Police road block for bike check

[PJcm]

My understanding is that your insurance is only valid for three months when driving on a foreign driving licence or International driving permit.

If that is true then the 'fine' being levied would be for driving without insurance - however as they let you go without paying maybe there was an ulterior motive e.g. Asking 500 baht for a 200 baht offence

This is wrong as long as you have a valid drivers's licence the insurance follows the vehicle unless specifically stated in the policy. Mandatory insurance does not state so in the policy so as long as you have a valid licence you are covered. Mandatory insurance only covers medical payments for the vehicle insured, nothing else.

[CMKiwi]

I heard about that police check point on the Mae Rim road. Apparently they had set up shop on both sides of the road and were stopping all types of vehicles. A Brit guy with his South African GF were stopped on their hired scooter. Long story short they wanted 500 baht as her European licence wasnt any good in Thailand.

However she was not one to take what she considered BS, and said that she will pay any fine at the station not on the side of the road and demanded they be escorted to the nearest station. Long story short (Again).....a policeman gave them the scenic tour (Long way around) to get to the station next to Wararot market/Ping river.

It took about an hour and in the end they paid a 200 baht fine, the SA girlfriend managed to speak to a English speaking female police officer and expressed her displeasure at what she considered absolute BS. They have only been here 3 weeks and are aware that after a month its best to get a Thai license.

Not sure if its a good idea to rev up the boys/girls in blue as it could have other consequences later on in their stay....nonetheless I say well done if you know you are in the right.

Edited October 3, 2014 by CMKiwi

[ALFREDO]

My Thai license cost me 155 baht and took 2 hours to obtain.

Hmm...

And now you can drive better? In theory and practice? lol

Just a Ting Tong law and a harassment.

But true, the law, as I remember says, if you stay longer than 3 month inside TH you should have a TH-drivers license.

I stay sometimes 5 month and my countries drivers license with an International license works well since 1990 as a tourist and since 1998 more or less permanently.

Even when accidents happened and police got contacted, but until now these incidents occurred,

anyway, always, in the first 3 month being in TH.

[Gerard052]

My Thai license cost me 155 baht and took 2 hours to obtain.

Hmm...

You must have got your Thai license at a discount store because I got mine 3 years ago and the cost for all the paperwork was a lot more for everything and I didn't have to go through everything because I had International driver's license. So tell me which discount store you got them from so I can pass the information to my friends.

[TooPoopedToPop]

My Thai license cost me 155 baht and took 2 hours to obtain.

Hmm...

And now you can drive better? In theory and practice? lol

Just a Ting Tong law and a harassment.

But true, the law, as I remember says, if you stay longer than 3 month inside TH you should have a TH-drivers license.

I stay sometimes 5 month and my countries drivers license with an International license works well since 1990 as a tourist and since 1998 more or less permanently.

Even when accidents happened and police got contacted, but until now these incidents occurred,

anyway, always, in the first 3 month being in TH.

Things have changed ALFREDO.

Get your Thai driver's licence.

I too drove for years with my home country licence and it was always accepted... no more.

[narkeddiver]

My understanding is that your insurance is only valid for three months when driving on a foreign driving licence or International driving permit.

If that is true then the 'fine' being levied would be for driving without insurance - however as they let you go without paying maybe there was an ulterior motive e.g. Asking 500 baht for a 200 baht offence

This is wrong as long as you have a valid drivers's licence the insurance follows the vehicle unless specifically stated in the policy. Mandatory insurance does not state so in the policy so as long as you have a valid licence you are covered. Mandatory insurance only covers medical payments for the vehicle insured, nothing else.

Is a non Thai driving license still considered as valid if you have been in the country for longer than 3 months?

[Gerard052]

You are wrong if you stay more than a month you need a Thai drivers license,they will allow short term tourist to have international licenses your not a tourist. To bad he didn't have the balls to take your bike

Mister you are full of s..t, get your facts straight before you write this garbage. From your stupid comments, you are clueless. I have been coming to Thailand with International license, got stop a few times, showed the my license, no problem. You should start reading up on what is allowed and what is not. Hats off to this guy who had the balls to stand up to this idiot who tried to get some tea money, it happens way too often.

[ALFREDO]

My Thai license cost me 155 baht and took 2 hours to obtain.

Hmm...

And now you can drive better? In theory and practice? lol

Just a Ting Tong law and a harassment.

