Police Injustice

[BazilFox]

I was on the expressway paying a toll when a Policeman stood in front and demanded 1,000 baht.

I had some stuff in the back of my Pick Up which was covered and tied down, he said it was too high, it was in fact 2 inch's above the cab roof, you could not see anything as it was tied down and completely covered.

I asked for a ticket which he wrote out, I had given him my Thai Driving license for the particulars, he then asked for 1,000 baht, I said I would pay the ticket by post, he then kept my license and walked off.

During this time I counted 5 Pick Ups with ridiculous loads that were not covered or tied down, all Thais, he said he had taken their number, bulls#$t.

Should I pay by post and get another license or go to the Police Station before 7 days and pay the fine and retrieve my license????

Edited May 8, 2011 by BazilFox

[carmine]

I might be wrong but i don't actually think he's allowed to take your license

[RupertIII]

I believe he can take your licence but he must give you a receipt, or ticket, which also serves as proof of holding a licence should you be stopped again prior to paying the fine and collecting your licence from the police station.

[soundman]

I got done for that a few years ago.

I know it sucks, and the indescrimanant selection process is even worse, however, at the end of the day they can fine you 1000B, so unfortunately its best to pay up and stop wasting your own time.

[Capsoff]

I agree with Soundman, just pay it's less sh1t and usually cheaper than going to court.

It sucks but as we all say....................................TIT.

The Cap.

[richard_smith237]

There is no injustice, thievery going on, perhaps a little white lie as they can't realistically stop everyone...

In the same manner, if you get stopped for speeding in any country, while dealing with the police officer another car will speed past you... It's just luck of the draw.

Although you pointed out that other Thai's went past with poor loads I very much doubt that you were stopped because you were a Westerner, that’s simply 'bar stool paranoia'. You were stopped because loaded, uncovered pickups are not permitted on the expressways; and for good reason as plenty of crap blows out of them all the time.

I’ve driven through police stops without issue too many times to ever assume that the police simply stop people because they are not Thai. I simply do not believe this is the case.

Go to the police station and pay the official fine - everything will be legal and above board. You can send anyone to do this for you.

I'm not sure the official fine will be B1000 (but I could be wrong) I thought all minor motoring offences were fined at B400...anyone ? Although no seatbelt is B1000 I believe.

Additionally: As I understand it, Pickups carrying loads in the bed are only permitted to travel on an expressway if the load is either fully enclosed i.e. with a cage, a carryboy or a hard top. I was under the impression that a ‘tarp’ is not a sufficient enclosure / cover.

[jackdawson]

offer 200 and be willing to go to 5 right ?

[Capsoff]

Too right JD! look at it like beach haggling.

That is unless there are any of the top brass or mid ranking officers there. Then you will be in for the ride.

Be flexible.

The Cap.

[eezergood]

Think of it as making merit for something! :jap:

[selftaopath]

I might be wrong but i don't actually think he's allowed to take your license

Seriously? Thai police are allowed to do anything they bloody well please in Lack of Sanctions/Land of Scams (LOS). That's one of the big problems with this corrupt environment.

I despise every one of them. Hope they all get the karma they deserve.

[seabear]

Happened to me too.

Rule Nr. 1: Show the sheriff your licence, but do not hand it over. ( I handed my license to an obviously drunken cop on a motorbike. He sped off full power and no lights. Never saw my license again.)

Rule Nr. 2: Take a pen and a paper and write down his name and the number on his helmet.(You will neeed that to get your license back. Been there, done that)

Rule Nr. 3: Don't get angry, keep smiling.

Have fun in amazing Thailand!

[random]

carry a box of tea bags in the car and when they ask for tea money point out you can save them some time going the shops to buy the tea and present them with the tea bags, even get out of the car and have a picture taken of the presentation by another policeman, this will work, everyone will be happy

[OZEMADE]

I wonder how many of those Toyota or DMAX ute's they pull up that have straw or hay on them 12 feet high, 10 feet long and 9 feet wide.NEVER seen one getting booked yet.

[krading]

I'm not sure the official fine will be B1000 (but I could be wrong) I thought all minor motoring offences were fined at B400...anyone ? Although no seatbelt is B1000 I believe.

Cost me 200bht in Nong Khai for not strapping the missus in.

Official fine, got a receipt an' all.

[robblok]

I wonder how many of those Toyota or DMAX ute's they pull up that have straw or hay on them 12 feet high, 10 feet long and 9 feet wide.NEVER seen one getting booked yet.

I see many pickups getting pulled all Thais. But i live outside tourist area's

[Jiu-Jitsu]

*

Edited May 9, 2011 by Jiu-Jitsu

[Awohalitsiktoli]

*

When corruption permeates a country, when it is even taught by teachers, when it is presented as the way to get ahead by politicians, people should expect an epidemic of corruption. TIT. You accept it or move to a better place because you can't change it. It is their country and they set the rules.

