Are You A Sexpat Or Do You Ride The Backwards Morality Train?

[MZurf]

Between Pattaya Tai and Pattaya Klang when going south they stop all motorbikes, and a large group of foreign police volunteers are there to ask for your driver's license and registration.

I think we should all show our appreciation for these fine, upstanding, selfless volunteers who out of the goodness of their hearts help the RTP (themselves beacons of integrity and honesty) perform their duties for a brighter tomorrow!

Please, show them some love!!

[guzzi850m2]

Yeh they was at it on Monday as well but I was in the truck so they didn't get any love from me.

[petercool]

The Highway police have these checks regularly there outside their station - takes only a few minutes if your license and bike papers are ok ...... cars are very seldom checked.

[Sigurris]

Most often in the last week of the month? A coincidence? Shurely not!!!

[tropo]

They've been flat out on Beach Road outside the police station and on 2nd Road just south of Central this week too. The police station is always jam packed with people waiting to pay fines... probably a 2 or 3 hour wait if you hit peak time. Perhaps they're making up for lost revenue over Songkran. They know most tourists don't carry International Licences, so it's a very easy earn for them. They can't pick on cars as there is nowhere to park them while their "customers" go to pay fines and most tourists don't drive cars anyway.

[Som wat]

Respect the laws of Thailand and you'll have no problems.

[SidJames]

Doesn't matter if you have an international license to most of them.

I've been pulled a few times & they were uninterested in mine so I had to cough up.

I will have to get a Thai yearly one

[tropo]

Doesn't matter if you have an international license to most of them.

I've been pulled a few times & they were uninterested in mine so I had to cough up.

I will have to get a Thai yearly one

Now they ALWAYS check me for the International licence (they never used to). They ask for it straight away. They don't even ask to see registration papers. Perhaps it's only the cops near the station who check as I've never been pulled over on Sukhumvit, but they know they're on a winner with this one.

Edited April 24, 2014 by tropo

[guzzi850m2]

I been stopped twice on beach road in the last 14 days, showed them my 5 year Thai mc licence and was sent on my way again.

Today I passed a check point just outside walking street but they just waved me on, maybe they remember me.

Okay on the PCX I ride is a net fitted on the seat and they know that no rental shop will fit that so they know it's a private scooter I ride but never been asked for registration this time around but they check that the insurance sticker was up to date.

I am very careful right now when coming to an intersection and wants to go left= wait for green light .

[thailandbeachisland]

They don't even ask to open the window when passing by in the car.

[thailandbeachisland]

I been stopped twice on beach road in the last 14 days, showed them my 5 year Thai mc licence and was sent on my way again.

Today I passed a check point just outside walking street but they just waved me on, maybe they remember me.

Okay on the PCX I ride is a net fitted on the seat and they know that no rental shop will fit that so they know it's a private scooter I ride but never been asked for registration this time around but they check that the insurance sticker was up to date.

I am very careful right now when coming to an intersection and wants to go left= wait for green light .

Yes they are famous to be so smart that even remember your name :-)

It's famous that monkeys have a good memory.

[losworld]

Don't you understand this is part of the new police chief's promise to spend 6 million of his own money to renovate the station!!!! What a guy!!!

[petercool]

Don't you understand this is part of the new police chief's promise to spend 6 million of his own money to renovate the station!!!! What a guy!!!

The Highway Police are not under the Pattaya station colonel's jurisdiction ..... it's a separate force.

[Degobuy]

Got pulled in and the two tourist police were great we joked and laughed and he didn't even want to see my bike papers as he said he believed all was good.The only time i had to pay was because i was wrong, no helmet.

[Kerryd]

1st time I got pulled over at that Sukhumvit check I didn't have my IDP with me (had left it with the big bike). 200 baht fine. Called my buddy to see if he'd come pick up my bike and ride it to the shop. He told me just pay the fine and you'll be OK. I was sure they would impound the bike but no, showed my receipt to the guy holding the keys, got my keys back, hopped on the bike and rode away.

2nd time I got stopped I was on the big bike and I did have my IDP on me. The farang volunteer had a quick glance and waved me on. 3rd time I was on the scooter again. I lifted the seat to get the baggie with my IDP and passport photocopy. Never even got it out of the baggie and the volunteer guy waved me on. 4th time I was on a moto taxi (planned on drinking that night) - he didn't have a license as it turns out, but told the volunteer that he'd already been stopped earlier that day and had paid a fine (but couldn't produce a receipt). The volunteer let him go (probably more so that I wouldn't have to sit there or try to get another taxi than anything).

Not sure if it was part of a pre-Songkran crackdown or what, but I've never seen that many inspections before in that short of period. It's actually a good thing though, as it is probably one of the few ways they are ever going to get people to start paying attention to the law (having a licence, proper registration, insurance, helmet, etc). Used to be almost expected (in North America at least) that people would be drinking and driving. If the police pulled you over, they'd confiscate any open bottles/cans, and maybe escort you home to help make sure you get there safely.

