What To Do When You Have Wrongly Been Given A Ticket By The Traffic Police?

[autan]

A few years ago due to the "yellowshirts" running on to the runway in Phuket, I was forced to hire a car from Phuket to Bangkok. I was trying to get there as fast as possible (doing around 140 kph. A traffic cop stopped me and I explained I needed to be in BKK asap, I slipped him 200 thb to let me off. He said to my Wife, he wanted 5000 thb. I said that was a bit rich wasnt it, my wife explained he wanted 5000 thb (around 80 quid back then) to escort me to the edge of the province near Hau hin. I paid and in front of me was a police motor cylce and a cop car behind me, We were travelling at 160 kph for about a hour. That was such a rush and so worth the bribe.

My advice to the op, pay the cops the money, they keep the bad guys away from you and the bribes are cheap too. Dont escalate, pay.

[MRToMRT]

You have to pay - but on the bright side you dont have to go yourself - just send the maid or someone to pay and pick up your license at the station concerned.

[autan]

You have to pay - but on the bright side you dont have to go yourself - just send the maid or someone to pay and pick up your license at the station concerned.

I have no idea if this post will be allowed. But you can alway pay extra, for a Cop Bribe Premiere Service. Thats where they not only return your licence but clean your car while there at it, I mean its not like theres anything worthwhile for the cops to do really is there > ?

[samran]

A few years ago due to the "yellowshirts" running on to the runway in Phuket, I was forced to hire a car from Phuket to Bangkok. I was trying to get there as fast as possible (doing around 140 kph. A traffic cop stopped me and I explained I needed to be in BKK asap, I slipped him 200 thb to let me off. He said to my Wife, he wanted 5000 thb. I said that was a bit rich wasnt it, my wife explained he wanted 5000 thb (around 80 quid back then) to escort me to the edge of the province near Hau hin. I paid and in front of me was a police motor cylce and a cop car behind me, We were travelling at 160 kph for about a hour. That was such a rush and so worth the bribe.

My advice to the op, pay the cops the money, they keep the bad guys away from you and the bribes are cheap too. Dont escalate, pay.

While it is a sometimes reality of life in Thailand, to me that doesn't mean 'paying' should be encouraged - especially when you've done nothing wrong.

Though corruption is a problem, the past 20 years has seen it less endemic so that for most low and mid level government related interactions 'bakseesh' now isn't needed to get things done.

Simply to pay encourages a return to the bad old days.

[WebBangkok]

I know most will not agree with me, but I find nothing wrong with corruption in the little petty amounts here, it usually works in our favor anyway.

[Mirth]

Either pay and get your license back or go to the station and say you will not pay and wish to appeal. They will give you uour license back and a court date. Usually it's the station head who decides to waive or proceed with your appeal. Oh yah, end result depends on how you behave and the station head's mood.

Hi,

This morning I was stopped by a police officer who pretended I crossed a straight line to make a u-turn. After I tried to explain him that I did was on the u-turn lane and that I did not cross any line, he became agressive. I then decided to give away my license.

I am now wondering what to do to? I did not do anything wrong and I am not willing to pay. I have heard there is a possibility to bring the case before an administrative court within 7 days.

Is it true? If so, how to do it? What is the correct procedure? Anyone has more info or advice? If not, is there any other possibility?

Many thanks.

[pnm]

I disagree, my wife usually just drops the name of a family friend and the BIB just wave us on. It is no great favor.

Merry Christmas to all.

Other than for military duty quite some time ago, I first returned to Thailand as a guest of the Thai Senate. Driving around Victory Monument one day, a bus cut me off, forcing me to swerve and stop to keep from getting hit by it. I pulled back into the lane after and continued, and a cop stopped me for being in the wrong lane.

I called my friend, whose father-in-law was the president of the Senate and who was his chief of staff. I gave the phone to the cop who went ashen, not saying a word. He motioned to his boss, a young cop who sauntered over and gave me an evil look. He slouched and took the phone from the junior cop. As he listened, I could see his body slowly come to attention, his eyes wide. He nodded vigorously, said one or two words, then gave me back the phone, saluted me, and emphatically motioned for me to proceed on my way.

