Foreign Tourists Complain About Pattaya Traffic Police

[Rimmer]

Foreign Tourists Complain About Pattaya Traffic Police

PATTAYA – August 14, 2014 [Pattaya Daily News]; late at night, Pol.Col. Supphathee Boonkhrong (Acting Superintendent of Pattaya city police station) had received complaints from some Kuwaiti tourist and United Arab Emirates tourists that they were arrested and made to pay very expensive fines.

The journalists asked Mr. Damis Ali (the Arab tourist) then perceived that the traffic policemen had arrested him with an exaggerated allegation that they had spoken to him impolitely and as Mr. Damis Ali and he didn’t understand why Thai police always spoke impolitely to the tourists. For Mr. Badas (the Kuwaiti tourist and a soldier) he said that it was his first time in Pattaya city and he was arrested while driving a motorbike so he called his friend to come and talk with the police because they said he needed to pay a 2,000 THB fine now or if he went to pay the fine at the Pattaya city police station, the fine may be increased to 3,000 THB. He was extremely suspicious about the fine therefore he went to see the superior police officer about the fine.

The journalists also reported that there was also one more traffic policeman that had arrested a Middle Eastern tourists with the allegation of driving carelessly and talked with him in the police box for over an hour when a woman walked into the room and said something to the police

Full story:--http://www.pattayadailynews.com/pattaya-news/foreign-tourists-complain-pattaya-traffic-police/


-- Pattaya Daily News 2014-08-16

[alocacoc]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

[petercool]

two posts removed under rule 11

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[terryp]

the hub of perfection

[jacko45k]

I am beginning to think this particular policeman is the problem.

Same spot again too!

Better not make too much publicity or the problems will be addressed..... as soon as Phuket is cleaned up maybe!

[BlueSkyCowboy]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

About the slapping the Russky, I don't think that was true it just looked like in the video and appeared distorted. Many of this young men drive and behave like young men, what should we expect.?

[razer]

So ... what's new? Arabs aren't the only foreigners targeted.

[Suradit69]

If the young men from the Gulf States drive in Thailand the same way many of them drive in the UAE (and with the same dismissive contempt shown the police there), my sympathy is entirely with the police.

There are certainly a number of comments in several threads wondering aloud why the police don't do more about all the Yahoos racing about on motorbikes ... although as usual, the concern for police action seems to apply only when the miscreants are Thai.

I guess the ideal situation here at TV would be if the police strictly enforced the law for Thais and turned a blind eye to the boyish antics of foreigners. Same Same, but Different.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Suradit69

[slygeeza]

they stopped me there the other day, I had to wait 15 minutes while the police man tried to convince me that I wasnt wearing a helmet, I couldnt figure out if the guy was seriously nuts or if he was trying to provoke violence, there wasnt much I could do but point at the helmet on my head and say its a helmet, anyway it was strange but he eventually had to let me go

[Rimmer]

Some posts have been removed including one posting the entire article and pictures from PDN which is not allowed.

14) You will not post any copyrighted material except as fair use laws apply (as in the case of news articles). Please only post a link, the headline and the first three sentences.

[VINCENT2012]

in ubon the fine would have been 200 baths no more no less....and i guess in pattaya also.

never give money to a policeman in the street,...thats what thousand of farang idiots have been doing for edges, so now it is in the blood,.... go to the next police station to pay your fine if you get one and you will get a receipt from the officer who is in charge to colect the money.

never be afraid, specially now, if you see the guy is only looking for your money.....just wright down is police number who is on the uniform or take a picture from him then tell him you are going to the next military head chef station to complain for extorsion....not police station.very politly!

then you will see a change on his face very quickly

stoping paying is the only way to get rid of these things.....not only me....everybody....and never think it is worse a few dolars because a few dolars during 8 hours work multiplicated by the number of foolled, at the end it is quiet a sum...!

if some of the police department dont like their official mounth wedges they always can do another job.

