Kamala Police Lose The Plot

[Damaz6052]

The following has been in good faith, please be guided

accordingly.

We hear that many expats have been done for DIC in the Kamala area

over the last few months and although the writer supports action

against drunk driving there are issues about how this is going down.

Stopped at Fantasea or Nakatani "Breath analysed". Arrested /

separated from car, keys and passport.

Physically and verbally abused by police at Kamala station Jailed

overnight/no food or water. Police escort to Court appearance next

day /guilty/fined B2500/receipted.

Returned to Kamala Police Station under police escort and you think

you are done!

Various sums B10-35,000 demanded for return of passport.

Threatened to be delivered to immigration police/for visa/work

permit cancellation. Pay up and return home 12-18 hours later than

expected and with an empty wallet.

WARNING

This is happening, it's real and it hurts.

The locations are noted above

The time can vary from around 5.00 PM to 2-3AM Later is more usual.

Primary targets are expats in decent cars, Thais are not being

touched, even after accidents.

Two beers will trigger a positive on the dodgy, un-calibrated equipment in use.

DO NOT DRINK IF YOU ARE PASSING THROUGH THE ABOVE KAMALA LOCATIONS

ON YOU WAY HOME.

ACTION PLAN

If captures dwindle to nothing the bandits will give up so;

Consider the implications of this situation when planning an evening

out to Patong or Surin If alone don't drink until you are safely

back in Kamala or stay in a cheap room near where you parked the

car, B350-750 is cheaper than the alternative and there is a bed!

If in a group let one volunteer be the non drinking driver Let's set

up an SMS warning system (who knows how to set up a message centre?

Drop me an e-mail) If you see an active check point SMS the message

centre and have them put out the info to the group If despite your best efforts you

are caught; Try to hang on to your passport (who carries it at all times anyway?) Call a sober friend (if you can find one!) to come and take possession of the car and keys.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS TO SAVE THEM THR GRIEF AND SO

THAT WITH THE REDUCED TAKE THE BANDITS WILL GIVE UP.

IF YOU DRINK DON'T DRIVE!

Whichever way that you may wish to cut the cake, the bottom line is

good advice!

Edited September 10, 2008 by Damaz6052

[angiud]

Good! Don't drink when you drive. In my country if you drink more than one beer, they jail you!

Of course TiT, so don't complain about police, everybody knows already about corruption, bad manners, etc

Just don't drive when you mao

[lazeeboy]

they should do this all over thailand but arrest thais as well ,within one year the accident /death rate on the roads would come down 50% and i would ride a bike again

[stuandchris]

Totally agree but arrest Thai's as well, what is the point in driving sober and hitting a pissed up Thai when it is your fault anyway? I have driven from Phuket on a Sat night totally sober and it is scary, kids on bikes screaming around pissed or on Yah Bah, guys in cars so drunk they can't stay in either lane or the shoulder. No lights, wandering around shouting at each other, kicking each other on different bikes for fun.

Meantime even the sensible falang has to put up with this crap because if they get upset then feel disrespected there is no comeback and show you are upset to a Thai then you are in the wrong?

So call the law see how far that gets you.

And the sooner everyone stops saying TIT and kicks arse the sooner things will change.

[zorro1]

"We hear that many expats have been done for DIC in the Kamala area"

Had to do a double take there Its known as DUI in oz

[simon43]

Sorry, but I have zero sympathy for you in this situation. If you drink and drive, then you deserve whatever 'tingtong' actions against you by the police.

It's very simple to avoid these problems...

Don't drink and drive...

As for the extortion to return your passport, why on earth did you pay up? The passport is not your property, it belongs to your government. If any police officer takes your passport and refuses to return it without a fee, simply advise them that you will contact your embassy and report that the property of that embassy's government is being withheld by the police officer.

Again, you can avoid these problems with your passport by not placing yourself in a situation where it is taken by the police....

Simon

[PhilHarries]

Sorry, but I have zero sympathy for you in this situation. If you drink and drive, then you deserve whatever 'tingtong' actions against you by the police.

It's very simple to avoid these problems...

Don't drink and drive...

As for the extortion to return your passport, why on earth did you pay up? The passport is not your property, it belongs to your government. If any police officer takes your passport and refuses to return it without a fee, simply advise them that you will contact your embassy and report that the property of that embassy's government is being withheld by the police officer.

Again, you can avoid these problems with your passport by not placing yourself in a situation where it is taken by the police....

Simon

I agree with you to a point but if the BiB are using dodgy uncalibrated instruments and/or targetting only one section of society for the sole purpose of extorting money then that society is descending into anarchy. True the law is the law but it should be applied equally to citizens, long term expats and tourists alike and the law should be applied fairly and transparently.

[LivinLOS]

I can add that an expat rumbling along on his scooter.. On the back road, almost at his home door.. 2 police on a bike pull alongside, he of course slows down and asks if all is OK ?? They ask him where hes been and he replies 'xxx bar' just heading home..