I laughed about it for quite some time after that.

sounds like a pointless waste of a favour to me.

[rgs2001uk]

I know most will not agree with me, but I find nothing wrong with corruption in the little petty amounts here, it usually works in our favor anyway.

Oh I agree 101%.

Not driving related but govt service related, look at the cost some embassies charge for a letter of residence for a driving license.

In theory the same letter can be had for free from your local immigration dept, although some may charge up to 500 baht for an express there and then issue of the letter, others have been known to charge 200 baht for a come back later letter.

Then some farang comes on here and bitches and moans about corruption, but forgets to mention the same letter from his embassay can be almost 2000 baht.

Forgot to mention, I wouldnt call it corruption I view it more as paying for a bespoke service, or for making a problem disappear.

Edited December 21, 2011 by rgs2001uk

[welbymd]

Once you get your license back, get a plastic sleeve for protecting the license. Fold and place 2 to 4, 100 baht notes and leave behind the license where they are visible. Next time you are stopped, hand over your license and smile. You will be on your way in no time. Unfortunately, most of us reading this OP have been stopped before for seeming ridiculous reasons, namely "Tea Money". I was once stopped by a BIB who had a nice, plastic lamented list of traffic violations. Ended up "donating" 400 baht for driving in the left lane. It was a nice presentation, though.

[eslteacher]

I got pulled over for not wearing a helmet, doing a U-turn and not having a license in Hua Hin. He tried to overcharge me and I told him in as much Thai as I could speak that hes ripping me off and this is what I should pay. I then said, let's go to the police station together and he got embarassed and said that I could go by myself.

Bottom line is I didnt pay a single baht and pretty much told him hes a greedy, spineless turd.

That was over a year ago.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

And is also good to know you are not required to hand over your DL to the police. Politely point out that you need your DL and are not required to give it to them in any case. It works, seen it on my own eyes in BKK more than once.

The choice is hand it over or get hauled down there yourself. Or pay the bribe of course, although amazingly, half the time that wasn't an option!

The key is your attitude - keep it respectful, light and friendly, joking if possible. You win some you lose some, don't take it personal.

If you get aggro you lose them all - don't forget if you get the wrong one he can take you out back and shoot you in the back of the head and then whatchagonnado big guy?

I'm not saying bend over all the time, but attempting to assert yourself (not your "rights" you have none here) requires finesse, a highly developed sense of situational awareness.

It was me, pay up and move along, not worth spending the time and aggravation.

Unless you enjoy conflict - many do! in which case you'll get your money's worth. . .

[scorecard]

I know it's a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted for the OP for which I apologise for being unhelpful but, the few times I've been stopped for some non-existent speeding offense, I've found that being polite but firm in my insistence of my innocence has always worked.

I got stopped just past a toll booth on the Don Muang Expressway a few months back. Seems that they were targeting everybody who came through. Went something like this

Me: Hello why have you stopped me?

Cop: You were speeding

Me: No I wasn't. MY GPS says so. I thought you were here because you got me ( genuinely speeding ) last week.

My wife then politely but firmly said " Can we go please we're running late"

Bit of back and forth and we're on our way.

When I've been genuinely speeding and tried to jovially bullshit my way out of it the cop always radios the guy with the speed camera who gives my reg. number and speed so in those cases they've got me bang to rights anyhow.

But paying off a cop for a non-existent offense? F#ck that. Let someone else bend over and take it up the Gary but not this boy.

This is basically my experience as well with 14+ years experience on Thai roads.

If the OP wants to give it a shot and head down to the police station, then give it a go, but I wouldn't press to hard. Rack it up to experience and the next time just remember what MCA has done, be nice, deny the imagined infringement and you'll soon be on your way. It has worked in my experience too.

A Thai colleague challenged the charge at the local cop shop several years back.

He got a very angry response from the man in charge "are you saying my policeman is a liar?". Then the suggestion that my colleague would be charged with interfering in a policeman's duty or something similar with 48 hrs to cool off.

It frightened the sh.. out of my colleague and he then quickly offered to have all the air-conditioners serviced at the station.

When this was completed he paid the fine and got his license back.