Edited May 9, 2011 by Awohalitsiktoli

[kurnell]

We were pulled over at the expressway entrance for carrying people (3 of us, absolutely leathered after a game of cricket) in the back of a pick up. We rightfully pointed out that every 2nd pick up was driving by, unhindered with people in the back, but the cop just kept saying "no no". The driver 110kg and the cop 55kg sopping wet were arguing back and forth with the cop trying to grab him by his immovable forearm (to do what, I don't know) while we cheered from the back. It was most enjoyable and as usual the cop gave up after about 30 minutes and we continued on to the pub.

Best thing you can do in my opinion.

[David006]

Agree with post about luck of the draw....however it would be nice if all those cops you see sitting around a table on holiday days with the TV and cones would actually stop and arrest those g...dam bus and mini bus drivers for speeding or DWI. The wife has had three occasions where she has asked the driver to stop so she could get off...she was so scared....yesterday she was one of two people on a mini bus and the driver fell asleep!...she woke him and got off hence paying again for the next one....yes yes I know this Thailand but Jesus H ! Last year in our village there was group of people got off a mini bus under the same circumstances..right outside a manned police box....they never moved!

Hope I did not hijack this thread...feel better now..lol

[Card]

I might be wrong but i don't actually think he's allowed to take your license

I believe this is true also. A Thai I know who regularly get's stopped by police told me he always refuses to give up his driving licence when stopped. He told me it is against the law for police to demand his licence. He says he then tears up any ticket they give him because they never keep records. I've never been stopped but wonder if I would refuse to give up my licence if asked. I think i would immediately ring the tourist police for advice and let the police sort out the problem between them. I'm highly unlikely to give a bribe to these scum and certainly not 1000 baht.

[Card]

*

When corruption permeates a country, when it is even taught by teachers, when it is presented as the way to get ahead by politicians, people should expect an epidemic of corruption. TIT. You accept it or move to a better place because you can't change it. It is their country and they set the rules.

What rules?

[Awohalitsiktoli]

*

When corruption permeates a country, when it is even taught by teachers, when it is presented as the way to get ahead by politicians, people should expect an epidemic of corruption. TIT. You accept it or move to a better place because you can't change it. It is their country and they set the rules.

What rules?

Who rules? Thais rule. It is their country. Specifically, the power structure in Thailand rules and sets the cultural tone of "corruption."

[BazilFox]

Hi

I went to the Police Station (Expressway 2) gave my ticket, paid 500 baht and received my License.

Fairly harmless after all.

[jaiyenyen]

A mate from England was driving over here, and got stopped by the police. They asked to see his license. He gave them his English/Euro license, they looked at it and then told him they were going to keep it until he paid the fine.

He grabbed it back and explained to them that the English Queen had given him the license, and she would not be happy if they took it away, so they couldn't have it.

He was then waved on

[soundman]

<br><br>Fairly harmless after all. <img class="bbc_emoticon" alt="" src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif"><br>

That's one of the funny Thai things.

Fronting up to pay a fine is not like feeling you are going to get an ear bashing (like you used to get from the school principal for dropping a piece of litter) on the evils of soceity, or those "how could you do it?" type looks that you get in the west; its more like buying a block of chocolate from the corner store.

[trisailer]

I had the exact same thing happen at the toll booth to the motorway. My load was not covered in spite of my wife's warning before we left. The cop took my license and no amount of hasseling from my wife was going to get me out of it. She kept asking him what he wanted suggesting that we would pay the tea money and be on, but he wouldn't budge. He also wouldn't let us get on the motorway.

My brother in law went back the next day paid the 400 baht fine and got my license back.

I was wrong and got caught. End of story.

I've been stopped and fined when I was breaking the law. I've been stopped and checked for my license many times and never a problem other than my anger at myself for not obaying the law and giving my wife a free "I told you so"

Funny how some of us have lived here for years without a problem and others seem to have nothing but.....

[jaiyenyen]

I've been stopped a couple of times.

Once for driving in the outside lane in my truck. Me: "But officer, I was overtaking the bus and the lorry".

Him: "Yes, but you cannot overtake more than one vehicle".

Second time was for changing lanes

Both times it was sorted out with 100bht.

Edited May 13, 2011 by jaiyenyen

[DisparateDan]

I got done for that a few years ago.

I know it sucks, and the indescrimanant selection process is even worse, however, at the end of the day they can fine you 1000B, so unfortunately its best to pay up and stop wasting your own time.

Absolutely..it's cheap at the price considering what might transpire.

[Bingo66]

I got done for trying to enter the express way and no license on a bike, wanted 2k, went down to 200b between them. And he was mid to high brass with a new guy.