Police Check Points On The Railway Road

[FarangBuddha]

BTW, you will net get blacklisted unless you manage to make an utter idiot of yourself during the whole process...

But isn't one of the requirements for obtaining a [new] visa the absence of any criminal record in both one's home country and Thailand?

[striderman]

<br>For the curious:<br><br>* When a person gets caught drunk driving he will be arrested.<br><br>* If during a weekday (working hours), you'll have a big chance of being carted of straight to court, where following  the law you'll be fined between 2,000 and 10,000 Baht (first offenses in Pattaya court gives you a 3,000 Baht fine). You'll also get between 3 and 6 months probation, meaning if caught again in that period, ticket straight to jail!<br><br>* If outside working hours, you'll be carted off to the local police holding cells, where you'll have the possibility of posting bail, usually between 10,000 and 20,000 Baht. Until your court appearance/fine, after which you will get your bail money back.<br><br><b>Now, all the above is all there is to it for Thai Nationals. For foreigners, it doesn't end with the above! Below applies only to foreigners:</b><br><br>* After your court appearance and payment of fine, you will not be released. <br><br>* Since you, as a foreigner, have just been convicted of a criminal offense (which drunk driving is in Thailand), you will be escorted back to the police station under which jurisdiction you had been arrested, which has the duty of handing you, along with your freshly acquired criminal conviction file, over to the local immigration office.<br><br>* Local immigration will then void your visa, as per the law which makes this mandatory for all foreign convicted criminals!<br><br>* Which then means you will remain in custody of immigration, until you can produce a flight ticket out of Thailand, when they will escort you onto the airplane (after coughing up transportation fees for the escort!).<br><br>* It is at the deporting immigration official's discretion to allow you to leave on any flight out, or only on a flight back to your home country!<br><br><br>So, no, the cops are actually not trying to put the fear of god in you for a relative small offense, it's just that if you get processed following the law, and you are a tad unlucky at immigration, it can end up a pretty expensive trip back home (long haul flights at short notice tend to be expensive)!<br><br>BTW, you will net get blacklisted unless you manage to make an utter idiot of yourself during the whole process...<br>

<br>i quote the whole of this post simply to show that u should be taken to immigration etc etc.<br>i spoke to an english guy who had just arrived got up early friday and got stopped on a motorcy 3 rd  near soi excite. 0.74 so failed.<br>posted bail 20,000 bht<br>court saturday fined 5,500 bht.<br>on exit offered choice of immigration etc etc or 30,000 bht to prevent this.<br>return of the 1st 20 is in doubt.<br>result an expensive experience liable to result in 2 things..<br>1. lack of customers on motorcys at mcdonalds for beakfast<br>2. drastic drop in condo prices outside central pattaya Edited April 16, 2011 by striderman

[Soutpeel]

BTW, you will net get blacklisted unless you manage to make an utter idiot of yourself during the whole process...

But isn't one of the requirements for obtaining a [new] visa the absence of any criminal record in both one's home country and Thailand?

Don't beleive it is...

[Mobi]

I Bow to Monty's greater and no doubt expert knowledge on this matter.

If he is right and if the police really start to take action, (and not just around Songkran to increase their tea money coffers), then there will be big changes afoot in Pattaya and the surrounding area.

As I have said on countless occasions,probably well over 50% of the motorists you see on the road,(maybe 80% after 9 p.m.) are over the limit. This percentage increases even further with farang motorists, especially on the Darkside.

So of the police are really going to get tough and enforce the law in the way that Monty indicates, this will decimate the bike riding farang population of Pattaya within 6 months and I would say that nearly all the bars on the Darkside, (Everything East of Sukhumvit), would eventually be forced to close as the only way to get there is by your own vehicle, and every single drinking patron will be over the limit.

All the cops have to do is park along Nern Plub wan, Koi Noi Soi Siam Country Club etc and stop the farangs as they drive away from the bars. They will net a huge number of drunken fishes, most of whom, according to the law will be deported.

