Stopped by police whilst riding motorbike... First time!

[camble]

I've been fined 400 baht for driving without a helmet 4 times in 10 years but I still don't have a Thai DL. I've been 'fined' 200 baht for not having a license on three occasions but those times I didn't get a receipt so having a license wouldn't have mattered.

[NomadJoe]

Firstly i can speak Thai a lot better that I made out in that post and secondly is that opposed to not being in deep sh1t if you do have a Thai licence???

I have been here since last July, first time in Thailand. Were not born with the knowledge of how to sort out a licence in Thailand and given that I have been here less than a year, technically speaking I thought my licence is still valid for me to drive here?? Or am I wrong, please correct if I am, do tourists need to apply for a Thai driving licence when they rent a car or motorcycle?

"pom England Licence".

"Mai, Sonkran nam" "

"Chai Chai Chai, I pay fine".

I think he fined you for your use of Thaiglish.

Do you know you would be in serious sh1t if you caused an accident with no license.

I get stopped all the time and they nearly always smile and wave me on. In 20 years I've only been fined about 3 times. One for driving at 157 km/hr, once for going down a one-way street, once for going into the wrong toll way booth.

I explained that pretty well in my post Arnold; a post you "liked". A National License does not make you legal. It must be accompanied with an IDP (International Driver's Permit) which is only good for 1 year. It does not matter what your status is; expat living here or tourist, the laws are the same for everyone. Other than having a valid National License along with a valid IPD, you would need a Thai License to be legal. Just because there are a lot of police that might let you go with a National License "only" does not make it legal.

You're right, the fact that "a lot" (actually all) police accept your national license does not make it legal. The law on licensing makes it legal. A national license from your home license is legal in Thailand, but for tourists only. Laws are not the same for tourist or expat resident as you claim. Residents need a Thai DL to be legal. You do not need a license from your home country (or an IDP) if you have a Thai license, which is sounds like you are saying in your last line. It can make it easier to obtain a Thai one though.

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 1979 (Thai Law)

Section 42

• Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver licence.
• The driver must carry the driver licence and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request.
• This does not apply to those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.
• If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver licence specified in the Section 42-2.
• In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver licence, and show them to competent officers upon request.

Section 42-2

• In case there is a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver licence, an alien who does not have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver licence issued by such a foreign government, or an automobile association authorised by such a foreign government.

Thailand, The UK, The US, Australia, Canada, Sweden, France, Italy, Russia and dozens more counties are contracting states to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

They are listed here ---> https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?&mtdsg_no=XI~B~1&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg5〈=en This is the "treaty" referred to in the above section 42-2 of the Thai traffic act of 1979.

Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949

Chapter V. Drivers of Motor Vehicles in International Traffic Article 24

1. Each Contracting State shall allow any driver admitted to its territory who fulfils the conditions which are set out in annex 8 and who holds a valid driving permit issued to him, after he has given proof of his competence, by the competent authority of another Contracting State or subdivision thereof, or by an association duly empowered by such authority, to drive on its roads without further examination motor vehicles of the category or categories defined in annexes 9 and 10 for which the permit has been issued.

2. A Contracting State may however require that any driver admitted to its territory shall carry an international driving permit conforming to the model contained in annex 10, especially in the case of a driver coming from a country where a domestic driving permit is not required or where the domestic permit issued to him does not conform to the model contained in annex 9.

The AA and consulate websites which claim an IDP are required are incorrect. It's not a bad idea to have and IDP in case you come across a cop that wants to try to scam money out of you. It just isn't legally required in Thailand, which is why all rental companies and insurances in Thailand accept your home license as legal.

Angloinfo has it right: http://pattaya.angloinfo.com/information/transport/driving-licences/

[NomadJoe]

... just make sure you get a translation of your uk licence for them.

Translated into what, Thai? What are you talking about?

No translated into kazakstani,DUH!

Edit: I just realized you're talking about using your home license into obtain a Thai one. I thought you were talking about for general use in Thailand. My LDT asked me to print out the California DMV website page describing what "Class C" and "Class M1" were. Many people have said they have used their home licenses to obtain a Thai one and you are the first person I have ever heard of that had to have it translated it into Thai. Everyone I know here in Phuket did not need an IDP or translation. It seems the bigger LDT's or LTD's which tend to service more foreigners don't ask for the translations probably because they have staff that can read enough English.

