Phronesis Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 The collection of tea money is a common practice here in Thailand. Anyone who has spent significant time here or who lives here permanently would have already bumped into this issue. To help us better understand the commercial nuances of this feature of the Thai landscape, this thread may be used to provide examples of the facts surrounding a request for, or the provision of, a tea money payment. I will start the ball rolling Facts: Pulled up on NYE 2012 around 7pm at a Police checkpoint. Told that I was not wearing my seat belt. I was. Asked to produce my licence which was then taken from me. Payment demanded: 2000THB Payment made: 500THB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jamescollister Posted January 10, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted January 10, 2013 Run a business, never paid a penny, been here 10 years, company is 5 years old last year. Only money ever paid was to Lao immigration, 50 Baht and even that has stopped. If you don't want to pay stand up and say NO, if you were in the wrong, just like the west pay up. Think many tourists get a buzz from bribing a cop. Jim 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackPuddingBertha Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 "Facts: Pulled up on NYE 2012 around 7pm at a Police checkpoint. Told that I was not wearing my seat belt. I was. Asked to produce my licence which was then taken from me. Payment demanded: 2000THB Payment made: 500THB" Not a good deal. I was stopped for not wearing a seat belt also (I honestly didnt know it was required: when one sees motorcycles carrying entire families of people without helmets, one wonders what on earth the government is worrying about seat belts for). The officer suggested I pay 1000B to settle it. I offered 100B. He asked for 500B. I said no. He gave me a ticket and the next day I went to the police station where I paid the official fine: 400B. It took me about 3 minutes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKASA Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 yep "Facts: Pulled up on NYE 2012 around 7pm at a Police checkpoint. Told that I was not wearing my seat belt. I was. Asked to produce my licence which was then taken from me. Payment demanded: 2000THB Payment made: 500THB" and if you had asked them to write a ticket they would have charged 400 baht but you have to go into the station to pay and get your lic. back. My wife took off her belt and forgot to put it back on and I had not noticed it yet, happens to often - I was seen at the light and waved over. He wrote the ticket and I drove directly into the station. They had to call the officer on the radio to bring in the lic in right away - we paid a reduced ticket of only 200 for being so fast and only spend 20 minutes. We also got a receipt. "The collection of tea money is a common practice here in Thailand" and the offering of it is a worse problem and the main source of the problem to start with. How many are going to tell us about the extra 100 they hand over with the lic. when stopped 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotto Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Yep got pulled up in laem chabang for the missus not wearing a kanock i told her to put one on before we left she said not far dont worry we got 200 meters pulled over 200 baht fine and had to go to police station to get my licence back moral of story if you are farang they will definetly look at you as an atm machine so be prepared to get stopped often especially near the end of the month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maturebrit Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackPuddingBertha Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 He wrote the ticket and I drove directly into the station. They had to call the officer on the radio to bring in the lic in right away - we paid a reduced ticket of only 200 for being so fast and only spend 20 minutes. Bugg*r. Had I known I could have gone the same day rather than the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamescollister Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 12DrinkMore Posted January 10, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted January 10, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Totally off topic, but I applaud the use of the army to be engaged in the upkeep of golf courses. This is by far the best use of soldiers I have ever come across. Pity the west can't follow this outstanding Thai achievement. And I am not taking the piss. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamescollister Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Totally off topic, but I applaud the use of the army to be engaged in the upkeep of golf courses. This is by far the best use of soldiers I have ever come across. Pity the west can't follow this outstanding Thai achievement. And I am not taking the piss. Yes, a pitty that all soldiers could not lay down their arms and take up green keeping. What a beautiful world it would be. Jim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phronesis Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Totally off topic, but I applaud the use of the army to be engaged in the upkeep of golf courses. This is by far the best use of soldiers I have ever come across. Pity the west can't follow this outstanding Thai achievement. And I am not taking the piss. Yes, a pitty that all soldiers could not lay down their arms and take up green keeping. What a beautiful world it would be. Jim And the Navy could run fishing charters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qdinthailand Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Totally off topic, but I applaud the use of the army to be engaged