Big Police Checkpoint Up At The Y Sai Yuan And Kata-Rawai Rd.

[NomadJoe]

I have not seen his there before. Looks like they are checking helmets, licenses, and documents. They are stopping cars too.

[hansgruber]

Usual revenue collection for distribution back at the station.

Minions have to pay a certain quota upstairs to big boss every month.

[steelepulse]

End of the month collections, but there they usually don't stop cars.

[LivinginKata]

End of the month collections, but there they usually don't stop cars.

Unless it's taking too long to make quota After all we would not want the BIB to be out there too long in the sun

[Guest]

End of the month collections, but there they usually don't stop cars.

Unless it's taking too long to make quota After all we would not want the BIB to be out there too long in the sun

If I recall correctly, there is now 100 more polices in Phuket.

[cdmtdm]

been there everyweek for the last three weeks , two days last week , guy collecting money is over in the Italian Rest ... 500 baht for no helmet was my crime ...i wonder what the fine is for doing a runner ? by the time they get the skinny legs over the honda clicks to give pursuit u would have to be half way home ... it used to be 300baht until the dirty russians arrived

[NamKangMan]

Usual revenue collection for distribution back at the station.

Minions have to pay a certain quota upstairs to big boss every month.

I've often wondered what obscure law the BiB would enforce if everyone was wearing their helmet and had a licence and they were not making any money.

I fear the "foreigner must carry passport" fine might come out.

You wouldn't want to be the Police Officer walking upstairs empty handed one month. :)

[eezergood]

Sure tea money is running out!

[stevenl]

Sure tea money is running out!

Nothing to do with tea money.

[LivinginKata]

I've often wondered what obscure law the BiB would enforce if everyone was wearing their helmet and had a licence and they were not making any money.

I fear the "foreigner must carry passport" fine might come out.

You wouldn't want to be the Police Officer walking upstairs empty handed one month.

Fact of the matter is that the police in any country could 'find' any number of reasons to arrest or fine an individual. The no helmet or no licence is an easy method here in Thailand. Quotas are easily made. i worry more about the bigger 'hits' where drugs might be planted on an individual and big money extorted. My wife tells me about a new one - the pump attendant plants some drugs inside the fuel flap, phones the police friend with reg number, and a road check up the road find the drugs. She mentioned this when we were on the way back from Krabi last week and there was an unusual checkpoint on that busy highway with only selected vehicle being pulled over.

[NamKangMan]

Sure tea money is running out!

Nothing to do with tea money.

Yes it is. The boss drinks more "tea" than the workers - he needs more money. :)

[IAMSOBAD]

The biggest group of criminals wear brown uniforms so they can be easily spotted.

Ever see one of them on a motorcycle... NO HELMET...SMOKING...ON THE PHONE...EVEN TEXTING!

Who is running this insane asylum?

[NamKangMan]

I've often wondered what obscure law the BiB would enforce if everyone was wearing their helmet and had a licence and they were not making any money.

I fear the "foreigner must carry passport" fine might come out.

You wouldn't want to be the Police Officer walking upstairs empty handed one month.

Fact of the matter is that the police in any country could 'find' any number of reasons to arrest or fine an individual. The no helmet or no licence is an easy method here in Thailand. Quotas are easily made. i worry more about the bigger 'hits' where drugs might be planted on an individual and big money extorted. My wife tells me about a new one - the pump attendant plants some drugs inside the fuel flap, phones the police friend with reg number, and a road check up the road find the drugs. She mentioned this when we were on the way back from Krabi last week and there was an unusual checkpoint on that busy highway with only selected vehicle being pulled over.

Yes, police extortion is always a concern. It's not about innocent or guilty. It's about how much will you pay to not go to gaol.

I'm legal here in every way. Well, maybe not. I don't carry my passport with me everywhere, but I do carry a photocopy of it and my Thai licence, which I've been told, is ok.

I try to keep a low profile here and do not bring any attention to myself. I don't "own" property or a nice car here. I do not have a business here. My Thai bank account has a little bit of money for everyday expenses. My accommodation is modest, as is my clothing. For all intense and purpose I'm a nobody. Just another farang tourist.

That said, there are a lot of guys on the island displaying their wealth through the purchase of assets, flashing cash around, wearing gold, dressed well, buying higher end gifts for bar guys, getting into business and general drawing some attention to themselves. For me, you may as well paint a target on yourself for the criminals, and the police.

Anyway, always good to gain knowledge of the latest "crime" committed against farng here.

[steelepulse]

This is a tangent to the OP, but today at the police station helping a friend sort out an accident, a policeman tries to park one of those new small police cars in front of the office where there is a dropoff to the side of the parking spot, and this wonderful law man drove over and off the side of the curb three times before finally being able to park correctly. I had to keep my laugh down to a quiet cackle. Unbelievable that these are the appointed ones to uphold the law and regulations.

