A Pleasant Surprise

[supaprik]

Walking across Soi 21 ( Asoke ) last evening a friend and I were stopped by two BIB, having lived here for a number of years and reading many shock horror tales I actually felt concerned as i had never been stopped or questioned before. The friend I was with had a open bottle of beer and of course we had crossed Asoke illegally. The cop asked me for I.D. which I didn't have on me ( another broken law ) and then very politely asked me to "empty my pockets" the same was being asked of my friend. After a few moments of the copper's flash lights peering into our pockets we were both given smiles and also wished a good evening and off they rode. The reason I post this true tale is that all too often we hear/discuss all the negatives Thailand has to offer including these 'allegedly" totally corrupt police officers, I had well over 10,000 thb in my pockets and the cop never even hinted in wanting anything more than to do what he is paid to do. I for one think random checks by professionals is a good thing and after walking away from the situation I again released why I still love and remain here despite all those little annoying things we must tolerate daily.....:The guy I was with tells me that he has been checked 3 times in the last 2 months so I wonder is this a new thing or are they looking for someone? Anyway not the experience that I had previously thought it would have been. Peace to all

[cardholder]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

[DP25]

The guy I was with tells me that he has been checked 3 times in the last 2 months so I wonder is this a new thing or are they looking for someone?

Not new, they're just randomly searching foreigners looking for drugs. I've been searched like a dozen times, annoying but nothing ever happens

[Thongkorn]

I was in Pattaya for a few days in April , I like to walk the beach road. There is a new crossing light put up just out side the police station .I wanted to cross the road so i pressed the button and waited , when they turned to green i started to cross, a Thai man in a pick up just did not bother to stop. A Police man who was issuing tickets as usual for no Helmets saw what happened , he duly stop the offender and gave him ticket for not stopping,There are good and bad every where ,

[supaprik]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

I don't think you are being holier than thou at all, I actually agree but me being me I just normally "go with the flow" as it were, I only highlighted that point as I know it IS an offense to drink in public spaces here in LOS, that coupled with crossing where we crossed and having no I.D's I really thought I was about to have to "pay the ferryman"......anyway refreshing to know that other's have also had some positive situations with BIB....

[cardholder]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

I don't think you are being holier than thou at all, I actually agree but me being me I just normally "go with the flow" as it were, I only highlighted that point as I know it IS an offense to drink in public spaces here in LOS, that coupled with crossing where we crossed and having no I.D's I really thought I was about to have to "pay the ferryman"......anyway refreshing to know that other's have also had some positive situations with BIB....

Nice to hear a 'success story'

[DP25]

I don't think you are being holier than thou at all, I actually agree but me being me I just normally "go with the flow" as it were, I only highlighted that point as I know it IS an offense to drink in public spaces here in LOS, that coupled with crossing where we crossed and having no I.D's I really thought I was about to have to "pay the ferryman"......anyway refreshing to know that other's have also had some positive situations with BIB....

It's not illegal to drink in public except in certain places like public parks, your friend did nothing wrong drinking a beer and walking down the street. Countless people do it every day and nothing ever happens. They were looking for drugs. Fair amount of foreign drug dealers and users in the area

[maprao]

What a good idea lets post positive incidents and not just negative ones.

Most my experiences with the BIB when driving have always been pleasant apart from one near the cambodian border

[richard_smith237]

Whenever people get stopped by the police and they don't end up paying some kind of tea money they often feel relief.

After all the horror stories one reads on T.V. and other forums we pretty much expect to get scammed somehow and feel elated after being treated 'respectfully and normally' (is that why someone wants to buy a BG a present in another thread for being treated like a human or more to the point not like a cash cow?).

Is it worth a post? Well, yes as it balances out all the negative ones, however, forgetting about the beer for a moment if this story was in the UK and someone gets stopped by the police and spot searched and let off, they would be complaining at the unwarranted nature of the stop search not complimenting the police for being honest.

While it is also good to hear these positive stories, in a back handed manner this topic draws attention to the true expectations people have of the police in Thailand.

[cardholder]

I also think that, in many cases, the 'on the spot' fines are warranted i.e. an offence has been committed. It is the fact that the 200 Bahts finish up in the tea fund, rather than public coffers, that grates with most people.

I wearily handed over my driving licence, and 200 Baht, near Non Din Daeng only for the BIB to hand back 100 Baht with a cheery "chok dee".