But true, the law, as I remember says, if you stay longer than 3 month inside TH you should have a TH-drivers license.

I stay sometimes 5 month and my countries drivers license with an International license works well since 1990 as a tourist and since 1998 more or less permanently.

Even when accidents happened and police got contacted, but until now these incidents occurred,

anyway, always, in the first 3 month being in TH.

Things have changed ALFREDO.

Get your Thai driver's licence.

I too drove for years with my home country licence and it was always accepted... no more.

Thank you for the kind advise, I am in deep Issan, years behind here, they still accept my papers.

[iainiain101]

Legaly you need an International driving or Thai license. I will never lend friends a car of mine without them having the correct license even if they are just here a week. For a start the insurance would not be valid.

Sorry but that sounds incorrect...

"http://thailand.angloinfo.com/transport/driving-licences/"

"f the driver is not a tourist or visitor but is a resident with a non-immigrant visa, then it is necessary to have a Thai driver's licence"

Those with a 90 days non im , who leaves the country every 90 days, is considered a visitor. He is not a resident.

There is a period of 1 year for obtaining a Thai DL, if you are resident ( registered tabien baan)

Ths is as far my knowledge go's

Correct, in which case you need an International Driving License.

[iainiain101]

I thought you were only allowed to use your home licnce for the 3 months in conjunction with an International Driving Permit, which shows what the licence covers?

You are correct, the UK can and does cancel your licence if you are out of the country for more than three consecutive months. They are linked to the passport office so they do know when you are abroad, I know having just 'lost' my U.K. licence, fortunately I have a Thai licence. Also the UK issues a free licence once you are 70 years of age and still a UK resident.

Explain what you mean by the 'passport office'.

The UK has no idea where anyone is after the last labour government did away with border control on people exiting the country. The fact that the airline checks your passport is purely to cover there selves if you are refused entry at your destination. Hence the UK has no idea how many people overstay their visitor visas as they are not checked out of the country.

I assume you renewed your UK passport from overseas, then tried to get a new drivers license when you reached 70?

[koratjohn]

I just moved into a Condo next door to the Police Forensic Lab/Office on the Maerim road. Been at the Condo 1 week and got stopped the first 3 days after I moved in, now they just wave me through. They setup right at my U-turn into the Condo.

I have both licenses (Auto and motorcycle) so the first 3 days seeing my license provided a quick "ok you can go now". By the third day, the reply became "go now, you are our friend/neighbor".

IMHO, if you are a tourist, riding a rented scooter plastered with the rental company's logo and have matching helmets with the same stickers you present a golden opportunity (easy money/easy target) for an increased scrutiny.

[oneday]

The law says you DO need an IDP (International Driving Permit) to accompany your National License. Your National License alone is not good enough and I don't understand why so many people fight this and don't believe it. The cop was right, though he probably was trying to extort you and that's why you got lucky.

You need to be very careful about what YOU think the law is or you may find yourself in jail next time.

[iainiain101]

The policeman was wrong to try and take a 'bribe'. You were wrong to not have the correct license to be driving. So, get a license if you are here often, be it Thai or International, and lets stop giving them an excuse to stop so many foreigners.

[Broeno]

So moe666 encourage police corruption.

[Konini]

The law says you DO need an IDP (International Driving Permit) to accompany your National License. Your National License alone is not good enough and I don't understand why so many people fight this and don't believe it. The cop was right, though he probably was trying to extort you and that's why you got lucky.

You need to be very careful about what YOU think the law is or you may find yourself in jail next time.

This is quite correct. There is a lot of misinformation out there, including the post with a link to a website giving misinformation. The original poster, who appears not to have an International Driver's Permit was breaking the law, but it fortunately for a lot of people it is something that a lot of police don't know, that's why the explanation of what is required is in the language of every country covered, including Thai Script. The police in any country can't argue with that.

I'm a very anally retentive type. I accept that and get on with it. When we first started travelling overseas from Australia and hiring bikes or scooters, I ensured that I got in writing (email) from a person not an autoreply that we were both covered in the case of accidents on motorcycles, and every year (we had annual policies) the reply was pretty much the same, in fact I think it was just a copy and paste because I had the direct email address of the girl I was dealing with on the subject. The International Driver's Permit is a book issued by a driving association such as RAC or AA or National Breakdown (only one organisation per country I think, but stand to be corrected) and it is based on you home driver's licence, for car, motorbike, heavy goods vehicles etc. For each country it covers, there is a brief explanation in all languages. In some countries it is not necessary at all for tourists up to 3 months - Malaysia is an example of this - and for other countries it tells you that the IDP AND your home licence must be carried with you to be legal. Thailand is one such country where the IDP is mandatory.

