Cop thiefs on narawat bridge!

[taotoo]

I wonder if they ask you for yours because of racial profiling?

Yes it could be racial profiling (?), or perhaps it's because their t&c's typically say (Budget UK again) "Non-UK residents should provide their passport."

[FolkGuitar]

I wonder if they ask you for yours because of racial profiling?

Yes it could be racial profiling (?), or perhaps it's because their t&c's typically say (Budget UK again) "Non-UK residents should provide their passport."

It appears to be a 'Budget' requirement. I just took a look at a few other companies, and while they will accept a passport as identification, they will also accept several other forms of ID (and here I'll just copy and paste)

When renting at an Avis airport location, commonly accepted forms of identification include

• A round-trip airline ticket, e-ticket, or travel itinerary to or from the airport of rental, disclosing a return date and showing the renter's name
• A valid passport or current military identification card. The name must match the name on the renter's driver's license
• A current vehicle insurance card. The name and address must match the name and address on the renter's driver's license; OR a current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellphone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match the driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address.

Commonly accepted forms of identification when renting at an Off-Airport location:

• A current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellular phone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match your driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address; OR a valid passport or current military identification card. Your name must match the name on the your driver's license.

Forms of identification accepted may vary by rental location. You may wish to contact your pick-up location to confirm that the forms listed above are accepted at that specific location.

[luther]

Wear a helmet…

The debate about whether the cops are out there collecting tea money or trying to promote helmet usage is irrelevant. Head injuries are sucking huge amounts of money out of the public health system. Less than half of motorcycle riders wear helmets. Less than ten percent of children wear helmets. The cops at the bridge are part of the solution even if they are targeting farangs over Thais. I’ve seen many Thais paying fines.

Get a license…

I had never been in an accident in my life until a guy five cars ahead decided at the last minute to make a U-turn in heavy going-home traffic. Everyone stopped within inches of each other, no contact…until the double-decker bus plowed into back of my pickup. My Thai mechanic friend/insurance agent was on the scene before cars were towed to the police station. I was the only farang. If I had not had a valid Thai license, I would have been taken to the cleaners, just as you would be in the states. Fines after moving violations there, can reach into the thousands of dollars without a valid license.

[bangkok blue]

Wear a helmet…

The debate about whether the cops are out there collecting tea money or trying to promote helmet usage is irrelevant. Head injuries are sucking huge amounts of money out of the public health system. Less than half of motorcycle riders wear helmets. Less than ten percent of children wear helmets. The cops at the bridge are part of the solution even if they are targeting farangs over Thais. I’ve seen many Thais paying fines.

Get a license…

I had never been in an accident in my life until a guy five cars ahead decided at the last minute to make a U-turn in heavy going-home traffic. Everyone stopped within inches of each other, no contact…until the double-decker bus plowed into back of my pickup. My Thai mechanic friend/insurance agent was on the scene before cars were towed to the police station. I was the only farang. If I had not had a valid Thai license, I would have been taken to the cleaners, just as you would be in the states. Fines after moving violations there, can reach into the thousands of dollars without a valid license.

Fair point, as I said I've only had my car a very short time. Wasn't aware of that.

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[Chicog]

I shall be writing a strongly worded letter to my MP, insisting that the 12mth probation period for a Thai license in UK is revoked on the grounds it isn't reciprocated here.

And don't forget a strongly worded letter to the Windbag-sur-la-Tosh Gazette and a witty missive to the Daily Mail as well. And mention teenagers in hoodies to guarantee publication.

[taotoo]

I wonder if they ask you for yours because of racial profiling?

Yes it could be racial profiling (?), or perhaps it's because their t&c's typically say (Budget UK again) "Non-UK residents should provide their passport."

It appears to be a 'Budget' requirement. I just took a look at a few other companies, and while they will accept a passport as identification, they will also accept several other forms of ID (and here I'll just copy and paste)

When renting at an Avis airport location, commonly accepted forms of identification include

• A round-trip airline ticket, e-ticket, or travel itinerary to or from the airport of rental, disclosing a return date and showing the renter's name
• A valid passport or current military identification card. The name must match the name on the renter's driver's license
• A current vehicle insurance card. The name and address must match the name and address on the renter's driver's license; OR a current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellphone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match the driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address.

Commonly accepted forms of identification when renting at an Off-Airport location:

• A current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellular phone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match your driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address; OR a valid passport or current military identification card. Your name must match the name on the your driver's license.

