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Posted

Stopped AGAIN this morning 10am Chang Puak ...... showed my Thai DL, drove off.

Didn't even speak with them this time.

Take the Deadhead sticker off the bike.

Perhaps you are simply a shit magnet or one of the BIB has taken a serious liking to you. Strike up a conversation and you may be able to cross the latter off.

Rode round last night through two blocks (around 11.00pm ish and zip nil nothing).

Amazed at the amount of Farangs without helmets (or clipped to back of bike or in basket) and Thais with helmets on. If only BIB would also do something about the projectile infants/babies on bikes with their helmet wearing brethren but God knows how you fix this given that the Honda Click is the Thai family sedan.....and with the lack of licenses, poor roads, and general driving skills not sure I want more sedans on the road either. What to do what to do..

To cross with another thread (observations on my ride) there seemed to be a lot of bars getting in to the Halloween scene (Dragonfly was packed). Found it disconcerting actually. Not the masks/make ups but that it seemed to not be for a party but a purely commercialised venture with one bar trying to outdo another...well at least the Christmas sales have not started yet as they would have in Oz.

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Posted

Never met anyone who has not got on well with the lady at the licensing.

She has got to be one of the most well regarded Thai government workers in Chiang Mai by expats.

When you consider the clientele she has infinite patience and always explains things clearly. Its a wonder she has not gone postal by now.

Would that foreigners in my own home country (or indeed nationals themselves) could speak so well of a licensing centre !

Immigration could learn from her.......

+1 And there is a lot of good information above.

And she's very easy on the eye too ...

Posted

One of my friends got a ticket today ...... tourist on m/c no DL.

Had his helmet on, was riding a hired bike. Stopped at a checkpoint in the middle of town.

Anyone driving anything without a license deserves to get a ticket. I hope the cops ARE targeting all the foreigners who clearly have never operated a moto before. Next I hope they start citing all the dumb ass tourists that walk 5 abreast down the middle of the sois.

Agree about the tourist moto driving skills problem, especially in the kind of traffic situation we have in Chiang Mai. Not all are inexperienced, but some clearly are wobbly Not all moto idiots are Thai. I'd also add that the tourists bicyclists make me a little nervous as well. Rather difficult to weave along rather oblivious looking at the scenic sites. Really safer in rural areas.

Otherwise, if Chiang Mai had walkable sidewalks, life would be a lot more pleasant for motorists, but in an ancient city with narrow sois, although I don't do a lot of walking, I favor the tourist. Usually a small inconvenience to get them to make single file or step aside. It's the ones who seem to go head first out of the bars into the road that I worry about.

Posted

I walk a lot and find it best if possible to walk on the side of the road where I can see the oncoming trafic. If a one way try to walk on the same side of the road as the driver is on.

I would gladly stay off the roads if they had walkable side walks. That includes no parking on them.

  • Like 1
Posted

One of my friends got a ticket today ...... tourist on m/c no DL.

Had his helmet on, was riding a hired bike. Stopped at a checkpoint in the middle of town.

Anyone driving anything without a license deserves to get a ticket. I hope the cops ARE targeting all the foreigners who clearly have never operated a moto before. Next I hope they start citing all the dumb ass tourists that walk 5 abreast down the middle of the sois.

I'm all for fining the dumbass tourists. Amen to that.

Posted

What is it with Farang physicists and Chiang Mai? Oh well, at least Tommo, as of yet, has not achieved "net legend" status. Although with the corporate control of the internet I suppose the only contemporary net legends are Assange and Anonymous. Serdar Argic, where art thou?

Posted

Next I hope they start citing all the dumb ass tourists that walk 5 abreast down the middle of the sois.

A particular pet peeve of mine, I drive down Chan Klan (night market) each night around 9.30pm, that four lane road is reduced to one lane courtesy of parked vehicles on both sides, double parked song taews and tuk tuks in the third lane, ineveitably there's a bunch of tourists sauntering down the remaining lane - not a polceman in sight, might as well make it a pedestrian/parking only zone.

You should have a mechanic have a look at your horn.

Posted

Next I hope they start citing all the dumb ass tourists that walk 5 abreast down the middle of the sois.