The small print of your insurance policy will tell you that if you are not in compliance with local laws, your policy is null and void. In relation to driving, that means drink driving (obviously), helmet (even if not a legal requirement in the country you're in), and correct paperwork for driver's licence and any mandatory insurance, again, all depending on the country you are in. The word 'compliance covers a multitude of sins, so it includes literally anything against the law, which would add dangerous, careless or reckless driving, running red lights, speeding, three on a bike etc. If it is against the law, your cover is invalid. That means you can have an accident and the insurance company may not pay out - sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, it all depends on the claim. A lot of people have discovered this the hard way.

And from a question I posed in the insurance forum last week looking for a definition of intoxicated, my (and very likely your) travel insurance policy says that it is invalid if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That means driving or walking or swimming or skating or sitting on a train or a passenger in a car or a bus. Under the influence means one drink. Half a drink even is enough to register on a blood test, which hospitals do when a tourist comes in from an accident because they know that the insurance company want a preliminary report by a doctor before deciding whether or not they will cover your claim. It happened to us - luckily my husband had not had a drink in almost a week, which is quite unusual, and as soon as the doctor's report had been faxed to them, almost immediately there was a return fax saying that we were covered; someone had obviously flicked an eye over the report, saw that there was zero alcohol and it was a genuine accident (an emergency actually) and printed off the approval and faxed it.

Absolutely ridiculous clause of course - how many people go on holiday and not have a drink? A glass of wine with your meal, fall over and hit your head and have a serious injury then find that your insurance policy won't cover you. I've never heard of anyone being knocked back, but I've never known of anyone who claimed who I would class as a serious drinker, maybe a couple of glasses of wine or a couple of beers on the beach. As it is in the small print, the insurance company choose whether you are covered or not. I can't see them knocking back anyone who had had a social drink or two or even three, but anyone who has had a big night with a high blood-alcohol reading would be a lot more likely to be refused coverage. And although totally off topic, that is something everyone on travel insurance should be aware of. That and the fact that almost every single travel insurance policy issued in UK specifically denies coverage if you are riding a motorbike, and I've even seen policies which won't even cover you if you are a passenger on the back of a fully legal, licenced rider.

Don't say you weren't warned.

[northernjohn]

Sorry I put 6 months meant 6 weeks I been here

Are you sure you have your story rite. If you spend 6 months a year here why do you not have a Thai drivers licence. 3 months of it is illegal the rest isn't and makes you no better than the cop.

Edited October 3, 2014 by northernjohn

[Tokay]

Whenever you are stopped by the police or stopped due to an accident (or slight bump that turns you into a target) you may be involved in. TAKE YOUR KEYS OUT AND PUT THEM AWAY. The Thais love to grab them out of your bike. Don't let them.

Also, like the OP did, don't back down to these scamming police. They will back down from you if you stand your ground if it is just a shake down.

[Tokay]

The policeman was wrong to try and take a 'bribe'. You were wrong to not have the correct license to be driving. So, get a license if you are here often, be it Thai or International, and lets stop giving them an excuse to stop so many foreigners.

With police like that, it doesn't matter if you have a license or not. They are after money. They will always find something, such as pointing out your "modified" bike, even though it is not. Common in Pattaya.

[Moonlover]

I thought you were only allowed to use your home licnce for the 3 months in conjunction with an International Driving Permit, which shows what the licence covers?

You are correct, the UK can and does cancel your licence if you are out of the country for more than three consecutive months. They are linked to the passport office so they do know when you are abroad, I know having just 'lost' my U.K. licence, fortunately I have a Thai licence. Also the UK issues a free licence once you are 70 years of age and still a UK resident.

Really? I've worked overseas since 1984, never spent more than a few backs every couple of years and have held a UK licence throughout that time. Two years ago I went back for a week and changed my worn out paper licence for a new plastic one with my picture on it. Did it at the post office and I gave them my passport as identification. Surprised they didn't check up and refuse me then.

