Every day for weeks there seems to be a morning cop checkpoint on Suk, heading south only, just before the Huay Yai flyover. I've been delayed by this thing five times now, but never once have I seen them actually pull a car over or check driving licences or whatever else they should be doing. It's a bit late in the day for drink driving checks, and they disband it at noon anyway so wouldn't catch the types who enjoy a few bottles of Chang with their Corn Flakes. Does anyone know what they're doing exactly? 

 

In the afternoon they often have a checkpoint going north between the marina and Ambassador hotel.

Seems to me they target different things on different days.

24 minutes ago, johng said:

In the afternoon they often have a checkpoint going north between the marina and Ambassador hotel.

Seems to me they target different things on different days.

 

I agree.... it seems like that at any check-point nationwide.

 

There will be a check-point for DUI, so don't they bother checking for licenses and ignore helmetless riders etc

Then on a different day there will be a check-point to stop helmetless riders, but ignore the drunks and the bikes and cars burning through a nearby pedestrian crossing or a red light without stopping.

 

It seems everything revolves around 'check-points' and the Police don't actually rely on patrolling and discretion...   there can be 20 helmetless riders in front of manned police box and the police will just ignore them. 

 

The BiB won't 'patrol' and pull over and deal with dangerous drivers - but they'll track down someone (foreigner) who posted a video on TikTok of themselves pulling a wheelie....

 

 

 

 

Yeah I was caught up there on big bike, Showed license and was off.

I was stopped at a check-point in Bangkok a while back... 

 

New Bike, no plates (thus no tax), out of date licence (which I didn't know about at the time)....      as the policeman stepped out stopped me, I flipped up my lid (modular helmet) he saw that I was a foreigner and just waved me on... they weren't interested.

 

Meanwhile about 5 Burmese looking lads on motorcycles were stopped with Police checking their bikes, under their saddles etc... 

 

The BiB just weren't interested in a foreigner that day - I'm guessing their instructions were to try and catch motorcyclists for drugs or something similar and a foreigner didn't fit their profile.

On 6/2/2025 at 11:32 AM, Guderian said:

Does anyone know what they're doing exactly? 

 

Possibly checking for road tax discs.  When I was a Tourist Police Volunteer, on one occasion I joined my colleagues at a checkpoint set up by the Highway Police. Their aim was checking for tax discs, our aim was to assist with advice and deal with enquiries as the checkpoint was on busy Highway 2 towards Nong Khai where tourists and ex-pat Border bouncers were heading for Laos.

7 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Possibly checking for road tax discs.  When I was a Tourist Police Volunteer, on one occasion I joined my colleagues at a checkpoint set up by the Highway Police. Their aim was checking for tax discs, our aim was to assist with advice and deal with enquiries as the checkpoint was on busy Highway 2 towards Nong Khai where tourists and ex-pat Border bouncers were heading for Laos.

Won't find any tax discs in Thailand.

I know a guy who was stopped here recently on a bike in the late afternoon, given a breath test which showed he had been drinking.  His offer to settle it onsite was quickly refused and he was sent off to Soi 9 police station.  Seems it was all done by the books.  
With all the bashing of Thai cops and road safety on here, I say good for them.  Gotta give them credit when due.

 

It varies on what officer is in charge that day, and sometimes directives are given on what to check for and what is important.

The normal rule is check for Helmet driver and passenger. request Driving Licence or Driving Permit (if only IDF available) The licence must be on person not left in room

Road tax must be on bike showing validity.

 

Checks are made on loudness of bike exhausts at times and DUI tests during daytime based on breath from drivers

Nigh time DUI is usually carried out with pre test meters normally yellow in colour, if a person fails they are then checked by regulated alcometers with print outs

 

Cars are checked on drivers side for Driving licence and passenger side for Road Tax if neither is correct or not available the car is ushered to inside lane for officers to check in more detail 

 

Foreigners and Thai people are checked randomly with no preference given

2 hours ago, Neeb said:

It varies on what officer is in charge that day, and sometimes directives are given on what to check for and what is important.

The normal rule is check for Helmet driver and passenger. request Driving Licence or Driving Permit (if only IDF available) The licence must be on person not left in room

Road tax must be on bike showing validity.

 

Checks are made on loudness of bike exhausts at times and DUI tests during daytime based on breath from drivers

Nigh time DUI is usually carried out with pre test meters normally yellow in colour, if a person fails they are then checked by regulated alcometers with print outs

 

Cars are checked on drivers side for Driving licence and passenger side for Road Tax if neither is correct or not available the car is ushered to inside lane for officers to check in more detail 

 

Foreigners and Thai people are checked randomly with no preference given

There is no road tax in Thailand 

28 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

There is no road tax in Thailand 

Yes there is, that is the square piece of paper with the year printed in large numbers that you are supposed to display in a prominent place on your vehicle 

1 hour ago, johng said:

Yes there is, that is the square piece of paper with the year printed in large numbers that you are supposed to display in a prominent place on your vehicle 

Agreed.

11 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Won't find any tax discs in Thailand.

Look on my car windscreen you will see what most would call a tax disc - what would you call them?

4 hours ago, Neeb said:

It varies on what officer is in charge that day, and sometimes directives are given on what to check for and what is important.

The normal rule is check for Helmet driver and passenger. request Driving Licence or Driving Permit (if only IDF available) The licence must be on person not left in room

Road tax must be on bike showing validity.

 

Checks are made on loudness of bike exhausts at times and DUI tests during daytime based on breath from drivers

Nigh time DUI is usually carried out with pre test meters normally yellow in colour, if a person fails they are then checked by regulated alcometers with print outs

 

Cars are checked on drivers side for Driving licence and passenger side for Road Tax if neither is correct or not available the car is ushered to inside lane for officers to check in more detail 

 

Foreigners and Thai people are checked randomly with no preference given

You seem to have very detailed knowledge - can you tell us how you have come by it?

1 hour ago, johng said:

2 hours ago, emptypockets said:

There is no road tax in Thailand 

Yes there is, that is the square piece of paper with the year printed in large numbers that you are supposed to display in a prominent place on your vehicle 

 

I think he's being deliberately obtuse and pedantic....

 

.....    Vehicle Tax...  

 

But we all knew exactly what you meant...    

7 minutes ago, topt said:

Agreed.

Look on my car windscreen you will see what most would call a tax disc - what would you call them?

Vehicle registration 

 

2 hours ago, johng said:

Yes there is, that is the square piece of paper with the year printed in large numbers that you are supposed to display in a prominent place on your vehicle 

That is not a road tax. It is called vehicle registration. It is certainly not disc shaped.

You are no longer in Kent Dorothy.

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think he's being deliberately obtuse and pedantic....

 

.....    Vehicle Tax...  

 

But we all knew exactly what you meant...    

Not all of us. Only a certain demographic.

34 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Not all of us. Only a certain demographic.

 

Please don't count yourself 'as a demographic'...     its was just person was being deliberately obtuse or pedantic, not a 'demographic' of society or any other grouping...  

12 hours ago, emptypockets said:

That is not a road tax. It is called vehicle registration. It is certainly not disc shaped.

You are no longer in Kent Dorothy.

 

No vehicle registration is shown in the Blue or Green book

the square bit of paper which you are supposed to display in a prominent position on the vehicle is to show that "road" tax has been paid..you could argue that it is not  road tax but a vehicle tax...same same but not very different.

 

Have a look on the back of the square bit of paper and   you see it plainly stated that it is tax.