[JSixpack]

You're right, the fact that "a lot" (actually all) police accept your national license does not make it legal. The law on licensing makes it legal. A national license from your home license is legal in Thailand, but for tourists only. Laws are not the same for tourist or expat resident as you claim. Residents need a Thai DL to be legal. You do not need a license from your home country (or an IDP) if you have a Thai license, which is sounds like you are saying in your last line. It can make it easier to obtain a Thai one though.

If you aren't legal, then do Thai vehicle insurance companies still pay in case of an accident?

[I Like Thai]

The bike does have some sort of insurance or whatever is required as a minimum... Thats a very extreme way of looking at it and to say that riding up and down local Soi's on a moped you could kill a child... I find that very unlikely... If we live our life planning for the absolute worse things that could happen in any situation there would be no point in getting out of bed.

But to answer your question if I did hit a child in my Soi and they were gravely injured, I'd do whatever was required to make sure they got the absolute best medical attention available.

What if you have an accident on your bike. What if a child is injured and requires expensive medical care. You don't have any Insurance. The child is going to die unless you pay for the hospital care.

What will you do ?

You don't have a valid license, so you don't have Insurance of any sort.

What if the medical bills are more than you can afford.

What will you do then ? Feel lousy about it ? Go and get drunk so that YOU don't feel lousy about it ?

[arnold40844]

I am still a tourist though, which technically means my licence is still valid. It also means that I cannot get a Thai licence which (please correct me if im wrong) means that I can not get 3rd party insurance.

I personally think there is more chance of me slipping and falling down the stairs this afternoon than me running over a child with the moped. I rarely go ever 20km, rarely leave my Soi (speed bumps every 10 meters), I have 20/20 vision, check my blind spots, never rush and keep my distance, i am going to cut the use of the bike down to a minimum. There is no point going to big supermarkets anyway on a small motorbike do to limited space.

We are moving in a month to a house that comes with a golf cart in the lease!!! I look forward to the debate on Thai visa of how many laws I am breaking by visiting the club house.....

The bike does have some sort of insurance or whatever is required as a minimum... Thats a very extreme way of looking at it and to say that riding up and down local Soi's on a moped you could kill a child... I find that very unlikely... If we live our life planning for the absolute worse things that could happen in any situation there would be no point in getting out of bed.

But to answer your question if I did hit a child in my Soi and they were gravely injured, I'd do whatever was required to make sure they got the absolute best medical attention available.

What if you have an accident on your bike. What if a child is injured and requires expensive medical care. You don't have any Insurance. The child is going to die unless you pay for the hospital care.

What will you do ?

You don't have a valid license, so you don't have Insurance of any sort.

What if the medical bills are more than you can afford.

What will you do then ? Feel lousy about it ? Go and get drunk so that YOU don't feel lousy about it ?

[anon11]

As far as I am concerned you should have been fined 100K baht you have been here how long and still no Thai licence who I forgot you have been riding bikes for ! ! ! ! ! ! tears....so what.............tell your family that when you are in a nursing home because of major head injuries.....why post this comment.....

BETTER TO LET PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE STUPID THAN TO POST IT AND CONFIRM IT

[arnold40844]

LOL.. Just so you know I only bought the bike 3 weeks ago. I was against getting a bike 6 months ago because of safety concerns. After a couple of months of being in Thailand we got know the neighbours and on occasion I would borrow their bike mostly to get Som Tam from the other side of our estate. it started to get the point where it was almost every day, I was feeling bad about asking them and could see that what started as a kind gesture on their part was turning in to a bit of a buy your own damn bike situation. So I did 3 weeks ago. And like I said I rarely leave the Soi, I was actually trying to convince my wife to go with a push bike, he reply was "its to hot".

There is no need to throw insults. yes I arrived here 8 - 9 months ago, it was my first time in the country since then my son was born, daughter started school. I have been sorting out marriage certs, visas, birth certs, translations, enrolment fees, house contract, border runs and have just not got around to the licence yet...