Yes, I concur with you nahkit. I was an expat worker for the best part of 20 years. In and out of the UK on holidays and breaks between contracts. I never had any problems with my UK licence, even when I was without a formal address for a while. And also one for you biggles, see below regarding the use of ones home licence in Thailand.

http://thailand.angloinfo.com/transport/driving-licences/http://thailand.angloinfo.com/transport/driving-licences/

[Lokie]

UK does not cancel a licence if you are out of Blighty over 6 month, stop talking through your ar$e...

Also as a tourist if you have Full bike Category on your licence (UK anyway) you do not need either Thai licence nore IDP as you are covered to drive/ride this vehicle, it is dependant on your status in LOS as has been mentioned as I said this statement is Tourists only.

I keep an expired (as UK licences run out every 10yrs because of photo renewal) under my seat, BiBs are happy as they only look at my mug and see is UK, and away I go, never had an issue, although I should go and get my Thai licences but then I'm just a 'Tourist' lol...

[GOLDBUGGY]

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My understanding is that your insurance is only valid for three months when driving on a foreign driving licence or International driving permit.

If that is true then the 'fine' being levied would be for driving without insurance - however as they let you go without paying maybe there was an ulterior motive e.g. Asking 500 baht for a 200 baht offence

Anywhere that I have been my License was only good for 3 months to. Even an International one. I then had to get a local one if I wanted to continue to drive their legally.

If I was you, and you plan on staying I would check into do this. I guess as long as you are never in an accident, and don't mind getting hassled by the Police it is okay. Get into a serious accident, where someone is seriously hurt, and it could be a totally different story for you.

[hml367]

Look at Section 42 of this. Even so, there still could be differences and laws and regulations in Thailand are always given preference to Thai language over any other the which they may be translated to.

Motor Vehicle Act.pdf

[Konini]

Also as a tourist if you have Full bike Category on your licence (UK anyway) you do not need either Thai licence nore IDP as you are covered to drive/ride this vehicle, it is dependant on your status in LOS as has been mentioned as I said this statement is Tourists only.

Can you give a source for that info?

I have checked and rechecked several times over the years, and inside the IDP it states that it is a requirement. For some countries the IDP is only recommended, for some it is mandatory.

In Thailand it is mandatory full stop.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit#Countries_recognizing_IDP

And if you have an awful lot of time on your hands to prove your point, the full convention is here:

http://www.adcidl.com/Convention-of-Road-Traffic-1949-English.html

[Kabula]

I would have paid him the 500 TB or at least negotiated the alleged fine down where he received something to make him smile.

As I recall, if you have a retirement visa extension, you are required to have a Thai drivers license and if you don't the fine is the average cost of a Thai beer.

All it takes is one Police Officer that is unhinged from stress, hunger, family medical bills and more to put you in the hospital. Why risk it?

Around the world many are laying in hospital beds thinking about out of control medical bills from Police beat downs and how they could have prevented injury and bankruptcy. And they are the lucky ones! The unlucky ones are in a medical induced coma.

Besides, he probably needed it!

The more cash you give away, the more comes back to you. That is the power of money.

People in this forum have in the past have foolishly bashed the Police/Army, but imagine a city without them. We are talking road warrior.

[daytraderuk99]

The policeman was wrong to try and take a 'bribe'. You were wrong to not have the correct license to be driving. So, get a license if you are here often, be it Thai or International, and lets stop giving them an excuse to stop so many foreigners.

With police like that, it doesn't matter if you have a license or not. They are after money. They will always find something, such as pointing out your "modified" bike, even though it is not. Common in Pattaya.

You could be right about that,..in Pattaya .. i thought i was legal with everything and happy to be stopped at checkpoint , had the helmet, ok ...checked the bike ...ok.. asked for license ., had thai license ,ok... checked my road tax ..ok. asked for passport i had copy ...ok ....i thought i was clear , but after thinking a minute he asked for my green owners book (log book )....got me.!....had to pay 300baht in police station..........so now i also carry copy of green book.. name and tax pages....cant wait to see what i have to carry with me next..!!

[mike324]

Anyone know if the police is legally allowed to search your car?

I get stop 1 out of 5 times whenever I pass by a check point and sometimes when I drive home late at night, I pass through 3.

I normally drive my pick up with slightly tinted windows, asian tan skin. It seems to fit their profile for a routine drug check.