Let's see if that really happens. Maybe it's all part of the authority's cunning plan to take Pattaya upmarket.....

For me, despite everything that Monty has written , I still believe that the prime purpose of the Songkran crackdown is to replenish the cops' illegal coffers, (as it is nationwide at this time of year), and all will be back to normal next week. After all, if they deport all the farang drinkers, there will be nobody left to extort.

Maybe I am wrong

[kevkev1888]

So its double standards against the Farang again!!

Why am I surprised?

Deportation and or extortion of large sums of money for DUI.

Random breath tests in and around Pattaya

3 beers and your out.

Thank you and goodbye.

Amazing Thailand.

[kevkev1888]

For the curious:

* When a person gets caught drunk driving he will be arrested.

* If during a weekday (working hours), you'll have a big chance of being carted of straight to court, where following the law you'll be fined between 2,000 and 10,000 Baht (first offenses in Pattaya court gives you a 3,000 Baht fine). You'll also get between 3 and 6 months probation, meaning if caught again in that period, ticket straight to jail!

* If outside working hours, you'll be carted off to the local police holding cells, where you'll have the possibility of posting bail, usually between 10,000 and 20,000 Baht. Until your court appearance/fine, after which you will get your bail money back.

Now, all the above is all there is to it for Thai Nationals. For foreigners, it doesn't end with the above! Below applies only to foreigners:

* After your court appearance and payment of fine, you will not be released.

* Since you, as a foreigner, have just been convicted of a criminal offense (which drunk driving is in Thailand), you will be escorted back to the police station under which jurisdiction you had been arrested, which has the duty of handing you, along with your freshly acquired criminal conviction file, over to the local immigration office.

* Local immigration will then void your visa, as per the law which makes this mandatory for all foreign convicted criminals!

* Which then means you will remain in custody of immigration, until you can produce a flight ticket out of Thailand, when they will escort you onto the airplane (after coughing up transportation fees for the escort!).

* It is at the deporting immigration official's discretion to allow you to leave on any flight out, or only on a flight back to your home country!

So, no, the cops are actually not trying to put the fear of god in you for a relative small offense, it's just that if you get processed following the law, and you are a tad unlucky at immigration, it can end up a pretty expensive trip back home (long haul flights at short notice tend to be expensive)!

BTW, you will net get blacklisted unless you manage to make an utter idiot of yourself during the whole process...

Please what is the source of this information

[champken]

What has been said regarding a criminal conviction and consequently the then involvement of immigration is correct......a friend of mine was convicted in Pattaya court of a fairly minor assault charge and was fined 2000b but that wasnt the end of the story as immigration became involved, anyhow, to cut a long story short a fee of around 80000b was negotiated and his problem completely disappeared and he has been back many times since.

[Schooner]

Could it possibly be that Thailand is following the exact same process that the west followed to clean up corruption it their societies? It sure appears that way to me. Our own history shows that corruption was rampent during our own development and last I heard Thailand is a developing country.

My grandfather was one of the first state cops in Maine in 1920. They gave him a badge and told him to go to it. It was common practice then to collect fines on the spot in cash and where do you suppose that money went?

Thailand is doing just fine with their own method of achieving progress. I like the way it is here. I try to learn the rules and follow them because I respect Thailand and it's people. However, if I make a mistake I like knowing that I can buy myself an exception and be forgiven.

We all come here for our own reasons. We have to adapt to them not the other way around.

[Spoonman]

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

[champken]

These check points started becoming more common about two months ago and they are not just a songkran thing and initially they seemed to target Thais late at night, however it now seems that if you are a farang riding a bike home at night then you have a very good chance of being breathalysed, it looks like the BiB have realised that there is some serious money to be made catching farangs that have had a few beers and who ride home

[4.real]

It is a pity that the BIB are not bothering the many thais that drive motorbikes with their tax sticker covering half of their number plate.