in the upkeep of golf courses. This is by far the best use of soldiers I have ever come across. Pity the west can't follow this outstanding Thai achievement. And I am not taking the piss. Oh? "The Pentagon, for example, runs a staggering 234 golf courses around the world, at a cost that is undisclosed." And many of these golf courses (counted as 1 - have more than one 18 hole course per facility) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennedy Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Usually travel with my neighbor (army col) If stopped he shows his ID, gets a thai cop salute, and we are on our way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamescollister Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 An other thing to make life easy, if you work for the Government in a job of position, you can stick a big badge on the front of the car telling the world you are some one. Cops generally don't like hassling other Government employees, if you have a family member with some pull in the Government, get him to get you a badge. If the cops pull you over and ask about the badge, just say you have no idea, the wife's farther put it there as he uses the car a lot. In my case it's true, wife's father uses the car a lot more than me, think he thinks we bought it for him. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Wow, I thought this thread would have got shut down by now . . . talking about bribery and corruption I thought was a no-no My 2 pennies . . . used to ride a sportsbike around BKK regularly . . . racing exhaust, very noisy, very quick . . . stopped at least once nearly every day by the BiB . . . big smile by me, helmet off, never tried to speak Thai with them, show the licence, never fined . . . though I did let the BiB occasionally take the bike for a spin up the road when they asked nicely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackPuddingBertha Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Wow, I thought this thread would have got shut down by now . . . talking about bribery and corruption I thought was a no-no .. Maybe someone slipped the mods a few red notes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonman Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 (edited) I got pulled over a few weeks ago, policeman (in very good english) asked Him - Licence Sir. Me - <Hand over licence> Him - Do you know what the speed limit is. Me - 100km/h. Him - 90km/h. Me - Bugger my bad. Him - you were doing 130km/h. Me - whoops, how much is the fine officer. Him - Ticket is 400b (and a trip to the police station to retrieve licence and pay fine), alternatively my fellow police officers would like a coffee, you buy us all one for 200b. Me - Ok. Service with a smile, I love it. Edited January 11, 2013 by Spoonman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamescollister Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 As I have said before, don't live in a tourist area, in fact probably one of the most remote farangs in Thailand. Been here a long time, was a cop once. The Thai police are as good as you get, usually happy to help, always seem happy and smiling. Would rather deal with a Thai traffic cop than an Australian one, no leeway in OZ, you get a ticket. I have never been booked in 10 years, don't speed or drink drive, obey the rules and treat the police with respect. Wife got done last year, out of our area. Her license had expired 6 months earlier. 200 Baht fine, paid at the police box set up by the road block. Police issued a recipe and she was allowed to dirve home, plus a letter or paper that she had to renew her license in 5 or 7 days. If she was stopped again the letter covered her to drive. Which western country would be so considerate, you would have been walking home or waiting for a licensed drive to come get your car and I would bet the fine was a lot more. Jim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonman Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 (edited) Whilst I live in a tourist area at the time I was not in a tourist area, unless Kabin Buri is a tourist area these days. Next time I'll take the ticket and waste my time paying the fine (200b more) and retrieving my licence, sound advice Mr Collister. Edited January 11, 2013 by Spoonman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 On the other hand, I've lived here full time for the past ten years and have driven many many miles, I've driven Chaing Mai/Phuket round trip five times and lots more besides. I've been stopped three times in those ten years and on each occaision I paid the fine rather than anything else, twice at the police station and once at a motorway road side speed trap collection point (fines entered into the book, license details recorded) - in all three examples I had no choice but to pay the fines although I suppose I could have solicited to pay slightly less to the officer but I didn't. So no, tea money as it relates to the traffic offenses is not that common as this thread might have you believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Wow, I thought this thread would have got shut down by now . . . talking about bribery and corruption I thought was a no-no .. Maybe someone slipped the mods a few red notes? Could be . . . but we can't discuss it as it's against the rules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I got pulled over a few weeks ago, policeman (in very good english) asked Him - Licence Sir. Me - <Hand over licence> Him - Do you know what the speed limit is. Me - 100km/h. Him - 90km/h. Me - Bugger my bad. Him - you were doing 130km/h. Me - whoops, how much is the fine officer. Him - Ticket is 400b (and a trip to the police station to retrieve licence and pay fine), alternatively my fellow police officers would like a coffee, you