If I were driving my bmw or even honda crv, the police would not bother. Its a pain to have to get out of the car for 3-5 minutes for them to search and question me. I've even thought about installing a dash cam with IR so I can record the police in case they come up with some fishy business when they search my car.

[mike324]

Anyone know if the police is legally allowed to search your car?

I get stop 1 out of 5 times whenever I pass by a check point and sometimes when I drive home late at night, I pass through 3.

I normally drive my pick up with slightly tinted windows, asian tan skin. It seems to fit their profile for a routine drug check.

If I were driving my bmw or even honda crv, the police would not bother. Its a pain to have to get out of the car for 3-5 minutes for them to search and question me. I've even thought about installing a dash cam with IR so I can record the police in case they come up with some fishy business when they search my car.

What are you driving that causes them to stop you so often? Old truck, new truck?

I normally drive my Toyota Hilux Pick Up, its fairly new 4 years old to work on week days. Police around this area loves to check pick up trucks, I live close to a shipping distribution point, that is also one of the main reasons why there are so many check points even in broad day light. The other is to check for illegal workers.

[northernjohn]

I would have paid him the 500 TB or at least negotiated the alleged fine down where he received something to make him smile.

As I recall, if you have a retirement visa extension, you are required to have a Thai drivers license and if you don't the fine is the average cost of a Thai beer.

All it takes is one Police Officer that is unhinged from stress, hunger, family medical bills and more to put you in the hospital. Why risk it?

Around the world many are laying in hospital beds thinking about out of control medical bills from Police beat downs and how they could have prevented injury and bankruptcy. And they are the lucky ones! The unlucky ones are in a medical induced coma.

Besides, he probably needed it!

The more cash you give away, the more comes back to you. That is the power of money.

People in this forum have in the past have foolishly bashed the Police/Army, but imagine a city without them. We are talking road warrior.

Most of those bashers are just ignorant of the reality. As you say it would be Road Warrior or Mad Max with out them. Also I wonder how many of them are just trying to scam the system. The OP i9s a prime example he spends six months a year here and is illegally driving for three months of them. He has been getting away with it for years and when finally called on it cries foul.

[Tokay]

I would have paid him the 500 TB or at least negotiated the alleged fine down where he received something to make him smile.

As I recall, if you have a retirement visa extension, you are required to have a Thai drivers license and if you don't the fine is the average cost of a Thai beer.

All it takes is one Police Officer that is unhinged from stress, hunger, family medical bills and more to put you in the hospital. Why risk it?

Around the world many are laying in hospital beds thinking about out of control medical bills from Police beat downs and how they could have prevented injury and bankruptcy. And they are the lucky ones! The unlucky ones are in a medical induced coma.

Besides, he probably needed it!

The more cash you give away, the more comes back to you. That is the power of money.

People in this forum have in the past have foolishly bashed the Police/Army, but imagine a city without them. We are talking road warrior.

Most of those bashers are just ignorant of the reality. As you say it would be Road Warrior or Mad Max with out them. Also I wonder how many of them are just trying to scam the system. The OP i9s a prime example he spends six months a year here and is illegally driving for three months of them. He has been getting away with it for years and when finally called on it cries foul.

That may be, a shake down is still a shake down.

[hml367]

I would have paid him the 500 TB or at least negotiated the alleged fine down where he received something to make him smile.

As I recall, if you have a retirement visa extension, you are required to have a Thai drivers license and if you don't the fine is the average cost of a Thai beer.

All it takes is one Police Officer that is unhinged from stress, hunger, family medical bills and more to put you in the hospital. Why risk it?

Around the world many are laying in hospital beds thinking about out of control medical bills from Police beat downs and how they could have prevented injury and bankruptcy. And they are the lucky ones! The unlucky ones are in a medical induced coma.

Besides, he probably needed it!

The more cash you give away, the more comes back to you. That is the power of money.

People in this forum have in the past have foolishly bashed the Police/Army, but imagine a city without them. We are talking road warrior.

Most of those bashers are just ignorant of the reality. As you say it would be Road Warrior or Mad Max with out them. Also I wonder how many of them are just trying to scam the system. The OP i9s a prime example he spends six months a year here and is illegally driving for three months of them. He has been getting away with it for years and when finally called on it cries foul.

What makes it "illegal"? Is there a law or regulation?

This sounds like the must carry your passport thing. No one has shown a law that I have seen..... I wish I could see a law for both of these situations.