Log Bib Scams Here.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Reading through this topic, one can take two lessons: 1) don't hang out in bars, 2) learn to read Thai.

I'm not sure those are completely correct. I love hanging out in bars, the problem is talking to any Farangs you find there, and then take them seriously! But no issue hanging out with the local staff..

Agree on learning to read Thai, though not signing any papers you can't read isn't exactly rocket surgery either.

[Steve2UK]

Amazing ThaiVisa.......... after 50 posts, it seems mine will be the first that actually cites what seems to be a BiB scam.

On the way back to CM from Chiang Rai, I was pulled over at the checkpoint on the ring-road around CR town. Usually just a couple of BiB there, but this time about a dozen. Senior officer (I guess a captain) comes to the car.

"Your insurance not correct" (true - I had inadvertently let my compulsory government insurance run out though I still had current first class private insurance)........ "You must pay fine".

"OK" I say and walk with him to table where a female clerk is waiting. Officer asks me "Can you read Thai?"

I say "No - cannot".

Officer dictates in Thai to the clerk who fills out details on a printed form. Finally, I'm asked to sign the form and pay 500 baht. All I'm able to check on the form is that it does show my name in English, car registration and the figure 500. BTW, all of this was done quite pleasantly and a lot of smiling/nodding all round. I'm given a copy and escorted back to the car. Officer tells me to keep the form to show in case I am stopped again: "You paid already - not pay again today".

Next day in CM, I show my souvenir of the CR trip to a Thai friend - who immediately tells me that it doesn't mention anything about expired insurance but it does say that I wasn't using a seatbelt (not true - I always use the seatbelt and make sure passengers do). I'm told that the expired insurance fine would have been only 200 baht........

Overall, my attitude to the BiB is that I just try a] to avoid them and b] give them zero opening. I'm happy to accept that not all are actively corrupt, but also have no desire to explore the statistics personally.............

Just to give a little perspective, if this was in the USA ( Hawaii) you would have been given a ticket to appear in court the next day and your car would have been impounded. At traffic court you would pay a $500.00 (15000 fine and get release for your car. You then have to pay the tow company $100.00(3000 . Then when you go to insurance company to renew you must pay a premium of 30% because you got caught. My educated guess about the Thai ticket you got was because they did not have the right form for your infraction TIT . Be grateful for small favors, does not sound like a scam .

Chok Dee.

Point taken out about comparisons with other jurisdictions - 10 minutes delay and 500 baht penalty thus rates as nearly a clean getaway. But - the invented offence was handwritten onto a standard form........ so nothing to do with them not having the right form.

As to WinnieTheKwai's smug comment about not signing the form.......... the alternative would have been closer to cmdream's Hawaii scenario .

[Ajarn]

Amazing ThaiVisa.......... after 50 posts, it seems mine will be the first that actually cites what seems to be a BiB scam.

On the way back to CM from Chiang Rai, I was pulled over at the checkpoint on the ring-road around CR town. Usually just a couple of BiB there, but this time about a dozen. Senior officer (I guess a captain) comes to the car.

"Your insurance not correct" (true - I had inadvertently let my compulsory government insurance run out though I still had current first class private insurance)........ "You must pay fine".

"OK" I say and walk with him to table where a female clerk is waiting. Officer asks me "Can you read Thai?"

I say "No - cannot".

Officer dictates in Thai to the clerk who fills out details on a printed form. Finally, I'm asked to sign the form and pay 500 baht. All I'm able to check on the form is that it does show my name in English, car registration and the figure 500. BTW, all of this was done quite pleasantly and a lot of smiling/nodding all round. I'm given a copy and escorted back to the car. Officer tells me to keep the form to show in case I am stopped again: "You paid already - not pay again today".

Next day in CM, I show my souvenir of the CR trip to a Thai friend - who immediately tells me that it doesn't mention anything about expired insurance but it does say that I wasn't using a seatbelt (not true - I always use the seatbelt and make sure passengers do). I'm told that the expired insurance fine would have been only 200 baht........

Overall, my attitude to the BiB is that I just try a] to avoid them and b] give them zero opening. I'm happy to accept that not all are actively corrupt, but also have no desire to explore the statistics personally.............