My car got scraped by a motorbike opposite Carrefours last year.I stopped and when I got out the 2 guys drove off ..

I reported to police the number plate [half covered] and they said they could do nothing without the full licence number.

[Beardog]

BTW, you will net get blacklisted unless you manage to make an utter idiot of yourself during the whole process...

But isn't one of the requirements for obtaining a [new] visa the absence of any criminal record in both one's home country and Thailand?

Don't beleive it is...

In 2004 it sure was. it is a 3 month check in either Thailand or your home country when arriving in Thailand & applying for a one year residence. Same now as it was then.

But only 3 months back.

[ESB7]

So you had obviously had a drink - how many, were you drunk??

What is the legal limit here?

Thanks

Yes I had had 4 small Leo over about 3 hours.

I was not drunk but I knew I would be over the limit.

The limit I was told was 50 I blew 75 one of the Thais had apparently blown over 300!!

I have no complaints over the way I was treated but it was clear from the off that I was a different case to the Thais and That there would certainly be a negotiated under the table settlement available to me.

What would of happend if I had turned this down and said take me in? Again I dont know. But I doubt I could be deported? or could I?

So in fact you were treated better than the Thais as an easy way out was offered to you but not the Thais...............nice to see the BIB treating visitors/expats with a bit more compassion than the locals.

[Spoonman]

BTW, you will net get blacklisted unless you manage to make an utter idiot of yourself during the whole process...

But isn't one of the requirements for obtaining a [new] visa the absence of any criminal record in both one's home country and Thailand?

Don't beleive it is...

In 2004 it sure was. it is a 3 month check in either Thailand or your home country when arriving in Thailand & applying for a one year residence. Same now as it was then.

But only 3 months back.

Nothing listed on the Aus Thai website nor the application form about criminal records.

[Pdaz]

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

No problem as far as I know.. been stopped and had my licence taken but wasn't convienient for me to go to Soi 9 straight away. Longest delay was 4 days. Didn't seem to cause any hassle when I eventually went.. Could always have your missus call the station and ask ..

[BB1950]

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

Usually you have 7 days to take care of the fine.

[Spoonman]

Sweet, we can do it next Sunday, cheers.

[kevkev1888]

So you had obviously had a drink - how many, were you drunk??

What is the legal limit here?

Thanks

Yes I had had 4 small Leo over about 3 hours.

I was not drunk but I knew I would be over the limit.

The limit I was told was 50 I blew 75 one of the Thais had apparently blown over 300!!

I have no complaints over the way I was treated but it was clear from the off that I was a different case to the Thais and That there would certainly be a negotiated under the table settlement available to me.

What would of happend if I had turned this down and said take me in? Again I dont know. But I doubt I could be deported? or could I?

So in fact you were treated better than the Thais as an easy way out was offered to you but not the Thais...............nice to see the BIB treating visitors/expats with a bit more compassion than the locals.

Max fine for Thai 10k. First offense 3k.

For myself, yes It looks like I got off lightly at 11K.

We have reports on this thread of 30K

Deportation with a 5yr Blacklist.

Sure we are treated better than the Thais.

[janverbeem]

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

You mean the missus stays at the police station till you pay the fine? Guess that can wait till after Loy Kratong

[Beardog]

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (Long Stay)

- A letter of verification issued from the country of his or her nationality or residence stating that the applicant has no criminal record (verification shall be valid for not more than three months and should be notarized by notary organs or the applicant’s diplomatic or consular mission).

Taken from the Ministry of foreign affairs under #2 required documents Unless you are on a different type visa this is the requirement(one of many!) I didn’t want to deviate from the post but you can verify by looking in the visa section Thai visa

Kingdom of Thailand. I would have provided the link but it is easy to find & I am not sure it is permitted to show links.

they started tonight at the checkpoint right before the water filling station in Bang Saray

Lots of Thais getting yanked over. They are a little more selective in just pulling over the masses then Pattaya...But if your mow you may want to take the beach road & double back on sukimvette or pull over & sober up!A room for 600-700 baht much cheaper than the extortion rate.