Edited December 21, 2011 by scorecard

[samran]

I know it's a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted for the OP for which I apologise for being unhelpful but, the few times I've been stopped for some non-existent speeding offense, I've found that being polite but firm in my insistence of my innocence has always worked.

I got stopped just past a toll booth on the Don Muang Expressway a few months back. Seems that they were targeting everybody who came through. Went something like this

Me: Hello why have you stopped me?

Cop: You were speeding

Me: No I wasn't. MY GPS says so. I thought you were here because you got me ( genuinely speeding ) last week.

My wife then politely but firmly said " Can we go please we're running late"

Bit of back and forth and we're on our way.

When I've been genuinely speeding and tried to jovially bullshit my way out of it the cop always radios the guy with the speed camera who gives my reg. number and speed so in those cases they've got me bang to rights anyhow.

But paying off a cop for a non-existent offense? F#ck that. Let someone else bend over and take it up the Gary but not this boy.

This is basically my experience as well with 14+ years experience on Thai roads.

If the OP wants to give it a shot and head down to the police station, then give it a go, but I wouldn't press to hard. Rack it up to experience and the next time just remember what MCA has done, be nice, deny the imagined infringement and you'll soon be on your way. It has worked in my experience too.

A Thai colleague challenged the charge at the local cop shop several years back.

He got a very angry response from the man in charge "are you saying my policeman is a liar?". Then the suggestion that my colleague would be charged with interfering in a policeman's duty or something similar with 48 hrs to cool off.

It frightened the sh.. out of my colleague and he then quickly offered to have all the air-conditioners serviced at the station.

When this was completed he paid the fine and got his license back.

Fair point.

I'd probably go down and ask something along the lines of "if I wanted to dispute this ticket, what do I need to do?" and see where that takes me (and whether it was worth the effort). I've generally not had bad experience with the coppers in Thailand and have been able to sort things out amicably and without a bribe.

[cgphuket]

Other than for military duty quite some time ago, I first returned to Thailand as a guest of the Thai Senate. Driving around Victory Monument one day, a bus cut me off, forcing me to swerve and stop to keep from getting hit by it. I pulled back into the lane after and continued, and a cop stopped me for being in the wrong lane.

I called my friend, whose father-in-law was the president of the Senate and who was his chief of staff. I gave the phone to the cop who went ashen, not saying a word. He motioned to his boss, a young cop who sauntered over and gave me an evil look. He slouched and took the phone from the junior cop. As he listened, I could see his body slowly come to attention, his eyes wide. He nodded vigorously, said one or two words, then gave me back the phone, saluted me, and emphatically motioned for me to proceed on my way.

I laughed about it for quite some time after that.

sounds like a pointless waste of a favour to me.

I didn't realize that there was a quota on favors.

Keep using them and you will find out.

[autan]

Tea Money

Coffe Money

£5 GBP

$7 USD

Whatever you want to call it. These police do beggar all, all day except pull over foreigners doing a few kph over the limit. You can either do what I do, which is take it the a--e everytime and pay the £5 quid and be on my way in 1 minute flat or you can find yourself sitting in a cell with 70 other people who didnt want to pay or couldnt pay the bribe.

Wake up, your not in Kansas anymore. This is how it is done. Pay and smile and put it down to a cost on the road, like a toll road.

Wind your neck in and enjoy the most idilic sceneary in the world. The hinterlands of Thailand, with it very strange monoliths around Nahkon Swannn

[IsaanUSA]

_{Do the police in your home country treat immigrants or black people differently? They certainly do in the US. Remember in Thailand you are an immigrant. You are treated differently. Sure it is unfair, but it happens in nearly every country in the world. Just because you are an upstanding citizen in your home country, doesn't mean anything here in Thailand.}

Edited December 22, 2011 by IsaanUSA

[GentlemanJim]

Other than for military duty quite some time ago, I first returned to Thailand as a guest of the Thai Senate. Driving around Victory Monument one day, a bus cut me off, forcing me to swerve and stop to keep from getting hit by it. I pulled back into the lane after and continued, and a cop stopped me for being in the wrong lane.