Forms of identification accepted may vary by rental location. You may wish to contact your pick-up location to confirm that the forms listed above are accepted at that specific location.

You've conveniently left off Avis's licencing requirements which (yet again) are at odds with your "they don't care" claim. Note also that all these forms of ID have to match the presented licence (the one that they're not interested in).

[FolkGuitar]

I wonder if they ask you for yours because of racial profiling?

Yes it could be racial profiling (?), or perhaps it's because their t&c's typically say (Budget UK again) "Non-UK residents should provide their passport."

It appears to be a 'Budget' requirement. I just took a look at a few other companies, and while they will accept a passport as identification, they will also accept several other forms of ID (and here I'll just copy and paste)

When renting at an Avis airport location, commonly accepted forms of identification include

• A round-trip airline ticket, e-ticket, or travel itinerary to or from the airport of rental, disclosing a return date and showing the renter's name
• A valid passport or current military identification card. The name must match the name on the renter's driver's license
• A current vehicle insurance card. The name and address must match the name and address on the renter's driver's license; OR a current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellphone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match the driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address.

Commonly accepted forms of identification when renting at an Off-Airport location:

• A current copy (within the last 60 days) of your cellular phone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill which shows your name and current address. Your name and address must match your driver's license in order to provide the renting location with proof of an accurate address; OR a valid passport or current military identification card. Your name must match the name on the your driver's license.

Forms of identification accepted may vary by rental location. You may wish to contact your pick-up location to confirm that the forms listed above are accepted at that specific location.

You've conveniently left off Avis's licencing requirements which (yet again) are at odds with your "they don't care" claim. Note also that all these forms of ID have to match the presented licence (the one that they're not interested in).

Gosh... you're right. I should have been more specific with my wording. They care... when you rent. Be sure to bring your passport.

Sorry that I haven't needed mine... Now I feel really uncared for.

[LivinLOS]

no driving licence.

failing to stop when told to.

you have broken the law twice.

pay 500bht.to pass go.

hopefully they will have your car reg.no.

6months in the slammer.

what do you think about that.

I have a UK driving license, which up until recently has been fine.

My point is they are abusing the new law and regulations for personal gain and i wont be playing that game with them.I somehow doubt very much I will be doing any big bird for not stopping for corrupt cops. If I broke the law then, then what are they doing by pocketing the money?

It's no big deal. Will just make sure I avoid narawat bridge and go around the river in future to get to where I need to.

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It is not only Sapan Narawat that they are checking ID's. All over the city. Why not get a license? You have been around for years. No excuse.

I intend to now. As I said until recently it hasn't been an issue. It's tourists I feel sorry for. That's who will get bled dry, as the cops pockets get bigger. I know this is what happens in Thailand. But if it is so important to enforce this new regulation, then its wrong for cops who are abusing and profiting personally from it.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Tourists should have an IDP..

Residents should have a local license..

Quit whining.

[Sparkles]

In my home country, Australia, if you ride a bicycle on a public road you must wear a helmet or you will be fined .Head injuries have dramatically declined in numbers.If you don't wear a seat belt while driving you will be hit with a huge fine. If you want to buy a dog it must be registered at a cost.If you want to go fishing you need a licence and nearly a 100 posts later we are still in limbo regarding spending a couple of hours and a couple of 100 baht to be legal..........................truly amazing.

[anto]

Cops all over the City today .I was stopped on my motorcycle .I had a helmet on ,so he asks for licence .I show my Thai one .Then he asks to see tax disc ,i show it under the seat .He looked rather dissapointed that he could not catch me on something .lol

[kalbo123]

Cops all over the City today .I was stopped on my motorcycle .I had a helmet on ,so he asks for licence .I show my Thai one .Then he asks to see tax disc ,i show it under the seat .He looked rather dissapointed that he could not catch me on something .lol

He could catch you on something, your tax sticker should be visible on the motorbike, I got fined for having the tax sticker under

the seat.

Edited November 25, 2013 by kalbo123

[sustento]

Cops all over the City today .I was stopped on my motorcycle .I had a helmet on ,so he asks for licence .I show my Thai one .Then he asks to see tax disc ,i show it under the seat .He looked rather dissapointed that he could not catch me on something .lol

So you obeyed the law and weren't prosecuted? Where's the lol in that>?

[Mapguy]

Why are we persecuted endlessly to such OP-directed threads as this?