[moo9]

All you winers bla bla bla...why you have to drink and drive. It is a disgusting attitude no matter even Thai and Farangs are dealt with separately. Thai roads are dangerous enough and I do not want to remain paralyzed after getting hit by an antisocial pissed up hillybilly.

Edited April 17, 2011 by moo9

[striderman]

ok i have a few drinks on board and don't post like this but i have just passed the 2nd rd junction/pattaya tai traffic lights and have never seen the cops there this late 00.35.

testing in the police box got a pick up truck they want to fill with 4 thai 1 french falang so far.

they mean business.

by the way i am on foot

[Spoonman]

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

You mean the missus stays at the police station till you pay the fine? Guess that can wait till after Loy Kratong

Yeah,I left her handcuffed to the power pole on the side of the road ???????????

They was set-up in Soi Khao Noi at the rail crossing bout an hour ago, the missus got done for no licence she had no money so rang me, by the time I got there they had left with 6 pissed Thai's they caught, now I gotta go all the way to the Banglamung police station to pay the Missus's fine (I dont want her riding the scoot all the way down there), can this wait till after SongKran ?

Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay)

- A letter of verification issued from the country of his or her nationality or residence stating that the applicant has no criminal record (verification shall be valid for not more than three months and should be notarized by notary organs or the applicant's diplomatic or consular mission).

Taken from the Ministry of foreign affairs under #2 required documents Unless you are on a different type visa this is the requirement(one of many!) I didn't want to deviate from the post but you can verify by looking in the visa section Thai visa

Kingdom of Thailand. I would have provided the link but it is easy to find & I am not sure it is permitted to show links.

Yeah iam 99% certain my Thai missus does not need a "O-A" Visa, thanks for the advice though.

[Beardog]

Yeah iam 99% certain my Thai missus does not need a "O-A" Visa, thanks for the advice though.

Good try Spoon but the info was in regards to this post...

Nothing listed on the Aus Thai website nor the application form about criminal records. You're post # 44. Looks like the arrest ordeal may have slighted your memory a bit

I am sure if you look a little closer you will see it on the AUS. visa requirements.Besides you are not applying for an Australian visa when you come to Thailand. And it is in the U.S.visa requirements for a Thailand OA visa.But my condolences on your wives arrest. we can both agree on that being a drag!And thank God Thais don't need a visa in their home country.

[Spoonman]

Nice come back beardog, good to see your capable of a copy and paste, why did you struggle with quoting my post ?

Also, where on the Australian Thai embassy website did you find your info, got a link ............Ohhh my bad you said it was from the US site, so infact your post is a baseless rebuttal to what you attempted to quote.

[Schooner]

Has anyone figured out what the legal limit is for Thailand? I don't believe that it is zero.

Taxi's are cheap, zero hassles.

Years ago I made up my mind to try to not break the law. I've paid for taxi's, got my paperwork in order because I don't like cops and don't like to be hassled. It's a no brainer.

[QED]

I think i'm reading this forum to much, I just got stopped coming home and my first thought was this thread!!!

Me and Mrs Bigjimmy riding up Soi Siam Country on our way home, no drinkies only food and we get stopped 2 minutes from our house by what turned out to be a major police presence just by the (now demolished) driving range. I was thinking I should be okay as I haven't had a drink today etc and what do they stop us for - bloody stolen bikes, can I show the owners booklet etc - ha ha, bloody typical, the only think I haven't got a copy of in the bike, anyway the Mrs was on top form and they let us go with the advice of getting a copy of it for next time etc, no money asked for etc - faith (for now) restored as there were alot of Thai's there weighing the police in with notes!!

Ta ra

Bigjimmy

The copy of the owners book is the biggest scam as of lately.Let's see.Your driver license shows your picture and home address,Your insurance slip again shows your name and address and the license plate of your bike.The tax idea which you can't get without insurance and green book in your name shows again you name ,address and the license plate number of your bike.So what more does the copy of the green book offers.