Obviously I am just not as organised as you who I am sure would have sorted it out in first week...

As far as I am concerned you should have been fined 100K baht you have been here how long and still no Thai licence who I forgot you have been riding bikes for ! ! ! ! ! ! tears....so what.............tell your family that when you are in a nursing home because of major head injuries.....why post this comment.....

BETTER TO LET PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE STUPID THAN TO POST IT AND CONFIRM IT

[NomadJoe]

You're right, the fact that "a lot" (actually all) police accept your national license does not make it legal. The law on licensing makes it legal. A national license from your home license is legal in Thailand, but for tourists only. Laws are not the same for tourist or expat resident as you claim. Residents need a Thai DL to be legal. You do not need a license from your home country (or an IDP) if you have a Thai license, which is sounds like you are saying in your last line. It can make it easier to obtain a Thai one though.

If you aren't legal, then do Thai vehicle insurance companies still pay in case of an accident?

If you have no license at all, you may run into problems. Insurance and rental companies have a requirement that you must be "legally licensed to drive" which means your home license if you are a tourist and a Thai DL if you are a resident, though most will accept your home license even if a resident rather than try to figure out if you are a resident or a tourist.

[sean in udon]

I've not yet been pulled over by the BIB in Thailand, but based on previous experience in the UK, being polite or sometimes, kissing ass, has allowed me to escape unscathed and point/fine free on 3 occasions that come to mind. Sent on my way with a word of warning. Only minor infractions.

TIT, so the same rules don't always apply, but as a general rule of thumb, I don't believe sticking your chest out and giving attitude works very well with police in any country. Especially if you are in the wrong.

Comments about appropriate attire for riding a scooter/motorbike. A 300 meter journey in flip flops, shorts and t-shirt to fetch a mains 4 way adapter, was interrupted with a big yellow wasp/hornet hitting me in the chest and sharing his disapproval with a sting. I literally had to pull the nasty piece of work off my chest to get rid of it. Full leathers would have been a blessing. Not been stung since I was a kid. At least I now know I don't suffer from anaphylactic shock.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[sean in udon]

Forgot to ask while I was posting. What is the purpose of the IDP? I got mine from a post office in the UK before coming here.

Fill in a form, pay £5.50, show your UK licence, job done. As far as I can see, it's purely a paperwork exercise and doesn't prove anything.

Surely it wouldn't just be used as an excuse to extract tea money or invalidate insurance claims from unaware tourists?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[arnold40844]

That must have been a really traumatising experience. You're lucky that you had the pain tolerance to focus on the task at hand. I knew someone who got stung driving a car and ended up in the ditch.. Also I have seen a wasp sting the back someone's throat whilst on a bicycle.

Its a dangerous game this motoring business..

I've not yet been pulled over by the BIB in Thailand, but based on previous experience in the UK, being polite or sometimes, kissing ass, has allowed me to escape unscathed and point/fine free on 3 occasions that come to mind. Sent on my way with a word of warning. Only minor infractions.
TIT, so the same rules don't always apply, but as a general rule of thumb, I don't believe sticking your chest out and giving attitude works very well with police in any country. Especially if you are in the wrong.

Comments about appropriate attire for riding a scooter/motorbike. A 300 meter journey in flip flops, shorts and t-shirt to fetch a mains 4 way adapter, was interrupted with a big yellow wasp/hornet hitting me in the chest and sharing his disapproval with a sting. I literally had to pull the nasty piece of work off my chest to get rid of it. Full leathers would have been a blessing. Not been stung since I was a kid. At least I now know I don't suffer from anaphylactic shock.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[sean in udon]

duanebigsby experience of a bee up his shorts, had me playing a mental image of the same happening to me, stopping on a highway and pulling my shorts down to find out what the hell was in there - something I hope to never experience. And I'm sure many passing Thais would be mentally scarred for life if it did happen. Apart from the sting it would appear that duanebigsby survived the incident unscathed. A very lucky day for him.

And with your reference to a wasp in the mouth, I think I got off pretty lightly.

Have to agree, dangerous game this motoring business, as if driving in Thailand wasn't scary enough with just humans to deal with.

[duanebigsby]

A reminder, most accidents happen within a few kilometers from home.