A particular pet peeve of mine, I drive down Chan Klan (night market) each night around 9.30pm, that four lane road is reduced to one lane courtesy of parked vehicles on both sides, double parked song taews and tuk tuks in the third lane, ineveitably there's a bunch of tourists sauntering down the remaining lane - not a polceman in sight, might as well make it a pedestrian/parking only zone.

You should have a mechanic have a look at your horn.

I have a list of fine mechanics who inspect my horn on a regular basis and all tell me it's in fine fettle, but thanks for your pointer, albeit a short pointer.

Posted

Has anyone even been ticketed for not wearing a helmet lately? Post from several months back says they're not supposed to be giving tickets for "minor offenses", though I'm not sure exactly what offenses that entails.

http://www.thaivisa....ators-thailand/

That article is specific to Bangkok, where the Metro police are trying to rein in tea money shakedowns.

But at the article you linked to, at the bottom reads:

"Twelve serious traffic offences will result in immediate fines: racing, speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunken driving, driving the wrong way on one-way streets, not wearing safety helmets, double parking, no license plates, excessively black fumes, parking violations, parking on sidewalks, and driving or riding on sidewalks." (my emphasis added).

CM police seem much more relaxed about the helmet issue (than they should be IMO) than Bangkok.

But yeah, of course they are citing people for no helmet all the time.

It is usually a temporary blind corner roadblock, and they move them around all over the city.

There are dozens of posts by members here who have been nicked in the last year for no helmet.

Posted

Has anyone even been ticketed for not wearing a helmet lately? Post from several months back says they're not supposed to be giving tickets for "minor offenses", though I'm not sure exactly what offenses that entails.

http://www.thaivisa....ators-thailand/

That article is specific to Bangkok, where the Metro police are trying to rein in tea money shakedowns.

But at the article you linked to, at the bottom reads:

"Twelve serious traffic offences will result in immediate fines: racing, speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunken driving, driving the wrong way on one-way streets, not wearing safety helmets, double parking, no license plates, excessively black fumes, parking violations, parking on sidewalks, and driving or riding on sidewalks." (my emphasis added).

CM police seem much more relaxed about the helmet issue (than they should be IMO) than Bangkok.

But yeah, of course they are citing people for no helmet all the time.

It is usually a temporary blind corner roadblock, and they move them around all over the city.

There are dozens of posts by members here who have been nicked in the last year for no helmet.

Right, but this article was in August, not a year ago. I guess it's a moot point since the article pertains to Bangkok only and not wearing a helmet is considered a serious offense.

Regarding leniency and helmets, stopping and ticketing adults for not wearing a helmet is nothing more than a legal shakedown - a way to make dough for the city and police force.

What really needs to be cracked down on is the speeding, which is enforced at 0%.

Posted

Next I hope they start citing all the dumb ass tourists that walk 5 abreast down the middle of the sois.

A particular pet peeve of mine, I drive down Chan Klan (night market) each night around 9.30pm, that four lane road is reduced to one lane courtesy of parked vehicles on both sides, double parked song taews and tuk tuks in the third lane, ineveitably there's a bunch of tourists sauntering down the remaining lane - not a polceman in sight, might as well make it a pedestrian/parking only zone.

You should have a mechanic have a look at your horn.

I have a list of fine mechanics who inspect my horn on a regular basis and all tell me it's in fine fettle, but thanks for your pointer, albeit a short pointer.

post-49205-0-33167100-1351928998_thumb.j

  • Like 1
Posted

My vehicle has been stopped 3 times in 5 years and when they have seen me driving they have waved me on.

That is called "No speak Ang-grit, falang go away". smile.png

  • Like 1
Posted

I would bet there is no foreigner who drives more than me in Chiang Mai, and maybe all of thailand.

Yes it is the law if your here long term to have a Thai DL I do as all my paperwork in order

Today 10 check points and not stopped, an average month maybe over 200 check points and rarely more than a simple question of where I am going or where I am from. Have everything but haven't been asked so far to see it.

Posted

My vehicle has been stopped 3 times in 5 years and when they have seen me driving they have waved me on.

That is called "No speak Ang-grit, falang go away". smile.png

That's a relief, with my inferiority complex was was beginning to think I was truely not worthy to be spoken to or it was a racist issuethumbsup.gif

Posted

I have been living in CM now for 10 months and drive to work and back, but don't have a Thai license yet-but I will next month. If I get stopped is it a 400TB fine and deportation, as someone on here wrote??