I called my friend, whose father-in-law was the president of the Senate and who was his chief of staff. I gave the phone to the cop who went ashen, not saying a word. He motioned to his boss, a young cop who sauntered over and gave me an evil look. He slouched and took the phone from the junior cop. As he listened, I could see his body slowly come to attention, his eyes wide. He nodded vigorously, said one or two words, then gave me back the phone, saluted me, and emphatically motioned for me to proceed on my way.

I laughed about it for quite some time after that.

sounds like a pointless waste of a favour to me.

I didn't realize that there was a quota on favors.

Oh but there is, especially with people further up the food chain! Favours should only be asked for when really required. Thais put an intrinsic value on a favour and will need something back in return or the next time the favour will not be there. I think a nice Christmas bottle of malt whiskey will see your favour credits re charged but even that is not enough sometimes. We are good friends with the Governor and Vice Governor down here and ran into some jobsworth and I said to my wife 'phone the Vice Governor and she whispered 'no' we keep him for something big! Sounds like you have some high powered friends do not waste the favours and always keep in touch!

[Petesear]

Pay it and be polite when doing so.

As for the poster who wrote that car drivers are not often stopped, well that was not the case until Thaksin was elected. I used to get stopped at least once a month, for stupid reasons, and I was never given a ticket but I did have to donate a minimum of 200 Baht..

[GentlemanJim]

Pay it and be polite when doing so.

As for the poster who wrote that car drivers are not often stopped, well that was not the case until Thaksin was elected. I used to get stopped at least once a month, for stupid reasons, and I was never given a ticket but I did have to donate a minimum of 200 Baht..

I guess that is a good point and better in that case to say I want a ticket! Even if you have to pay 300 baht for a ticket rather than 200 baht 'tea money'! The tea money amounts to absolute millions every month that is just going up the chain to those that don't need it , but can't get enough of it!

I am still trying to work out where all the money goes from the lottery that Thaksin initiated. the one where all the tickets are sold twice a month. If the main winning ticket is not sold the money is not carried over to the next lottery. Where does it go ??

Edited December 22, 2011 by GentlemanJim

[PingManDan]

Yep, money always speaks louder then words, just pay off the dirty cop and be on your way

[jayjayjayjay]

Pay it and be polite when doing so.

As for the poster who wrote that car drivers are not often stopped, well that was not the case until Thaksin was elected. I used to get stopped at least once a month, for stupid reasons, and I was never given a ticket but I did have to donate a minimum of 200 Baht..

I don't get what you are saying. Are you saying you never had to pay cops for anything until Thaksin came into power. I find that very very hard to believe. In 1990 it was happening no different than it is today. The only thing that did change during Thaksin's time is they started to issue real fine thus handing over the proper invoices on a more regular basis, maybe half the time. As the earlier post said, corruption works in our favour sometime, 400 baht is more expensive than 200 baht, at least the last time I had to use baht to pay for something.

[Petesear]

Actually what I meant was that I was often stopped for no reason but that changed when Thaksin came into 'power'.

Only then were the Plod forced to write tickets, although this took time to filter to everyone in uniform, so I could no longer be 'fined' for changing lanes or turning right or any other made-up traffic offence. None of this happened overnight but it did happen.. And the the tints were removed for the Police boxes in Bangers..

[mijan24]

Wheter you like it or not it is your word against his. No one on this board knows you from a bar of soap yet they all accept you did not cross that white line unless you have an independant witness stop wasting yours and everyboy elses time.

Actually it's quite funny how everybody accepted your word "farangs don't handle the truth carelessly" come on join the real world people lie every day of the week in all sorts of situations you may well be telling the truth who knows only you and the "officer of the law" it's as plain as day day who will win.

Lets put the shoe on the other foot how about the poor "officer of the law" does he have to be grilled given the 3rd degree because some "farang" is calling him a liar? Just think about it there are criminals on both sides of the line - the establishment has to support their own otherwise we would end up with complete anachy.

[tropo]

I agree with them not bothering westerners in car's, but do bother people on bikes. I both ride a bike and drive a car. But in general i think bikes are caught more as cars because people are usually poorer and have less connections. (at least in the mind of the Thai cop)

I have been justly and unjustly pulled over. I usually pay the bribe not the official ticket, reason for it being its hard for me to find all those police stations and it cost more time to pay it officially. I would even do it if the on the spot fine was higher.