[NamKangMan]

This is a tangent to the OP, but today at the police station helping a friend sort out an accident, a policeman tries to park one of those new small police cars in front of the office where there is a dropoff to the side of the parking spot, and this wonderful law man drove over and off the side of the curb three times before finally being able to park correctly. I had to keep my laugh down to a quiet cackle. Unbelievable that these are the appointed ones to uphold the law and regulations.

To save face, he would just say he was testing the suspension. :)

[Jimi007]

This is a tangent to the OP, but today at the police station helping a friend sort out an accident, a policeman tries to park one of those new small police cars in front of the office where there is a dropoff to the side of the parking spot, and this wonderful law man drove over and off the side of the curb three times before finally being able to park correctly. I had to keep my laugh down to a quiet cackle. Unbelievable that these are the appointed ones to uphold the law and regulations.

They aren't appointed, they have to pay for their position here in Phuket! They must have made their quota fairly quickly as there was no checkpoint by a bit after 2 PM. But of course it was hot out by then!

[eezergood]

This is a tangent to the OP, but today at the police station helping a friend sort out an accident, a policeman tries to park one of those new small police cars in front of the office where there is a dropoff to the side of the parking spot, and this wonderful law man drove over and off the side of the curb three times before finally being able to park correctly. I had to keep my laugh down to a quiet cackle. Unbelievable that these are the appointed ones to uphold the law and regulations.

They aren't appointed, they have to pay for their position here in Phuket! They must have made their quota fairly quickly as there was no checkpoint by a bit after 2 PM. But of course it was hot out by then!

CORRECT!

[eezergood]

Sure tea money is running out!

Nothing to do with tea money.

Explain?

[LivinginKata]

<snip>

I'm legal here in every way. Well, maybe not. I don't carry my passport with me everywhere, but I do carry a photocopy of it and my Thai licence, which I've been told, is ok.

I too am legal here in every way. But for the last year or so I have taken to carrying my DL, Passport, and WP. Just to be sure, to be sure.

[stevenl]

Sure tea money is running out!

Nothing to do with tea money.

Explain?

Just normal law: you don't comply with the law so you get a fine. The fine will be the exact amount it is supposed to be, and you can not get away with an offer to pay less. And you get a receipt.

[KarenBravo]

The monthly budget doesn't cover costs. Stuff like gasoline, paper-clips, overtime, pencils, paper etc all have to be paid for.

I have no doubt some of the money is "kicked upstairs", but, the majority is used to pay bills.

Edited January 28, 2013 by KarenBravo

[noob7]

End of the month collections, but there they usually don't stop cars.

They either have to feed the extra BiB or they use 'em for a better revenue for the local BiB's.

Why not use the extra 100 on the Island for 'show that we do' plus extra income?

[starkey_rich]

Sure tea money is running out!

Nothing to do with tea money.

Explain?

Just normal law: you don't comply with the law so you get a fine. The fine will be the exact amount it is supposed to be, and you can not get away with an offer to pay less. And you get a receipt.

Why not enforce the law everyday then?Instead of a couple of times a month.Just think of the revenue .Probably a bit too much like work then though.

[cdmtdm]

you pay peanuts and you get monkeys ....

[NamKangMan]

@ starkey_rich

If they did that, when would they get the time to go and see every business owner during the month for their payment?

[NamKangMan]

you pay peanuts and you get monkeys ....

But monkey soon learn how to "extract" more peanuts.

[noob7]

Nothing to do with tea money.

Explain?

Just normal law: you don't comply with the law so you get a fine. The fine will be the exact amount it is supposed to be, and you can not get away with an offer to pay less. And you get a receipt.

Why not enforce the law everyday then?Instead of a couple of times a month.Just think of the revenue .Probably a bit too much like work then though.

To hot, to much work, to.....!

They could easily earn a lot of money, with enforcing the law.

But: If things happen always and on a daily base, they could change the behavior of the people.

No one want that!

Better not change something, but have extra income a lifetime

[cdmtdm]

what sort of police do u expect for 8000baht per month salary?

[LivinginKata]

what sort of police do u expect for 8000baht per month salary?

I think you are out of date there. Starting salaries at least 12,000 baht/month plus another 12,000 baht from official fine receipts. And that's just the official payments. Not to mention free housing, health care for wife & kids.

[NomadJoe]

I've often wondered what obscure law the BiB would enforce if everyone was wearing their helmet and had a licence and they were not making any money.

I fear the "foreigner must carry passport" fine might come out.

Well judging by the endless stream of motorbikes heading that way with no helmet and probably unlicensed/incorrectly licensed tourists, I doubt they will ever need to invent reasons. Although one time they told me that I didn't signal when the copper waived me over.

The law about carrying your passport is actually a combination of two laws. I have posted them here before. The immigration law states you must be able to prove to a competent official that you "entered the country legally." That doesn't specifically mean you have to carry your passport with you, but it means that if the cop doesn't accept a photo copy as proof, you may need to go get it or have someone bring it to you, and in the mean time you may need to wait at the police station. Your not arrested, just detained pending investigation. But they cannot cite you for not carrying your passport. But they can cite you for violating the Thai ID act which requires every person to carry legal identification on them at all times. This can be in the form of your passport or your Thai drivers license.