Big money bribe

[invogue]

I think its my bad luck week.

I drive my own motorbike. I misplaced my licence about a month ago and was planning on getting a replacement when I go back to Australia next month.

I was driving one of my friends home today when I got stopped by a policeman on Sukhumvit Road. He said I was driving in a lane where only buses are allowed.

He asked to see my licence, which of course I didn't have, then he asked for my passport which I showed him and he took off me. He stood there speaking in very poor English for 15 minutes, most of which I couldn't decipher. Then he told me to drive to a hotel down the road where he would come and meet us. So we drove there and waited another 15 minutes until he turned up and took us to a back laneway. He sat my friend and I down and kept talking for another 20 odd minutes saying that his boss was on the way, he was going to fingerprint me, take me to immigration and I would probably be deported.

I was a bit taken aback by the whole affair. I've never had anything like ths happen. Eventually he got around to the part where he would generously accept a fee to help me. I said 'Sure, how much do you want?'. He said 3000 baht. I considered that a fairly high bribe as everyone I've spoken to has told me you generally need to pay a couple of hundred baht max. Then straight away my friend whipped out 3000 baht and handed it to him. He gave back my passport, we got back on the bike and sped off into the distance. Needless to say I was responsible for the 3000 baht so had to give to my friend when we got home.

I consoled myself by thinking that a fine in Australia would have been a lot more. Anyone else eve had to pay this much?

[benalibina]

It is a hard and expensive time for you. Do not go on the motorbike to the market or lightening will strike again !!

[meom]

Why was your friend so eager to pay would be a better question.

[invogue]

It is a hard and expensive time for you. Do not go on the motorbike to the market or lightening will strike again !!

Ha, ha, ha; I'll say!

[mogandave]

200 in BKK 50-100 in a rural province.

[arthurwait]

Not personally, but plenty say they have. Just ask for a ticket and you will pay at the station, a few hundred baht. You won't get deported over a traffic offense whether real or made up by the copper. Certainly don't go down any alleys with them.

[justben]

No license is a 500 baht fine and that's it. No need to bribe, no deportation, no vehicle confiscation.Just for your information, if it happens again.

Just got unlucky this time round.

[mogandave]

never carry your passport

[invogue]

Why was your friend so eager to pay would be a better question.

Because she is young and was being threatened by a policeman in a foreign country.

[justben]

I am wondering why you were so eager to go meet him in a hotel? Im assuming you were afraid and you did not know that not having a license is about as serious as not wearing a helmet around here.

[soi41]

You have a very steap learning-curve ahead of you, if you are going to enjoy your time here!

What you and your friend did, was just plain stupid!

[arthurwait]

I am wondering why you were so eager to go meet him in a hotel? Im assuming you were afraid and you did not know that not having a license is about as serious as not wearing a helmet around here.

The hotel bit is a bit strange, was he hoping they didn't have the cash ? Not a real cop ?

[invogue]

I am wondering why you were so eager to go meet him in a hotel? Im assuming you were afraid and you did not know that not having a license is about as serious as not wearing a helmet around here.

The hotel bit is a bit strange, was he hoping they didn't have the cash ? Not a real cop ?

Nope..... 1. there were other cops in view at the point we were at on the street and lots and lots of people walking and driving past, so taking cash in hand would not be a good look.

2. He probably thought that hamming up the drama and making things sound really serious would ensure he got a high amount..... unfortunately we are 2 young, white girls that stand out like a sore thumb.

[invogue]

You have a very steap learning-curve ahead of you, if you are going to enjoy your time here!

What you and your friend did, was just plain stupid!

Nope I wouldn't have handed over 3000 baht. My friend did without my agreeing.

Yes I did meet him at the hotel as I presummed I could pay him a less than 500 baht bribe and be on my way.

[David48]

I think that you know deep down, having stayed here the length of time that you have and the fact that you have done some work in Thailand that the fine was well over the top.

I like reading your stories ...

.

[invogue]

I think that you know deep down, having stayed here the length of time that you have and the fact that you have done some work in Thailand that the fine was well over the top.

I like reading your stories ...

.

No I don't know 'deep down', I know on the surface! As said my friend just whipped out all the money she had and handed it over. Which obviously was my money because I can't let her be responsible for cop bribe when I was driving. And think of it from her perspective; she is 19 and from the USA. If the cops tell you to do something in the US its wise to co-operate.

Oh, I have about 101 other strange stories but I'm not about to publish all those on TV.

[kikoman]

I have never been in that situation, as I would refuse to pay any type of Bribe and would have requested to be given a ticket.

Knowing that some police "do" lock up your bike until the matter is settled and I have seen such actions in Pattaya at the intersection next to Big C where the BIB always are present.