Ohh you drinking.. follow us.. They then make him ride his bike.. Theres the usual 3 hour haggle over bribe.. down from 30k to 20k.. He pays and they then tell him to ride home (where he was almost at) slowly !!!

Also another mate was riding the other day.. Police roadblock.. He had neither helmet or license on him.. Assumed usual fines and hassle.. Nope, only interested in drinking, lets face it those 300 baht helmet fines dont cut it when they can score 30k baht in cash drops.

Yes I agree drink driving is a bad thing, but I also think theres a lot of grey within the scale.. A guy riding a scooter along at 40km/h, to pootle home a km or two (where theres little to no public transport) is no more dangerous than a pushbike. And even then the danger he presents is mostly to himself.

[fiddlehead]

Simon

I agree with you to a point but if the BiB are using dodgy uncalibrated instruments and/or targetting only one section of society for the sole purpose of extorting money then that society is descending into anarchy. True the law is the law but it should be applied equally to citizens, long term expats and tourists alike and the law should be applied fairly and transparently.

Good post. I agree.

This issue really scares me.

I don't drink (usually) but once in a while i have a beer or two.

I am skinny and afraid that one or two may "trip" this machine that may or may not be calibrated properly.

Being a farang, this could cost me more than i care to think about. (in both money, time and harassment)

Very scary. I know when i go back to visit people in the states, there is a real fear anymore and people don't socialize much anymore, bars are closing, people are spending time in jail for 2 beers, etc.

It's a sad day.

[mgjackson69]

I know of one instance where the police were trying to get the "accused" do a breathalyzer, that person kept refusing.

That person's "helper", who had not had any alcohol for at least two days, did the breathalyzer, it registered .08

FWIW, YMMV

[F1fanatic]

I hate drink/drivers, but the odd codger on their motorbike driving v slowly is going to hurt nobody but themselves. Everybody forgets, it's the cars (especially the Fortuners/or anyone with bull bars) who really cause the damage, even when they're sober but just have a minor accident with some poor sod on a motorcycle!

[zzdocxx]

My gosh, 30K, that's alot of money IMO.

[jdinasia]

This is the first I have heard about this and I see no supporting evidence to back these claims. That being said, I lived in Kamala for a year with no problems and all due respect from the police. Yes I even rode the bike after a few beers on occasion.

Don't drink and drive is the answer (as if there was ever any real question about that idea!)

[nicholasmerwood]

So what about the poor tourist/expat who has done the right thing - and had nothing to drink. Blows into this uncalibrated machines and registers above the limit. Taken back to the station and give a 20-30K fine? Is it the farangs word against the police?

I know theres no proof to bak up that the machines are not calibrated....but I would not be surprised one bit, even if they were deliberately calibrated up .05 or so - that would be a good revenue raiser.

[jts-khorat]

So what about the poor tourist/expat who has done the right thing - and had nothing to drink. Blows into this uncalibrated machines and registers above the limit. Taken back to the station and give a 20-30K fine? Is it the farangs word against the police?

I know theres no proof to bak up that the machines are not calibrated....but I would not be surprised one bit, even if they were deliberately calibrated up .05 or so - that would be a good revenue raiser.

This is targeted at expats, you hardly can threaten tourists with deportation.

As the police will tell you, sending you to Bangkok will end in deportation and blacklisting, eg you loose your business, family, house, etc potentially permanently.

In a different situation than the above -- but as stupid as drunk driving -- this was what was outlined to me in great detail and after a little show tour of the holding cells in Patong (not Kamala), with the friendly remark that buying oneself out of Bangkok immigration will be "10 times as much".

As this is Thailand and I kept my calm, were able to communicate in coherent Thai and had the number of a good lawyer as backup, a mutually accepted solution with my very competent officer could be found. In my case I must confess that there also was no doubt that I was actually in the wrong.

In the end even a few 10,000 Baht seems a small sum to pay for one's whole life but I appreciate that it takes a lot of effort to laugh it off afterwards as another TiT, as the whole existence one has worked for for years can be wiped out by a little misstep.

[billythehat]

From JD's musings Post#13…

This is the first I have heard about this and I see no supporting evidence to back these claims.

YES, WELL I SUPPOSE WE SEE WHAT WE WANT TO SEE…

Yes I even rode the bike after a few beers on occasion.

Don't drink and drive is the answer (as if there was ever any real question about that idea!)

I SEE YOU CAREFULLY CONSIDERED YOUR ENLIGHTENING REPLY TO THE WORLD TODAY…..RIDE AFTER A FEW BEERS…..THEN DON'T DO IT?

PERHAPS, AND I SAY THIS MOST CURTEOUSLY, FOLLOW YOUR OWN ITEM 1 RULE BEFORE ENGAGING ONE'S BEAK?...

There should be 2 rules about posting on political topics!

1) Have a brain that is not put in idle .....

Edited September 18, 2008 by billythehat