Edited August 16, 2014 by VINCENT2012

[rtco]

About a year ago I was stopped at the junction of Railway Road/Siam Country Club Road supposedly for riding my motorbike the wong way. I had just come from the Hollywood Car Wash and freewheeled my motorbike (not actually on the main road) back toward the junction to then go up Soi Siam CountryClub Road. I was kept in the police box for over an hour while I was threatened with being taken to the main Police Station unless I coughed up 5,000 THB. I made the mistake of arguing the toss with the one policeman who stopped me who then proceeded to call others until there were four of them demanding the money and also threatening to charge me with all sorts of misdemeanours I hadn't actually committed (I have a valid Driving Licence and was wearing a helmet. There is a standard fine for travelling the wrong way of 400 THB which I eventually said is all that I would pay and if they wanted to take me to the main Police Station they were welcome to. Following more phone calls and threats I eventaully put the 400 THB on the table and walked out. Nothing happened.

[alocacoc]

At the beachroad Jomtien (or is it already Na Jomtien?), after Chaiaproek Road, close to Soi Lucky View is a police box. I drove this way often because a friend of mine live there. A police officer pulled me out. I wear a helmet and had all the necessary papers. The officer asked me; Do you support the police? What? You give me money? While he said this, he walked back to his box with my key. So i gave him 100 Baht to get back my key. He asked me for more money. I denied and was close to become angry.

I told this story to my friend. He answered; they do this every day with Russians.

Since this happens, i take another route. Similar scam at the Police Box Skuhumvit crossroad to Hua Yai. He stopped me with my girlfriend on the back. He told me, i was driving to fast. That's nonsense. Because, i had to wait the for the traffic light to get green. I tried to explain him, but he wanted 400 Baht. My girlfriend gave him 1000 Baht and we waited for the change. He came back, but with no money. He forced us to go.

In the city of Pattaya, many years since something like this happened. But in the suburbs, still daily business.

[murphya33]

they stopped me there the other day, I had to wait 15 minutes while the police man tried to convince me that I wasnt wearing a helmet, I couldnt figure out if the guy was seriously nuts or if he was trying to provoke violence, there wasnt much I could do but point at the helmet on my head and say its a helmet, anyway it was strange but he eventually had to let me go

I think he was trying to tell you that a sauce pan does not constitute a helmet

[murphya33]

they stopped me there the other day, I had to wait 15 minutes while the police man tried to convince me that I wasnt wearing a helmet, I couldnt figure out if the guy was seriously nuts or if he was trying to provoke violence, there wasnt much I could do but point at the helmet on my head and say its a helmet, anyway it was strange but he eventually had to let me go

I think he was trying to tell you that a saucepan does not constitute a helmet

[NativeSon360]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

About the slapping the Russky, I don't think that was true it just looked like in the video and appeared distorted. Many of this young men drive and behave like young men, what should we expect.?

That video was for real. That cop actually did slap that Russky female tourist in the face, then hurriedly walked away. He got away with it, of course. Intimidating women (with threats of violence) is historically integral with the local culture. Asean womyn "mouth off" to foreigners in ways that they wouldn't dare "think" about doing with an Asean man. Asean men have no fear of penalty payment, or retribution for the act of visiting violence against their women.

Asia is totally male dominated, as are the Thai law enforcement agencies.Have you not noticed that there are no "uniformed" female street cops in this country? That alone speaks monumentally, regarding the basic social structure of Asean societies.. Even up-tight Muslim Malaysia has "pistol totting, uniformed female cops, on the street level of law enforcement. Pay attention. Capiche?

Edited August 16, 2014 by NativeSon360

[cedel]

OMG ! "Also there is a checkpoint that has been set up to breathalyse drivers at Wat Chai Mongkhon intersection every day."

Did they really do that ?

What about in the night or early morning when ppl come back from a night out a bit drunk ?

Maybe it's only in daytime though ?

Pattaya would not be Pattaya if they started to do like in Europe or USA !

I've not been there since January 2014 but since I went there regularly from 2003, I've never seen any alcohol breathanalyse in Pattaya.

[sawadee1947]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

I don't understand.....WHO is the hero? The policeman? .......

[robblok]

If the young men from the Gulf States drive in Thailand the same way many of them drive in the UAE (and with the same dismissive contempt shown the police there), my sympathy is entirely with the police.

