Dummy Goes For The Dummy

[jkinbkk]

Thought I would share this 'slight of hand' event with you as it proved itself worthy once again just this afternoon.

During my first innings in Thailand 96-98 the Traffic Police were prolific in their witch hunt for tea money from caucasian drivers in Bangkok. Traffic lights, Toll booths, right turns all had good potential to swell the coffers for the district station.

That is when I started keeping always a dummy wallet in my vehicle.

Basically an old wallet stuffed with expired credit cards, loyalty airline cards, toll booth receipts and just THB120 (2 x THB50 and 1x THB20)

This simple but effective measure has saved me a reasonable sum over the past 16 years thats for sure.

I'm sure you can predict by now the nature of the event that's about to unfold?

Long story short: Got pulled at the right turn off Rama 4 into the highway just after clearing the toll booth.

I was waved over and informed by a very cheerful Traffic Cop that I had made an illegal right turn (strange, every other f==cker was doing the same?) and that it would cost me THB1000.

(The moment I realised I was gonna be pulled I swapped my real wallet with the dummy from the glove box and left the dummy on the passenger seat)

He asked me "were are you going"? I told him Klong Samwa.

He asked to see my license! I told him it is at home (which it was)

He said "ok, then you better follow me to the station for a ticket" I said "lead the way"

He said "no, that means a ticket will cost you THB 1000!" I said "yes I understand".

He said "you made an illegal turn and don't have your driving licence you must pay" I said "yes, very sorry, lets go to the station to settle this"

He said "we can settle here you know?" I said "Oh really, how?"

He said "THB500" ( shoving his little clip board through the window)

Picking up my wallet I showed him the uninspiring collection of 3 blue and green notes.

He said " Arai Wah!"

I pulling out 1x THB50 and offering it to him.

He said "no THB100"

I said "sorry cannot, I need for toll"

He looked at the note, paused and called it "ok, quickly, go!"

I placed the note on his clip board and offered some passing words of condolence "Pee sorry nah!" and calmly moved off into the sunset.

[draftvader]

My standard ruse too. Caused the most hilarity when I walked away from the desk on a "multi bike" stop hearing 3 Thai men saying "...but the Farang only paid B100!".

[Semper]

He asked to see my license! I told him it is at home (which it was)

Do you also try to apply for a visa and tell them that your passport is at home?

[MahaYellow]

You can't do that !

It's not cricket !!

[tinfoilhat]

not sure what you need here.

pat on the back?

Kudos?

so you did what everyone else does, but you went to alot more trouble wrote it up.

yay you.

btw: for future information it is "sleight of hand"