Next they will ask for a copy of a copy of the green book.

Don't joke, last Songkran I got busted for not having a copy of my car insurance document. I showed them the original but they wanted a copy

Good try Spoon but the info was in regards to this post...

Nothing listed on the Aus Thai website nor the application form about criminal records. You're post # 44. Looks like the arrest ordeal may have slighted your memory a bit

I am sure if you look a little closer you will see it on the AUS. visa requirements.Besides you are not applying for an Australian visa when you come to Thailand. And it is in the U.S.visa requirements for a Thailand OA visa.But my condolences on your wives arrest. we can both agree on that being a drag!And thank God Thais don't need a visa in their home country.

Easy fellas, I think you are talking about 2 different things. Criminal checks are required for a non O-A visa, which is for those over 50 only and will allow you to stay here up to 2 years. These are in a huge minority however as most people will get non-O or non-B visas with subsequent extensions which don't require criminal checks, so this large majority will be unaware of the requirements for a non O-A (I only know because my Kiwi mate has one, but he is the only person I know with this visa).

[WyattEarp]

Has anyone figured out what the legal limit is for Thailand? I don't believe that it is zero.

Taxi's are cheap, zero hassles.

Years ago I made up my mind to try to not break the law. I've paid for taxi's, got my paperwork in order because I don't like cops and don't like to be hassled. It's a no brainer.

Taxi's are cheap? Really? Where do you find a cheap taxi? Do you mean songtaew/bahtbus? Either way, any taxi or bahtbus is not cheap, from downtown Pattaya to the dark side they charge around 500 baht. The correct fare on the meter is somewhere between 50-100 baht, but the meter taxis refuse to use the meter.

Do something about the taxi situation in Pattaya and you've dealt with half of the DUI problem. But it's not going to happen as the only reason they stop people for DUI is to get money, they couldn't care less how many drunk drivers there are on the road. The more, the more money they earn.

[samran]

Perhaps a little bit off topic but I think worth mentioning.

Having made Thailand my home for almost 25 years now with around 65% of that time working in Thailand I have been unfortunate enough to have been stopped twice by the police. First time was for driving in the outside lane of a dual carriageway when there was no traffic on the inside lane; result was a warning. Second time was for overtaking on a double yellow line; result Baht 500 fine.

My driving has seen me do the North to South highway (Sadao to Kualu Lumpur) dozens of times and the South to North highway (Songkhla to Bangkok) dozens of times. I have worked in Bangkok for several years and worked down at Laem Chabang for several years and in all this time must have been through hundreds of checkpoints without ever being pulled over. I wonder why this is?

And I wonder what the point of your post is?

Simple point, don't break the road rules, you don't get caught. I've got about 15 years of Thai driving up my sleeve and I've been pulled over twice. Both times, my fault.

You ask for the fine - and if they are trying you on, they let you go. And you pay nothing.

Edited April 18, 2011 by samran

[Spoonman]

Has anyone figured out what the legal limit is for Thailand? I don't believe that it is zero.

Taxi's are cheap, zero hassles.

Years ago I made up my mind to try to not break the law. I've paid for taxi's, got my paperwork in order because I don't like cops and don't like to be hassled. It's a no brainer.

Taxi's are cheap? Really? Where do you find a cheap taxi? Do you mean songtaew/bahtbus? Either way, any taxi or bahtbus is not cheap, from downtown Pattaya to the dark side they charge around 500 baht. The correct fare on the meter is somewhere between 50-100 baht, but the meter taxis refuse to use the meter.

Do something about the taxi situation in Pattaya and you've dealt with half of the DUI problem. But it's not going to happen as the only reason they stop people for DUI is to get money, they couldn't care less how many drunk drivers there are on the road. The more, the more money they earn.

Baht Bus from Walking street to the top of Soi Khao Noi costs 200baht.