There are certainly a number of comments in several threads wondering aloud why the police don't do more about all the Yahoos racing about on motorbikes ... although as usual, the concern for police action seems to apply only when the miscreants are Thai.

I guess the ideal situation here at TV would be if the police strictly enforced the law for Thais and turned a blind eye to the boyish antics of foreigners. Same Same, but Different.

Whatever defender of Thais.

Please tell me what legal fines there are for motorbikes that cost 2000. There are none.. its a scam.

[givenall]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

I guess the new policies (no corruption, etc.)are already too old and everything id getting back to normal and biz as usual

[JacChang]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

they stopped me there the other day, I had to wait 15 minutes while the police man tried to convince me that I wasnt wearing a helmet, I couldnt figure out if the guy was seriously nuts or if he was trying to provoke violence, there wasnt much I could do but point at the helmet on my head and say its a helmet, anyway it was strange but he eventually had to let me go

Careful next time he will say you are not wearing your seatbelt.

So prepare one... when you ride.

[NativeSon360]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

I don't understand.....WHO is the hero? The policeman? .......

He was being sarcastic. You must be a native English speaker to get that drift. Cheers

[alocacoc]

From NativeSon: "Sometimes its better to remain silent, and let the world believe you're not functioning with a full deck of cards

Sun Tzu: Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

[shawn82]

Many western people from countries with "low" corruption think its horrible to have to pay "fines".

"We get value for hour taxes".

Classic logic: Its ok that the government (Sweden in my case) take 75-90% of all money earned in taxes. That is not corruption.

But living in a country with 20-25% tax and pay 2000 fine is "horrible".

I personally prefer to pay tea money directly to police than having a crazy Swedish government take 10 times as much money and burn it on giving free health care to illegal immigrants.

Corruption is bad but farrang really should have some self criticism when their home governments steal unlimited amount of money and actively commit genocide against its own people (like in Sweden where the ethic cleansing is one of the most horrible acts of atrocities in history and nobody cares. Just in 50 years the government have killed of 20% of the ethnic population and replaced it with 30% "new" Swedes from Africa/Arab countries. In less than 5 years Swedes are in minority. And the people like it.

[BigC]

I got pulled over in pattaya I did not know why

I had license and helmet

They just gave me a ticket and I had to pay

I showed the ticket to my wife and she laughed

I asked why

She said the section where it says what I am charged with was left blank

So for real I paid a fine for doing nothing ha ha

[SouthernMan3]

Moreover, previously the traffic policeman had been filmed slapping a female Russian tourist.

What a hero. Time to move him to a inactive position

Maybe way down south.......

[anselpixel]

Got popped going the wrong way midday on Walking Street last week.

I was on a rented bike, and in no mood to stand around in the midday sun, so I offered the officer payment "on the spot."

I was politely declined, told where the police station could be found, and promised my license on return with receipt.

All very straightforward, and a welcome change from the old days.

I had to spend half an hour in the station while waiting to pay, but the policeman was in the same spot when I got back.

Receipt presented, license returned.

If I have a complaint, it's that he tried to nick me for having no tax stamp, when everybody knows rentals usually have those taped into the boot. I ran out to the parking lot and snapped a phone pic of the sticker and showed it to the man at the desk.

He dismissed that charge without further questions.

I give them high marks for professionalism and fairness.

[petercool]

a post breaking rule 11 removed

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[lor]

I was at a checkpoint in Hua Yai and the policeman said "Do I give money to police?" First time a policeman had come right out and said he wanted a bribe so I gave him 40 baht! He looked and said "Only small money why?" I told him my Thai girlfriend is the only one who steals big money from me! He laughed and waved me on.

[slygeeza]

they stopped me there the other day, I had to wait 15 minutes while the police man tried to convince me that I wasnt wearing a helmet, I couldnt figure out if the guy was seriously nuts or if he was trying to provoke violence, there wasnt much I could do but point at the helmet on my head and say its a helmet, anyway it was strange but he eventually had to let me go

I think he was trying to tell you that a saucepan does not constitute a helmet

oh yeah, a policeman mind reader, I got a job for you