Police Targeting Foreigners In Chiang Mai

[TommoPhysicist]

Just a quick heads up here.

If you are a foreigner in CM and driving, the police will be wanting a look at your driving license.

I've never had this before but been stopped twice this month at check points.

Guess there aren't enough people without helmets any more.

Car or M/c, if you are a foreigner they will stop you, so make sure you have it with you.

[mamborobert]

I am a caucasian male (think Casper with hair, receding I will grant you). I have been wearing a helmet (have taken the warnings seriously) but the reflection of my legs has been known to bring down a 747 I am clearly identifiable as a farang (according to wifey my odour alone does this). I have been driving through the Nawarat Bridge, Iron Bridge and other check points in the evenings daily sometimes a few times often with not really packed traffic and never been stopped, just waived through.

Is it possible that there is a particular checkpoint/s or particular time where particular officer/s are short three days out from payday rather than an actual crackdown?

[Genericnic]

Just a quick heads up here.

If you are a foreigner in CM and driving, the police will be wanting a look at your driving license.

I've never had this before but been stopped twice this month at check points.

Guess there aren't enough people without helmets any more.

Car or M/c, if you are a foreigner they will stop you, so make sure you have it with you.

I'm definitely a farang. You can even tell with the helmet and jacket on. Drove past 2 checkpoints today and not stopped. Of course i've never been stopped in the almost 2 years I

have lived in CM. Could be that with their keen observational powers, they just know i have all my paperwork (D/L, ins., greenbook) in order. Maybe you just have the look. LOL

David

[TommoPhysicist]

I've been out and about round CM for the past five years.

The police avoided stopping me even when I was a bit naughty, just waved on.

Never a problem before this month. Now stopped in a car. Stopped on a m/c.

Maybe it's just me looking like a criminal.

[uptheos]

Never been stopped in my truck/car......stopped once on the bike at midnight, halfway down Changklan (heading towards the river).

[chiang mai]

Maybe it's just me looking like a criminal.

Nail, head.

Can the Mods please change the title of this thread to "Police Targeting Tommo in Chiang Mai".

[TommoPhysicist]

First, near bigC at the traffic lights on the superhighway, 11am (car).

Second, the one way system just over Narawat bridge, today 1:30pm (m/c).

[kaptainrob]

Never been stopped in my truck/car......stopped once on the bike at midnight, halfway down Changklan (heading towards the river).

Heading south? Changklan sort of runs parallel to the river, though heading south comes closest at Mahidol Road over-pass. Not that it matters since halfway up or down amounts to 50:50 either way ....

[mamborobert]

First, near bigC at the traffic lights on the superhighway, 11am (car).

Second, the one way system just over Narawat bridge, today 1:30pm (m/c).

I have driven through Nawarat but always in the evening or late at night (5.30pm to about 11.30pm)....perhaps the focus at that time is on drinkers/drugs/Burmese, as they don't seem that worried even about helmets then.

[uptheos]

Never been stopped in my truck/car......stopped once on the bike at midnight, halfway down Changklan (heading towards the river).

Heading south? Changklan sort of runs parallel to the river, though heading south comes closest at Mahidol Road over-pass. Not that it matters since halfway up or down amounts to 50:50 either way ....

About 100 yards before that left turn that that takes you to Rajavej (The Rati Lanna is just past that left turn).

[mesquite]

Thanks for the heads up. I too always wear a helmet and have never been stopped in CM. I'll remember to always have my DL.

[worgeordie]

In 25 years of driving here only ever been stopped once ,it was a few years

ago,going to Mae Sai, and it was either an election day or a coup d etat ,both of which happen fairly regularly, cannot

remember, it was a soldier, handed him my passport, which he promptly

read upside down !, so maybe that does not count.

So either I have an honest face,or they think better not f%^k with him, but I think the real reason could

be I all ways have a current tax and insurance disc on the windscreen,

As with all official persons, a wai,a smile,and allways show respect,=bite your lip !!

Regards Worgeordie

[Sparkles]

I think you will find there is some sort of "crackdown" through Thailand happening.I was stopped at a check point just outside Hua Hin last week, asked very pleasantly for my licence which I had ,(obtained in Chiang mai) and my passport (it was clearly a rental car). I asked the officer what was this all about and he replied "too many falangs on long term visas not having a Thai licence" He indicated I might get stopped in CM too when he saw my address. He chatted away mainly about CM women beautiful etc etc... and I forget to ask him what was the punishment if you continued driving here,long term, without a Thai licence.I'm sure we all know people who havent bothered to get one.If true,I think their expectations are quite reasonable. First time for me in 12 years to be stopped at a check point they just usually wave me through.

[mesquite]

I think you will find there is some sort of "crackdown" through Thailand happening.I was stopped at a check point just outside Hua Hin last week, asked very pleasantly for my licence which I had ,(obtained in Chiang mai) and my passport (it was clearly a rental car). I asked the officer what was this all about and he replied "too many falangs on long term visas not having a Thai licence" He indicated I might get stopped in CM too when he saw my address. He chatted away mainly about CM women beautiful etc etc... and I forget to ask him what was the punishment if you continued driving here,long term, without a Thai licence.I'm sure we all know people who havent bothered to get one.If true,I think their expectations are quite reasonable. First time for me in 12 years to be stopped at a check point they just usually wave me through.

I think what he really meant is "Loy Krathong coming up and we don't have enough money for a party" or words to that effect.

[Joop50]

I passed differend checkpoints with my car lately, the police never stopped me.

They have an eye for older cars and they also look at the sticker(s) on your front window and propably number plates.

So, these are risk factors for checking.

Many motosai drivers wear a helmet but don't close the belt, (even some police officers)

Thus they carry a helmet for not getting a ticket but not for their safety.