Posted

I have been living in CM now for 10 months and drive to work and back, but don't have a Thai license yet-but I will next month. If I get stopped is it a 400TB fine and deportation, as someone on here wrote??

It will only be the 200-400 Baht fine. smile.png

  • 2 months later...
Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Got a ticket for not having my turn signal on while turning left (on a red light) the other day. Cop didn't say anything about turning on the red light; only not having the lights on. Happend while turning left on to Thapae from Chang Klan. The cop said there was a sign posted. I've never seen it before. Yup, took my license too. Doesn't say how much the ticket is but I never pay more than 100 THB for any ticket.

Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Got a ticket for not having my turn signal on while turning left (on a red light) the other day. Cop didn't say anything about turning on the red light; only not having the lights on. Happend while turning left on to Thapae from Chang Klan. The cop said there was a sign posted. I've never seen it before. Yup, took my license too. Doesn't say how much the ticket is but I never pay more than 100 THB for any ticket.

"for not having my turn signal on"....original!! Not heard that one before! How long does it normally take for the ticket and licence to get back to police station by the river? Also, how do you know how much the fine is? Nothing on the ticket!

Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Got a ticket for not having my turn signal on while turning left (on a red light) the other day. Cop didn't say anything about turning on the red light; only not having the lights on. Happend while turning left on to Thapae from Chang Klan. The cop said there was a sign posted. I've never seen it before. Yup, took my license too. Doesn't say how much the ticket is but I never pay more than 100 THB for any ticket.

"for not having my turn signal on"....original!! Not heard that one before! How long does it normally take for the ticket and licence to get back to police station by the river? Also, how do you know how much the fine is? Nothing on the ticket!

I think the tickets and licenses are all couriered back to the station by the river every couple of hours, so by the end of the day for sure. Right, it usually says how much the ticket is (usually around 250-400) but like yours, mine didn't say how much either. Befriend a policeman! 100 THB for anything.biggrin.png

Posted

I questioned the amount of the fine once and they showed me a schedule in English. I don't suspect they doctor the size of these fixed penalties.

Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Got a ticket for not having my turn signal on while turning left (on a red light) the other day. Cop didn't say anything about turning on the red light; only not having the lights on. Happend while turning left on to Thapae from Chang Klan. The cop said there was a sign posted. I've never seen it before. Yup, took my license too. Doesn't say how much the ticket is but I never pay more than 100 THB for any ticket.

Well it is illegal to turn left on a red light unless there's one of those blue signs saying it's OK. And illegal to make any turn without signalling. But whether the bib is only enforcing these laws on foreigners is an open question...they certainly don't hesitate to nick the locals for no helmets or seat belts. In the States the cops are looking to do anyone for the slightest infraction...

Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Got a ticket for not having my turn signal on while turning left (on a red light) the other day. Cop didn't say anything about turning on the red light; only not having the lights on. Happend while turning left on to Thapae from Chang Klan. The cop said there was a sign posted. I've never seen it before. Yup, took my license too. Doesn't say how much the ticket is but I never pay more than 100 THB for any ticket.

Turning left onto Thapae from Changklan Rd you say. It would seem that prior to your turn, you were also braving the wrong direction on a one way street... Are you sure you have your streets sorted out? wink.png

  • Like 2
Posted

I have just been stopped on my bike (at a road block in town)....the reason being I turned left on a red light!? Anyone had that excuse before? Given a ticket and he kept my licence, so no way out of the fine.

Got a ticket for not having my turn signal on while turning left (on a red light) the other day. Cop didn't say anything about turning on the red light; only not having the lights on. Happend while turning left on to Thapae from Chang Klan. The cop said there was a sign posted. I've never seen it before. Yup, took my license too. Doesn't say how much the ticket is but I never pay more than 100 THB for any ticket.

Turning left onto Thapae from Changklan Rd you say. It would seem that prior to your turn, you were also braving the wrong direction on a one way street... Are you sure you have your streets sorted out? wink.png

It probably was ok as he was driving backwards at the ttime....wai2.gif

  • Like 1

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