buy us all one for 200b. Me - Ok. Service with a smile, I love it. Exactly how it works here . . . much better than losing your licence or getting points or a huge fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 On the other hand, I've lived here full time for the past ten years and have driven many many miles, I've driven Chaing Mai/Phuket round trip five times and lots more besides. I've been stopped three times in those ten years and on each occaision I paid the fine rather than anything else, twice at the police station and once at a motorway road side speed trap collection point (fines entered into the book, license details recorded) - in all three examples I had no choice but to pay the fines although I suppose I could have solicited to pay slightly less to the officer but I didn't. So no, tea money as it relates to the traffic offenses is not that common as this thread might have you believe. In those instances I simply say to the cop that I don't have time to go to the police station (as they usually state one that is FAR from where you are stopped). Once I've opened the door, then they can suggest to me that I pay the fine on the spot, they tell me the "price", I say it's too high, we haggle a little, I pay, job done, I'm on my merry way. All done in English, and always with a big, friendly smile on my face. For me, it's just not worth the time and hassle to do it "properly", I'd rather pay "on the spot" and get it over and done with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpuumike Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 (edited) when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Totally off topic, but I applaud the use of the army to be engaged in the upkeep of golf courses. This is by far the best use of soldiers I have ever come across. Pity the west can't follow this outstanding Thai achievement. And I am not taking the piss. There is an Army golf course, open to public membership, near Aldershot in our very own UK Ooops, off thread, but never mind. Edited January 12, 2013 by Bpuumike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaka Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim Totally off topic, but I applaud the use of the army to be engaged in the upkeep of golf courses. This is by far the best use of soldiers I have ever come across. Pity the west can't follow this outstanding Thai achievement. And I am not taking the piss. There is an Army golf course, open to public membership, near Aldershot in our very own UK Ooops, off thread, but never mind. Can you get a badge for your car there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maturebrit Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 when I was working at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip I got stopped for speeding. .... said I was late for work..... when I told the officer where I worked and who for.... he apologised and waved me on Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Out my way they have an army golf club. Well not out my way 140 km to town. They have an army sticker so you can park and enter the army base. Cops see the sticker and a guy with short hair, you get a salute and waved on. Just how things work, Not a tourist area. Jim yup.... the Navy have a Golf Course and from time to time i would rent a Mini Bus and take a few officers out to other courses to have a change....great PR and no hassle Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pormax Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Seems that we are only talking traffic violations regarding 'tea-money'. If this included the 'tea-money' paid at immigration offices then the site could well go into meltdown. Don't understand why we call it 'Tea Money'. Most Thai's do not drink tea. Should maybe change to 'Beer Money' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamescollister Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Seems that we are only talking traffic violations regarding 'tea-money'. If this included the 'tea-money' paid at immigration offices then the site could well go into meltdown. Don't understand why we call it 'Tea Money'. Most Thai's do not drink tea. Should maybe change to 'Beer Money' Don't see what you would be giving money to Immigration for, you either qualify for an extension or you don't. Same goes for a multi entry, you either have a wife and or kids or you don't. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I believe it was called "tea money" originally because in the UK in the past, workers (at factories for example) used to buy their own "tea" and any "extra" money was put into the kitty for buying that tea. It was shared amongst all and used to buy the tea. An interesting article here about "tea money": http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/print.php?id=3252 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Seems that we are only talking traffic violations regarding 'tea-money'. If this included the 'tea-money' paid at immigration offices then the site could well go into meltdown. Don't understand why we call it 'Tea Money'. Most Thai's do not drink tea. Should maybe change to 'Beer Money' Don't see what you would be giving money to Immigration for, you either qualify for an extension or you don't. Same goes for a multi entry, you either have a wife and or kids or you don't. Jim If only life was that simple . . . "Tea money" is paid to speed processes along and to mitigate any potential problems or issues that might (unexpectedly) crop up during any of these processes or applications. Stand in line for 4 hours to get something done, or pay a little tea money and jump to the front of the queue and get things dealt with more quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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