[zzaa09]

I was in Pattaya for a few days in April , I like to walk the beach road. There is a new crossing light put up just out side the police station .I wanted to cross the road so i pressed the button and waited , when they turned to green i started to cross, a Thai man in a pick up just did not bother to stop. A Police man who was issuing tickets as usual for no Helmets saw what happened , he duly stop the offender and gave him ticket for not stopping,There are good and bad every where ,

His tea jar must've been empty.

[Thongkorn]

I was in Pattaya for a few days in April , I like to walk the beach road. There is a new crossing light put up just out side the police station .I wanted to cross the road so i pressed the button and waited , when they turned to green i started to cross, a Thai man in a pick up just did not bother to stop. A Police man who was issuing tickets as usual for no Helmets saw what happened , he duly stop the offender and gave him ticket for not stopping,There are good and bad every where ,

His tea jar must've been empty.

And i get lambasted for my comment's, Cynical

[zzaa09]

I was in Pattaya for a few days in April , I like to walk the beach road. There is a new crossing light put up just out side the police station .I wanted to cross the road so i pressed the button and waited , when they turned to green i started to cross, a Thai man in a pick up just did not bother to stop. A Police man who was issuing tickets as usual for no Helmets saw what happened , he duly stop the offender and gave him ticket for not stopping,There are good and bad every where ,

His tea jar must've been empty.

And i get lambasted for my comment's, Cynical

I apologize. As it's too easy to have cynicism attached in today's world.....'cause it ain't pretty and sanitized as they would like you to understand.

[philw]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

Life must be so hard.............

What's wrong with walking around with a beer ??

[WinnieTheKhwai]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

Life must be so hard.............

What's wrong with walking around with a beer ??

It's illegal in a part of the world that calls itself 'free', but actually isn't very free when it comes to personal freedoms. Case in point.

[nocturn]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

nor is it all that difficult to drink and walk at the same time, yet still you struggle.

[cardholder]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

nor is it all that difficult to drink and walk at the same time, yet still you struggle.

Seriously, it is something I have had a problem with on the few occasions I have tried it. I certainly wouldn't recommend it on Pattaya's footpaths.

(Maybe I am walking, drinking AND talking - perhaps that is where I am going wrong)

[nocturn]

multitasking can be hard. i recommend you avoid tobacco and/or gum

[anotheruser]

Odd, I have never thought of being searched without just cause as a pleasant experience. It tells you a little bit about the BIB when minor harassment is considered pleasant as opposed to paying bribes.

[cardholder]

This is not necessarily having a go at your friend but why was there a need to be walking along with a bottle of beer ?

I don't know if this is against the law (and I am not trying to be 'holier than thou') but it never looks very 'nice'. The only time I have tried it (without stopping) I have spilled beer down my shirt.

I would have thought that it was not too difficult to finish a bottle of beer in one establishment before moving onto another.

Life must be so hard.............

What's wrong with walking around with a beer ??

Really ! I can't believe I am the only person in the Universe who struggles with this task. Walking round with the beer is child's play, but I genuinely struggle when you add the drinking part.

A Thai could do it, but my first priority is looking where I am going.

[daveh]

Odd, I have never thought of being searched without just cause as a pleasant experience. It tells you a little bit about the BIB when minor harassment is considered pleasant as opposed to paying bribes.

Well, said.

It is not like they were stopping everyone, like at a sobriety check point in the US. They targeted the OP.

My experiences with the BiB are:

1. Got nailed for littering at JJ market. I threw a cigarette butt on the ground. I was guilty, but the fine was something like 1500 baht which seems kind of high by Thai standards, but very low by US standards. I didn't see any Thais getting nabbed.

2. While driving a rented motorbike in Phuket with my wife, a lone cop stopped me and asked for my ID. I showed him my California's drivers license. He looked at it and said thanks and sent us on our way.

3. While driving between Patong Beach and Karon, we got stopped at a check point, that seemed to be stopping only foreigners, and asked for ID. I didn't have one this time, so he fined me 300 baht. What was really odd about this was that he would not accept the money there. Instead, he wanted me to give him my passport as collateral, which I didn't have on me, hence the reason for the fine, while I drove to the police station to pay the fine. So instead, he had my wife wait there while I went to pay the fine. Again, I was guilty so no real complaints about that. However, I didn't like it that none of the Thais driving by without helmets or headlights got stopped.

[gravion]

well most of thai officers are handsum anyways, patting my bum :unsure: :unsure:

[zzaa09]

well most of thai officers are handsum anyways, patting my bum :unsure: :unsure:

Nay. Frankly, the skin-tight browns and the Franco-Fascist era caps don't work anymore. They require an extreme image make-over.