Then they started cracking down on unsafe driving. Fines, impounded vehicles, jail time, increased insurance rates. Even police chiefs and mayors have been busted for driving after having as little as a glass of wine at a function. Took awhile, but far fewer people these days are willing to take the risk of driving after drinking.

Same for driving without a license or insurance or registration. Getting hit in the pocketbook (and/or getting a criminal record and jail time) really drive home the message that it's not OK to do that stuff anymore. Sheesh, even getting caught doing 10km/hr over the posted limit on a freeway can end up costing an arm and a leg !

Remember not too long ago in Thailand very few people wore helmets when riding motorcycles. Then they started a safety campaign. Between the billboards, ads, education and police crackdowns, people have been gradually getting the message. Still have a ways to go, just as they do with getting everyone else on the roads to be operating legally.

Can't wait until they start nailing people that run red lights at intersections ! Imagine the chaos that would ensue !!

[joepattaya1961]

I live right behind the Highway Police Station and run into the check on a regular bases.

Once i was stopped and directed to a bearded foreigner in an orange outfit.

He checked all the copies of my insurance, tax, green book and Dutch DL.

He then asked me (in my hometown's dialect): "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you celebrating Carnaval in Oeteldonk?"

I answered: "Oh......is it Caranval now? But what are you doing here?"

He said: "It's either hanging in the bars all day, or give the police a hand!"

After a brief: "Houdoe!" I could go!

[tropo]

1st time I got pulled over at that Sukhumvit check I didn't have my IDP with me (had left it with the big bike). 200 baht fine. Called my buddy to see if he'd come pick up my bike and ride it to the shop. He told me just pay the fine and you'll be OK. I was sure they would impound the bike but no, showed my receipt to the guy holding the keys, got my keys back, hopped on the bike and rode away.

That must have been quite awhile ago. The minimum fine now is 400 baht and it's been that price for years.

[thaibeachlovers]

<and a large group of foreign police volunteers are there to ask for your driver's license and registration.>

Since when did foreigners have the authority to stop anyone? I understood they were there to HELP tourists, not harass them.

Just putting on a uniform does not make one a real policeman.

Do they even have work permits?

[thaibeachlovers]

1st time I got pulled over at that Sukhumvit check I didn't have my IDP with me (had left it with the big bike). 200 baht fine. Called my buddy to see if he'd come pick up my bike and ride it to the shop. He told me just pay the fine and you'll be OK. I was sure they would impound the bike but no, showed my receipt to the guy holding the keys, got my keys back, hopped on the bike and rode away.

2nd time I got stopped I was on the big bike and I did have my IDP on me. The farang volunteer had a quick glance and waved me on. 3rd time I was on the scooter again. I lifted the seat to get the baggie with my IDP and passport photocopy. Never even got it out of the baggie and the volunteer guy waved me on. 4th time I was on a moto taxi (planned on drinking that night) - he didn't have a license as it turns out, but told the volunteer that he'd already been stopped earlier that day and had paid a fine (but couldn't produce a receipt). The volunteer let him go (probably more so that I wouldn't have to sit there or try to get another taxi than anything).

Not sure if it was part of a pre-Songkran crackdown or what, but I've never seen that many inspections before in that short of period. It's actually a good thing though, as it is probably one of the few ways they are ever going to get people to start paying attention to the law (having a licence, proper registration, insurance, helmet, etc). Used to be almost expected (in North America at least) that people would be drinking and driving. If the police pulled you over, they'd confiscate any open bottles/cans, and maybe escort you home to help make sure you get there safely.

Then they started cracking down on unsafe driving. Fines, impounded vehicles, jail time, increased insurance rates. Even police chiefs and mayors have been busted for driving after having as little as a glass of wine at a function. Took awhile, but far fewer people these days are willing to take the risk of driving after drinking.

Same for driving without a license or insurance or registration. Getting hit in the pocketbook (and/or getting a criminal record and jail time) really drive home the message that it's not OK to do that stuff anymore. Sheesh, even getting caught doing 10km/hr over the posted limit on a freeway can end up costing an arm and a leg !

Remember not too long ago in Thailand very few people wore helmets when riding motorcycles. Then they started a safety campaign. Between the billboards, ads, education and police crackdowns, people have been gradually getting the message. Still have a ways to go, just as they do with getting everyone else on the roads to be operating legally.

Can't wait until they start nailing people that run red lights at intersections ! Imagine the chaos that would ensue !!

<people that run red lights at intersections>

What about people that don't stop for the pedestrian lights, including the police??????? That would be a real money spinner.

[NoshowJones]

Respect the laws of Thailand and you'll have no problems.

That's fine if you don't mind paying tea money.

[PattayaPhom]

<and a large group of foreign police volunteers are there to ask for your driver's license and registration.>

Since when did foreigners have the authority to stop anyone? I understood they were there to HELP tourists, not harass them.

Just putting on a uniform does not make one a real policeman.

Do they even have work permits?

They assist the police therefor are able to ask you to produce your documents. Very helpful to many tourists.