Stopped By The Police

[TomTao]

Once in Bangkok, my Thai wife was with me (but she gets call a foreigner all the time), cops asked for my passport and what I was doing as I was walking out of MBK with a bag of new clothes, only other time was in Chumphon when the cop who lives in the same street introduced my to his superior officer who invited me to have coffee, they paid and always give me a friendy wave.

Sent from my GT-I9003

[SlyAnimal]

I got a ticket once, 100 Baht for not wearing my helmet. Annoying part is I had to wait in a queue for around 10 minutes as they had someone else at the intersection processing the paperwork for the tickets, seemed strange as I'd heard a lot about police corruption, but excessive paperwork would imply that everything was as it should be lol.

Other time I was stopped, they asked for my licence, my gf told them we were on our way to immigration and they just forgot about asking for my licence and let us go (Which was fortunate, as I didn't have my licence at the time).

[Chittychangchang]

I've been stopped and fined for throwing cig buts, drink driving not wearing a helmet and that was all on the same day,

You'll be glad to know i'm a responsible law abiding citizen now.......in my own country!

For the record - No tatoos

Edited November 2, 2012 by Chittychangchang

[payak]

my tattoos made me 10% tougher

[johna]

Do the police have the any legal right to stop and search, if so can anyone post the relevant law.

[cup-O-coffee]

Why do they stop you? Because they can.

What are the reasons? Pick 'em.

Most likely reason? To shake you down and see if there is an opportunity to get some.

Rarely will a Thai person dressed up in one of these uniforms fulfill the office of law abiding duties that go with the privilage and principle of wearing that specific uniform.

Primarily these Thai people, who are dressed up in any uniform, are only fulfilling the office and duty of their own avarice. The uniform is nothing more than a means to their own selfish ends.

Just put up with it for now until you get more experience under your belt; and as you get to know the system you'll figure it out and arrive at your own solutions to their very simple ways and idiosyncrosies.

Edited November 3, 2012 by cup-O-coffee

[patongphil]

Never in 12 odd years

[kurnell]

Has anybody ever seen a Thai cop doing their job? Eg. stopping bikes riding on the footpath (excluding their fellow officers), pulling over a bike with a child pillion without a helmet, arresting criminals selling porn? Now that would be Amazing Thailand.

[McMagus]

In 8 years only stopped twice on the road and never whilst walking...old and bald.

[pmarlin]

Never, been here off and on since 1970, Full time since 2010. And I walk a lot. day time and night time.

[HardenedSoul]

As one of the few non-African black men in my locale (to my knowledge), I used to get stopped fairly regularly by the impromptu police checkpoint at Asoke when out at night but, once they knew I was British and live in the area, they stopped bothering.

[besth]

That will teach you not to walk in bkk...

Sent from my PC36100 using Thaivisa Connect App

"Not to walk" ?

You must be joking !

I am a walking ATM !!

Do you have a work permit for that?

Never been stopped when walking. Once I was in a taxi that got stopped. The policeman didn't ask for passport, just to see inside a plastic bag I had with me (nothing interesting). Were sent on our way fairly quickly and the taxi driver didn't have to pay any money that I noticed.

[JurgenG]

Actually I was stopped once long time ago, it was in Don Muang arriving from Hong Kong. I was a bit pissed off because of the queue at the immigration and my luggages was the last ones to arrive. My wife was waiting for me outside and I was rushing to join her when someone stopped me. I really shouted at him "I don't want no F.. taxi, get the F... out of my way ..." Then I realized he was showing me some kind of identification and he was in fact a custom officer. Oooppss ... I'm sorry Mr officer, here is my passport. He was a bit shaken by reaction, obviously not used to it, he had a quick look at my passport and let me go

[Travel2003]

Once in 12 years.

I dropped a cig on the street outside the old Immigration in BKK.

I got fined.

Numerous of times with taxi (check points), flashlight in my face, and a look at the driver's license/face.

They never talk to me or search me. Maybe afraid of language barriers and make a fool of them-self in front of colleagues?

Dont know.

[Fgis]

These retards don't even know that they are the gangster, not us !

Yes, they often stop innocent in Bangkok, but hardly outside Bkk.

[impulse]

Do the police have the any legal right to stop and search, if so can anyone post the relevant law.

1) They've got guns.

2) They've got friends with them, also with guns

3) They can make you go away for a long time if they "find" drugs on you.

4) They can really ruin your entire day just for fun..., even if they don't want to mess you up big time.

I've seen relevant laws posted about a dozen times in previous threads.

But 1-4 are all I need to know...

Question is how much time, effort and money I want to spend demanding my right not to be inconvenienced.

Mind, you- that's not specific to Thai police. Try mouthing off to a _______________ (fill in your city here) cop and see what they can dream up to make you regret it.

Edited November 3, 2012 by impulse

[krisb]

Which begs the question....did you have your id on you?....Ive heard you must carry it on you in Thailand although I rarely do and have never been asked besides the airport and hotels.

[bunnaag]

never in 30 years

[wayned]

Numerous times while driving. I used to drive round trip from Nakhon Sawan to Samui at least 2 times per month. Random police checks and being waived over. A split between speeding and riding in the "passing lane" (Cha-Am - Hua Hin bypass rollarcoaster). 95% of the time the BIB were right. Never received a ticket, only paid tea money, usually 100 baht. Once asked the BIB how did he know that I was speeding. He replied with a smile "radar", you were going 127 kilometers per hour. I told him that he neeeded to have his radar calibrated because I was going at least 140 +. Never asked for passport, and never asked to get out of the truck. Could be the 2 or 3 Golden Retreivers sitting inside with me - they didn't relaize that they would only lick them to death.

Was stopped with a truck load of Thais one time, they made all of the Thais get out and body searched them but not the truck, didn't even make me get out. I'm old and bald with no tats but could have had my pockets filled with whatever they were looking for.