If you have problems with the administration of simple traffic violations, go back to your home country. I am not an apologist for the driving situation or enforcement problems in Thailand. They are daunting challenges! There are very few traffic police in Chiang Mai and generally in Thailand with inadequate budget, but you clearly don't know anything about that. If you don't understand the tension, you should go back to your home country or learn how things work here, the reasons for that, and adjust to it. YOU are the one who has the problem. Don't expect Thailand to solve your problems. If the traffic police do not meet your personal standards for professionalism or whatever, then go back to deal with authorities where you came from.

[binjalin]

But there's a reason for why a Thai license wouldn't be accepted in England.

A 5 year Thai driving Licence is accepted in the UK, even for rentals. For up to 12 months , I believe.

that can only be because they "don't know what they don't know" because if they "knew" what the Thai test involved they would not even get a provisional licence

[prestburypark]

A UK driving test may be very hard to pass, but as the UK does not have Identification Cards, there is no proof that the person who passed the test is actually the person issued with the license.

Try using your photo card UK license to get into a European casino and you will find that you need a valid UK passport. Other European nationals can enter using their driving licences.

So if European countries are sceptical of the UK driving license it is only fair that the Thais are too.

Sort of...one has to produce valid i.d. at the test centres now, and proper i.d., they are well aware of the stand-in scam that went on years ago.

It would be very hard to do it now with photo-id driving licences. I recently did my motorcycle direct access course and there would have been no way whatsoever to have a stand-in...plus heavy penalties for attempting that.

[prestburypark]

Op, don't feel bad, nobody expect the Spanish Inquisition.

[Sydneycraig]

So, if you will be in Thailand for less than 6 months (doing a border run resets it?) you can use your foreign license in conjunction with an IDP?

If staying in Thailand more than 6 months you need a Thai license?

Seems reasonable ...

[iainiain101]

no driving licence.

failing to stop when told to.

you have broken the law twice.

pay 500bht.to pass go.

hopefully they will have your car reg.no.

6months in the slammer.

what do you think about that.

I have a UK driving license, which up until recently has been fine.

My point is they are abusing the new law and regulations for personal gain and i wont be playing that game with them.I somehow doubt very much I will be doing any big bird for not stopping for corrupt cops. If I broke the law then, then what are they doing by pocketing the money?

It's no big deal. Will just make sure I avoid narawat bridge and go around the river in future to get to where I need to.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

It is not only Sapan Narawat that they are checking ID's. All over the city. Why not get a license? You have been around for years. No excuse.

I intend to now. As I said until recently it hasn't been an issue. It's tourists I feel sorry for. That's who will get bled dry, as the cops pockets get bigger. I know this is what happens in Thailand. But if it is so important to enforce this new regulation, then its wrong for cops who are abusing and profiting personally from it.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Tourists should have an IDP..

Residents should have a local license..

Quit whining.

I thought tourists needed an International Driving License (IDL) and that the International Driving Permit (IDP) was purely a translation document?

[binjalin]

this is slightly weird

cops 'all over' wanting a licence, insurance and tax

how absurd! TIT how dare they want us to comply with any laws.

I mean we farang would never complain about lack of law and justice would we?

[anto]

this is slightly weird

cops 'all over' wanting a licence, insurance and tax

how absurd! TIT how dare they want us to comply with any laws.

I mean we farang would never complain about lack of law and justice would we?

Yes all this hassle in the City and i go around Sansai every day without a helmet and am never stopped out here .( 3 years so far ) One law for the City dweller another for the country bumkin like myself .( yet its only 10 km out ) .

[Ulysses G.]

cops 'all over' wanting a licence, insurance and tax

how absurd! TIT how dare they want us to comply with any laws.

Indeed. Don't they know T.I.T.(This is Thailand)?

[beau thai]

this is slightly weird

cops 'all over' wanting a licence, insurance and tax

how absurd! TIT how dare they want us to comply with any laws.

I mean we farang would never complain about lack of law and justice would we?

Yes all this hassle in the City and i go around Sansai every day without a helmet and am never stopped out here .( 3 years so far ) One law for the City dweller another for the country bumkin like myself .( yet its only 10 km out ) .

I'm puzzled. Why would you choose to ride without a helmet Anto?

[anto]

this is slightly weird

cops 'all over' wanting a licence, insurance and tax

how absurd! TIT how dare they want us to comply with any laws.

I mean we farang would never complain about lack of law and justice would we?