Just to give a little perspective, if this was in the USA ( Hawaii) you would have been given a ticket to appear in court the next day and your car would have been impounded. At traffic court you would pay a $500.00 (15000 fine and get release for your car. You then have to pay the tow company $100.00(3000 . Then when you go to insurance company to renew you must pay a premium of 30% because you got caught. My educated guess about the Thai ticket you got was because they did not have the right form for your infraction TIT . Be grateful for small favors, does not sound like a scam .

Chok Dee.

Point taken out about comparisons with other jurisdictions - 10 minutes delay and 500 baht penalty thus rates as nearly a clean getaway. But - the invented offence was handwritten onto a standard form........ so nothing to do with them not having the right form.

As to WinnieTheKwai's smug comment about not signing the form.......... the alternative would have been closer to cmdream's Hawaii scenario .

If you don't sign, the alternative is they take your license to the station where you have to go and pick it up, and they are not nearly as friendly, and the fine can be a lot more than 500 baht

[cmdream]

Amazing ThaiVisa.......... after 50 posts, it seems mine will be the first that actually cites what seems to be a BiB scam.

On the way back to CM from Chiang Rai, I was pulled over at the checkpoint on the ring-road around CR town. Usually just a couple of BiB there, but this time about a dozen. Senior officer (I guess a captain) comes to the car.

"Your insurance not correct" (true - I had inadvertently let my compulsory government insurance run out though I still had current first class private insurance)........ "You must pay fine".

"OK" I say and walk with him to table where a female clerk is waiting. Officer asks me "Can you read Thai?"

I say "No - cannot".

Officer dictates in Thai to the clerk who fills out details on a printed form. Finally, I'm asked to sign the form and pay 500 baht. All I'm able to check on the form is that it does show my name in English, car registration and the figure 500. BTW, all of this was done quite pleasantly and a lot of smiling/nodding all round. I'm given a copy and escorted back to the car. Officer tells me to keep the form to show in case I am stopped again: "You paid already - not pay again today".

Next day in CM, I show my souvenir of the CR trip to a Thai friend - who immediately tells me that it doesn't mention anything about expired insurance but it does say that I wasn't using a seatbelt (not true - I always use the seatbelt and make sure passengers do). I'm told that the expired insurance fine would have been only 200 baht........

Overall, my attitude to the BiB is that I just try a] to avoid them and b] give them zero opening. I'm happy to accept that not all are actively corrupt, but also have no desire to explore the statistics personally.............

Just to give a little perspective, if this was in the USA ( Hawaii) you would have been given a ticket to appear in court the next day and your car would have been impounded. At traffic court you would pay a $500.00 (15000 fine and get release for your car. You then have to pay the tow company $100.00(3000 . Then when you go to insurance company to renew you must pay a premium of 30% because you got caught. My educated guess about the Thai ticket you got was because they did not have the right form for your infraction TIT . Be grateful for small favors, does not sound like a scam .

Chok Dee.

Point taken out about comparisons with other jurisdictions - 10 minutes delay and 500 baht penalty thus rates as nearly a clean getaway. But - the invented offence was handwritten onto a standard form........ so nothing to do with them not having the right form.

As to WinnieTheKwai's smug comment about not signing the form.......... the alternative would have been closer to cmdream's Hawaii scenario .

OK, I think perhaps he gave you a break with the seat belt infraction. If he wrote you up as an insurance infraction things could have gone a lot worse for you. Make Merit

[F4UCorsair]

WinnietheKhwai, is 'rocket surgery' a hybrid version of 'rocket science' and 'brain surgery'???

The image is quite interesting, a surgeon suited up, hanging off the scaffold that supports the rocket, and going to work with the scalpel.

Edited June 24, 2009 by F4UCorsair

[WinnieTheKhwai]

WinnietheKhwai, is 'rocket surgery' a hybrid version of 'rocket science' and 'brain surgery'???

Yes. Just to show what an advanced skill that is.

[PeaceBlondie]

And even Steve2UK's example was for an admitted offense in Chiang RAI - written up as the wrong offense, and still only 500 baht.

[Steve2UK]

And even Steve2UK's example was for an admitted offense in Chiang RAI - written up as the wrong offense, and still only 500 baht.

And I won't be doing it again............. post about it here, that is .

On a separate point: curious that there's been no sign of the OP since that rather eye-grabbing opening...........