from 'some countries' (i.e in English language) then he can easily obtain a Thai License - First he would be issued with a 2 year Temp license (he'd still be over the DUI limit with one of those).

 

  On 4/21/2025 at 9:14 PM, MangoKorat said:

My 5 year Thai licence expired during the Covid period and I haven't bothered renewing it yet because not being resident, I can use my UK licence and I don't want to go though all the palava of getting a residence certificate etc.  I am told that when I do renew it, I'll only get a 2 year one at first - so if provisional means learning, will I be considered as being a learner again for the ensuing 2 years?

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As mentioned - do not get hung up on the 'semantics' - You will get a 2 year Temporary license, thats all thats referred to when the word Provisional is used in this context.

 

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/22/2025 at 2:25 AM, Upnotover said:

  On 4/21/2025 at 9:14 PM, MangoKorat said:

I am told that when I do renew it, I'll only get a 2 year one at first

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You'll get a 5 year licence but you'll have to do the theory and practical tests. I did this last year.

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No he won't...   a 2 year Temporary License is first issued...  then upon renewal a 5 year Full License is issued.

 

As the Ops previous 5 year license has expired for more than 12 months - he will need to 'start over'.

[Upnotover]

  On 4/22/2025 at 7:34 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

No he won't...   a 2 year Temporary License is first issued...  then upon renewal a 5 year Full License is issued.

 

As the Ops previous 5 year license has expired for more than 12 months - he will need to 'start over'.

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I did exactly what he needs to do in September last year. Old 5 year licence was 4 years expired. Did the theory and practical tests. 5 year licence in my pocket.

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/22/2025 at 2:36 AM, MangoKorat said:

  On 4/22/2025 at 2:13 AM, jvs said:

If you live here you are supposed to have a Thai DL.

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Please read my post fully - I stated that I am not resident. As far as I know I do not need a Thai licence unless I stay longer than 12 months.

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Its 'somewhat of a grey area' and never enforced... 

 

But, it is my understanding that 'if you are on a 'resident visa'... (i.e. A Non-Immigrant Visa) a Thai license is needed.

 

If on a Tourist Visa / Visa Exempt etc (or other non-resident visa / entry) then its ok to drive on your home license IF in English Language or accompanied by an IDP if its not in the English Language.

 

Its also argued that a Tourist using their home license (IDP combo) can drive up to 90 days, again this is a grey area, unenforced and strongly debated on this forum as concise factual information is quite slim.

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/22/2025 at 7:38 AM, Upnotover said:

  On 4/22/2025 at 7:34 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

No he won't...   a 2 year Temporary License is first issued...  then upon renewal a 5 year Full License is issued.

 

As the Ops previous 5 year license has expired for more than 12 months - he will need to 'start over'.

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I did exactly what he needs to do in September last year. Old 5 year licence was 4 years expired. Did the theory and practical tests. 5 year licence in my pocket.

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You were lucky then - DLT officer made a convenient mistake, thats all. 

 

Previously, my license had expired by 1 year and 1 day...  (for some reason I was a year off on renewal) and was attempting to renew 1 day after expiry (1 day after my Birthday) to effectively get 6 years. 

 

I was issued with just a 2 Year Temp Driving License, and renewed to 5 years after that.

 

 

I'm guessing - different DLT offices apply the rules differently, or even individual DLT officers - and of course, its busy, its boring work, mistakes will be made, sometimes in our favour.