Where do you live?

I've ridden my motorcycle around Pattaya for 6 years which would total about 40,000 km. I have NEVER been pulled over for an offence I didn't commit. Every time I've been given a ticket the reason was justified.

We are a target in as far as we will get pulled over doing something wrong whereas a Thai may get away with it.

Edited December 24, 2011 by tropo

[draftvader]

I always get off my bike, make them wait whilst I make my bike safe (taking my time), step off the bike and remove my helmet. Then I give them a BIG smile and ask them what is wrong. About 50% start mumbling and you can normally protest your innocence about this time. The other 50% aren't going to be swayed by a positive manner so I offer my licence with a B100 note next to it. In about 90% of these cases this is accepted. Any attempt for more will be met with "I don't have any more money with me today, write me a ticket". I have paid 3 fines greater than B100 in 3 years and that is riding a motorbike in Bangkok (like hell I'll stay in the left hand/suicide lane).

There is one more thing of note though. My bike is a 7 year old, beaten-up, Suzuki 125. Most of the time I think the police feel sorry for me as their own bikes are often nicer

[tropo]

I always get off my bike, make them wait whilst I make my bike safe (taking my time), step off the bike and remove my helmet. Then I give them a BIG smile and ask them what is wrong. About 50% start mumbling and you can normally protest your innocence about this time. The other 50% aren't going to be swayed by a positive manner so I offer my licence with a B100 note next to it. In about 90% of these cases this is accepted. Any attempt for more will be met with "I don't have any more money with me today, write me a ticket". I have paid 3 fines greater than B100 in 3 years and that is riding a motorbike in Bangkok (like hell I'll stay in the left hand/suicide lane).

There is one more thing of note though. My bike is a 7 year old, beaten-up, Suzuki 125. Most of the time I think the police feel sorry for me as their own bikes are often nicer

Perhaps you've been lucky, but I wouldn't do this. What if you meet an honest cop who gets offended and books you for bribery? Believe it or not there are honest cops around.

One time I was booked for going up a one-way street the wrong way and I didn't have my licence on me. He wrote me a ticket for both offences (about 650 at that time) and allowed me to ride my bike down to the station to pay it. He made it quite clear that he was an honest cop and not out to get Farang.

On the other hand you could also meet a cop who was offended by such a small bribe.

Overall I think it is bad advice.

[PaulHamon]

simple answer when pulled by traffic police .

have 200 bht at the ready.

i was once pulled for jumping a red lite ,

when i had taken off , on a green light,

along side thais on scooters , who were not wearing helmuts .

not worth argueing , you wont win,

just pay up ,and smile .

TIT :jap:

same. i still have not paid the ticket he gave me, 400B... he didn't take my car driver license form me when i showed it 2 them

my thai chinese wife was having a go at him for picking on farang. pointing to other thai on the road without helmet (of course we had ours).

been told it will turn up as bigger fine when we register the scooter next year, but it's registered in another province, so i think i will try and do it there. not the province i got the ticket in.

[prakhonchai nick]

Those that advocate paying up are far too timid.

Argue the toss. Refuse to pay when you have done nothing wrong.. BUT keep smiling. Being able to speak some Thai helps though!

I have NEVER paid. They always wave me on my way.

[Tanaka]

We have to live with our conscience. If we have one. Some of the posters do not which of course makes things easier.

[puipuitom]

Welcome in Curruption Country. When you farang morons finally learn: you have one right here and one only: P A Y ! !

See it as a direct way of paying tax: police has the unwritten right to distort money from everyone, and as farangs have so much money they get a hart attack of it., for sure farangs are more in sight than ordinary Thais.

Once a French friend of mine got a fine.. because the police officer could not see his eyes through the wind shield he had on his motor bike helmet..

Go in court? You as farang are guilty by the only fact you entered the country of smiling .. Whatever. Take care you are not fined for the flooding of Krung Thep.

When you do not like it: leave this country. Oh, your money, investements etc .. are the heritage of the Thais anyhow.

I took my losses in 2006 and left, together with nearly all my business.

Edited December 25, 2011 by puipuitom