[amexpat]

Stopped this afternoon at Thapae & Chang Klan. Helmet on. Checked license and motorbike sticker. All OK.

[millwall_fan]

I've been out and about round CM for the past five years.

The police avoided stopping me even when I was a bit naughty, just waved on.

Never a problem before this month. Now stopped in a car. Stopped on a m/c.

Maybe it's just me looking like a criminal.

More like the Thai police being too chivalrous to stop a female.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Newsflash: They stop every vehicle at checkpoints when officers are available. When they're all busy checking prior vehicles then others get waved through; it's a random check thing and hardly related to the nationality of the driver. Would make for a pretty boring check in some of the places where checkpoints are set up if they'd only target non-Thais.

Anyway, quick show of drivers license and on my way again. I think I got stopped twice too in the last month or two. Big deal.

[hellodolly]

The Nawarat check point is there quite often it is nothing new.

The one at the Iron bridge has been there quite a bit lately. I notice that they don't really stop that many people at it. I think one other visible thing they look for is if you are wearing a seat belt. That only cost my friend 200 baht. Not sure what the people who don't have a Thai driving license pay. They are pretty close mouthed about it. Or maybe every one has a license .

[mcgriffith]

Well, I have never been stopped.

And I know why.

It's because of the magic string I had blessed at the temple, and wound around the steering head of my motorsai (where it will get wedged and fray and eventually cause an accident due to reduced steering).

OK, just kidding.

It's because I always wear a helmet (fastened), have a current tax sticker and Wing 41 pass clearly visible on the bike/car, and they can just tell looking at me that I am one of those compulsive/obsessive motorists who has a sealed waterproof packet of all the relevant documents (copies of green/blue book, insurance contract) under the seat or in the glove box. Oh, and always carry my Thai driver licenses.

They can just tell, the spoilsports.

I'll never be stopped, and I've been practically begging them to do so for years- will never happen....

[seedy]

As with all official persons, a wai,a smile,and allways show respect,=bite your lip !!

Regards Worgeordie

My experience also. Works every time - so far !!

[PoorSucker]

It's yiur new av

I've been out and about round CM for the past five years.

The police avoided stopping me even when I was a bit naughty, just waved on.

Never a problem before this month. Now stopped in a car. Stopped on a m/c.

Maybe it's just me looking like a criminal.

It's your new avatar.

[kaptainrob]

Haven't been stopped, yet. Regularly waved thru Suthep/moat.Nawarat checkpoints. Have both Thai licences and rego's are always current. But what is or may be required, by law, other than that (and helmet on mb)? Is it L.A.W. to carry green/blue book + insurance papers?

[TommoPhysicist]

Haven't been stopped, yet. Regularly waved thru Suthep/moat.Nawarat checkpoints. Have both Thai licences and rego's are always current. But what is or may be required, by law, other than that (and helmet on mb)? Is it L.A.W. to carry green/blue book + insurance papers?

You gotta have DL, Passport (or copy), B/G Book (or copy), tax, insurance.

Although they rarely ask for passport (I haven't but a pal has).

I'm guessing if you have a foreign DL, they will ask to see your passport.

[mesquite]

Newsflash: They stop every vehicle at checkpoints when officers are available. When they're all busy checking prior vehicles then others get waved through; it's a random check thing and hardly related to the nationality of the driver. Would make for a pretty boring check in some of the places where checkpoints are set up if they'd only target non-Thais.

Anyway, quick show of drivers license and on my way again. I think I got stopped twice too in the last month or two. Big deal.

I never get stopped and most times there are officers standing there. They know I am farang.

OP says things are changing.

[kaptainrob]

Haven't been stopped, yet. Regularly waved thru Suthep/moat.Nawarat checkpoints. Have both Thai licences and rego's are always current. But what is or may be required, by law, other than that (and helmet on mb)? Is it L.A.W. to carry green/blue book + insurance papers?

You gotta have DL, Passport (or copy), B/G Book (or copy), tax, insurance.

Although they rarely ask for passport (I haven't but a pal has).

I'm guessing if you have a foreign DL, they will ask to see your passport.

Thai DL's carried and should suffice for ID... ok, but have copy of PP in wallet also.

Copy of Green book and insurance is a bit too much to carry around on a bike.... what happens if stopped?

Which pages should one have tucked into flip-flops and boardies?

[TommoPhysicist]

Haven't been stopped, yet. Regularly waved thru Suthep/moat.Nawarat checkpoints. Have both Thai licences and rego's are always current. But what is or may be required, by law, other than that (and helmet on mb)? Is it L.A.W. to carry green/blue book + insurance papers?

You gotta have DL, Passport (or copy), B/G Book (or copy), tax, insurance.

Although they rarely ask for passport (I haven't but a pal has).

I'm guessing if you have a foreign DL, they will ask to see your passport.

Thai DL's carried and should suffice for ID... ok, but have copy of PP in wallet also.

Copy of Green book and insurance is a bit too much to carry around on a bike.... what happens if stopped?

Which pages should one have tucked into flip-flops and boardies?

If you don't have them on you ..... 200/400bht fine.

I have a scooter so everything fits under the seat.

[dogeatinghotchips]

I've been stopped twice in the last couple of months on my bike, once at Narawat and once at Tapae gate, They asked to see a licence which I have, everything in order, no problems. They never asked for any other documents. They do seem to have stepped up a bit recently as they do before holidays/ festivals. Never been stopped in a car always waved straight through. No big deal.

[NancyL]

This might be where it helps to know a language besides English and Thai. I know someone who claims he always is told to go on at check points when he claims he only knows how to speak German. Not true, but he says it always works.

[jacktrip]

whats the penalty for not having a license?