Yes all this hassle in the City and i go around Sansai every day without a helmet and am never stopped out here .( 3 years so far ) One law for the City dweller another for the country bumkin like myself .( yet its only 10 km out ) .

I'm puzzled. Why would you choose to ride without a helmet Anto?

Just because i want to .Wearing a proper helmet ,heats up my brain and effects my judgement for the worse.

[taotoo]

this is slightly weird

cops 'all over' wanting a licence, insurance and tax

how absurd! TIT how dare they want us to comply with any laws.

I mean we farang would never complain about lack of law and justice would we?

Yes all this hassle in the City and i go around Sansai every day without a helmet and am never stopped out here .( 3 years so far ) One law for the City dweller another for the country bumkin like myself .( yet its only 10 km out ) .

I'm puzzled. Why would you choose to ride without a helmet Anto?

Just because i want to .Wearing a proper helmet ,heats up my brain and effects my judgement for the worse.

You must have spent many years wearing one.

[Tokay]

Here are your choices

1) Run the road block. Not hard to do.

2) Don't drive.

3) Get a Thai licence

4) Use an international drivers license

5) Pay a small fee for not having a license and be thankful it's so cheap

I know if I got caught in my home country driving without a license, it would be incredibly expensive. $100s of dollars and possible jail time. 200b ($6) is a freakin' steal.

[Sydneycraig]

Here are your choices

1) Run the road block. Not hard to do.

2) Don't drive.

3) Get a Thai licence

4) Use an international drivers license

5) Pay a small fee for not having a license and be thankful it's so cheap

I know if I got caught in my home country driving without a license, it would be incredibly expensive. $100s of dollars and possible jail time. 200b ($6) is a freakin' steal.

4...when you say IDL is that just the translation (IDP) you get from AAA in oz or post office in UK?

is IDP the same as IDL?????

surely if so, then its very easy for most people (who leave Thailand at least every 6 months as many do for visa runs or holidays) to just get this and not have any problems on the bridge!!!

Edited November 26, 2013 by Sydneycraig

[anto]

>>You must have spent many years wearing one.<<

Yes ,7 years alone as a motorcycle courier in London .Full helmet plus full leathers in the heat of a London Summer .

[FolkGuitar]

Here are your choices

1) Run the road block. Not hard to do.

2) Don't drive.

3) Get a Thai licence

4) Use an international drivers license

5) Pay a small fee for not having a license and be thankful it's so cheap

I know if I got caught in my home country driving without a license, it would be incredibly expensive. $100s of dollars and possible jail time. 200b ($6) is a freakin' steal.

4...when you say IDL is that just the translation (IDP) you get from AAA in oz or post office in UK?

is IDP the same as IDL?????

surely if so, then its very easy for most people (who leave Thailand at least every 6 months as many do for visa runs or holidays) to just get this and not have any problems on the bridge!!!

Remarkably easy. Getting an International Driver's License (Permit) usually can be done by mailing in a form, photocopies of the home license, and some money. You can receive the IDL by return mail. This is the way it's done in many countries. Others might have to go to a municipal office (Japanese IDL)

[Sydneycraig]

Here are your choices

1) Run the road block. Not hard to do.

2) Don't drive.

3) Get a Thai licence

4) Use an international drivers license

5) Pay a small fee for not having a license and be thankful it's so cheap

I know if I got caught in my home country driving without a license, it would be incredibly expensive. $100s of dollars and possible jail time. 200b ($6) is a freakin' steal.

4...when you say IDL is that just the translation (IDP) you get from AAA in oz or post office in UK?

is IDP the same as IDL?????

surely if so, then its very easy for most people (who leave Thailand at least every 6 months as many do for visa runs or holidays) to just get this and not have any problems on the bridge!!!

Remarkably easy. Getting an International Driver's License (Permit) usually can be done by mailing in a form, photocopies of the home license, and some money. You can receive the IDL by return mail. This is the way it's done in many countries. Others might have to go to a municipal office (Japanese IDL)

yes it is very easy.... but from comments above im now not sure if this is still acceptable for use in Thailand if last entry under 6 months?!

is it valid and if for under 6 months. does this 6 months reset itself when leaving Thailand and returning (for visa run/holiday/short term etc)?

if it is then why all the comments about "new rules" being unfair etc etc etc !!

thanks

[bangkok blue]

Surely it would have been fairer to allow a 6 month grace period for foreigners to switch over to a Thai license, In line with the period allowed to drive on a IDL?

TIT.... Money talks when it comes down to the BIB.

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