I'm astonished by the tourists with no helmet, short pants, and flip flops. And they have zero riding experience.

Don't let the size of these little Hondas lure you into thinking it's safe. OP has a ton of experience so will be okay on the roads, but those tourists are ignoring helmets and drinking are accidents in the making.

OP it's easy to get your Thai license. Passport, Residency permit, medical certificate and you've got it.

Also use ziplock bags for things like DL, passport( or photocopies) wallet etc.

I'm not a tourist, always ride with flip flops and shorts, 2,000 + km to Nong Khai and back a few months ago. Off after Songkran to Kanchanaburi and Chiang Rai, will take some protection....suncream

I was simply pointing out that flip flops and shorts are not appropriate gear to ride a motorbike.

If you want to not protect yourself from the possibility of accident, go ahead.

the "I did it and I'm ok argument" does not validate it.

Not appropriate according to you! I could never have done that trip in full leathers, boots and full face helmet, heat stroke would have caused a possible accident.

Of course it validates it. The way people preach about do this, do that or............ I fail to understand why people think they know what is better for me, as long as what i do affects nobody. why are you interested?

Better to be interested in the cause of accidents, that what to wear if one happens.

Not appropriate according to me? No common sense

I never said anything about full leathers etc.

I am not preaching. I am laying out what I think is common sense for motorcyclists in the world, especially Thailand.

I am completely not interested in the way you ride. I am interested in telling people who wish to ride safely some common sense tips.

I don't care what you think is better for you, I want to tell visitors and residents of Thailand some basic safety concerns.

While I do care about the cause of accidents, I also care about how to avoid them and survive them.

If you want to die on the roads, I really do not care.

[kandi]

Funny that this topic comes up. Last week I got an old motorbike (Honda Dream Exces) and already got stopped 3 times while driving through Bangkok (mostly Pin Klao area). Even though I was wearing a helmet, I still don't have my driving licence (neither Thai nor international one).

All 3 times they asked me if I speak Thai and each time I said "no" (I do). Then it's up to the officer to explain in his very, very basic English (if any at all) that I have to show my driving licence which of course I don't really seem to understand. That's where in all these cases the officers laughed and told me to continue. Welcome to Thailand.

[Loles]

Here it is 80 baht for no helmet and 400 baht for no license.... Looks like you were hit for no license.

Biggest mistake you made was to speak Thai.

Most police can't be bothered with the frustration of trying to explain the procedures, just speak in your own language in future.... 9 out of 10 times, they just wave you on... Most police speak no English.

A very nice fairy tail your post man, I guess you have read here this BST before.

[In Search of Space]

I recently picked up a new bike with a tiny exhaust under the engine, almost invisible, but embarrassingly quiet - will be solved soon. Anyway I went past a BIB who immediately pulled me over, the following conversation,

BIB "you no boom-boom"

Myself "pardon me ?"

BIB "No boom-boom"

My else "I am terribly sorry, what are you talking about"

He then pointed to my engine say again no boom-boom, somewhat relieved, I started the engine, he then revved it & then buggered off !

[arnold40844]

Hahaha. Pity he did not give you a ticket for "No Boom Boom", i would have framed it.

What sort of bike is it? sounds painfully restricted.

I recently picked up a new bike with a tiny exhaust under the engine, almost invisible, but embarrassingly quiet - will be solved soon. Anyway I went past a BIB who immediately pulled me over, the following conversation,

BIB "you no boom-boom"
Myself "pardon me ?"
BIB "No boom-boom"
My else "I am terribly sorry, what are you talking about"

He then pointed to my engine say again no boom-boom, somewhat relieved, I started the engine, he then revved it & then buggered off !

[kriswillems]

My wife never pays a fine. She talks with them until they get bored. She's very successful.

I paid a fine once, 200B, no seatbelt.

It was a tactical choice because I didn't want to loose time.

I had a metal bar on the car that was much longer than the car. They stopped me for that, but the police officer couldn't explain it.

So, I decided to say to him "no seatbelt" and he agreed and I paid 200 baht and got a ticket for that.

Another time I was stopped for no reason and he wanted to fine me something I didn't do, but he immediately said I could also give him money for a coffee. I choose the easy way out and paid.