I guess in the event it did happen to me, the amount of the requested Tea money was not excessive I might pay it in spite of my principals. I can not honestly say I will never pay a bribe until the situation happens to me.

Being two young ladies probably was the reason you were taken advantage of.

Please do not ever agree to meet a policeman at a hotel in the future, It is better to be safe then sorry.

Good Luck!

Cheers:

[I Like Thai]

First the market, now the police.

Tune in next week, same time, same channel, for the Jet Ski Scam encounter.

[benalibina]

I think that you know deep down, having stayed here the length of time that you have and the fact that you have done some work in Thailand that the fine was well over the top. I like reading your stories ... .

No I don't know 'deep down', I know on the surface! As said my friend just whipped out all the money she had and handed it over. Which obviously was my money because I can't let her be responsible for cop bribe when I was driving. And think of it from her perspective; she is 19 and from the USA. If the cops tell you to do something in the US its wise to co-operate. Oh, I have about 101 other strange stories but I'm not about to publish all those on TV.

We are waiting in full excitement for a selection of your other 101 stories. 2 a week, ok ? Will keep you busy and with full attention of us till the end of the year.

[boosta]

Yes, way over the top.

Don't carry your passport, only a copy showing the facepage and your current stamp, WP if you have one on the other side, make a few at a time and stick them in the pockets of your most-used bags etc.

Always feel free to refuse a bribe for a non-serious offense like traffic stuff, what Thais consider heavy fines is peanuts by our standards, and often just agreeing to accept the trip to the station will get you off the hook because they'll lose bribe-production time by dealing with the paperwork.

And NEVER agree to meet a policeman anywhere except a police station, could really have been dangerous for you guys and nothing you could do, they act with complete impunity like the three-letter-agency guys back home.

[somtampet]

I have never been in that situation, as I would refuse to pay any type of Bribe and would have requested to be given a ticket.

Knowing that some police "do" lock up your bike until the matter is settled and I have seen such actions in Pattaya at the intersection next to Big C where the BIB always are present.

I guess in the event it did happen to me, the amount of the requested Tea money was not excessive I might pay it in spite of my principals. I can not honestly say I will never pay a bribe until the situation happens to me.

Being two young ladies probably was the reason you were taken advantage of.

Please do not ever agree to meet a policeman at a hotel in the future, It is better to be safe then sorry.

Good Luck!

Cheers:

Agree,would have been easy for 2 young ladies to say no to the meet up.Then to say take them to cop shop and sort it out there.Also if other police were there,ask them to take you to cop shop

[nottocus]

Can I meet you and your friend?

I need some extra money and you seem a very easy person to rip off.

[rene123]

It seems you are learning some expensive lessons the hard way in Thailand. Thailand pays their police low wages with the expectation that they make up the difference in bribery. It is how the system is run. What you have to learn is what the going rates for fines and bribes are. Bribes are usually half the normal rate for a fine. Most traffic fines are 400 baht or less, unless you do something seriously wrong. In Canada our police don't take bribed, but the fines start at the equivalent of about 6000 baht.

[GooEng]

Always carry colour copies of :

Drivers License

Passport Photo Page

Passport Entry Stamp Page/TM card

Bike Registration Document (Green Book)

Keep it in a plastic sleeve under the seat and if this happens produce it.

Also make side your road fund sticker it valid and your bike has no defects - faulty lights, worn tires etc.

Never bung them more than 200b. If they ask more, call their bluff and insist on going to the station to the tourist police.

I used to get stopped time and again at the pratunam junction on petchburi road and this combo of legal roadworthy bike and copied documents worked - they gave up.

[rene123]

Good advice GooEng. Obviously you learned the hard way or you had a good mentor. I had a good mentor in Chiang Mai last October and he saved me from making more than a few mistakes. Even then I had to occasionally pay what I call a Thai road tax for small infractions.

[samran]

Was this going to or from your hi so party event?

[boosta]

Always carry colour copies of :

-

Absolutely no reason for color copies, B&W is fine unless you want to keep up the hi-so image.

[GooEng]

I tint the colour copies to match my bike which matches my clothing and hair.

Invogue will no doubt do the same, she's in the modelling game.

Get some effin sleep boosta.

[David48]

Was this going to or from your hi so party event?

Less subtle then my comment, but we ride the same road ...

.

[GooEng]

I think that you know deep down, having stayed here the length of time that you have and the fact that you have done some work in Thailand that the fine was well over the top.

I like reading your stories ...

.

No I don't know 'deep down', I know on the surface! As said my friend just whipped out all the money she had and handed it over. Which obviously was my money because I can't let her be responsible for cop bribe when I was driving. And think of it from her perspective; she is 19 and from the USA. If the cops tell you to do something in the US its wise to co-operate.

Oh, I have about 101 other strange stories but I'm not about to publish all those on TV.

Go on, please!