Got Stopped Tonight...

[elektrified]

I remember a few years ago being stopped on a road block returning from San Patong to CM, they took me aside and after all the usual identity questions they asked what I thought about Thaksin, I said I don't know him so have no opinion, then they asked if I supported Obama for prez, I said yea, they gave thumbs up and I was on my way.

That's funny. I had a similar experience in Hurghada, Egypt in about 2004 or thereabouts. At immigration at the airport, 2 officers right out of a movie with long, waxed handlebar mustaches asked me "Who do you like better; Sharon or Arafat?" Well I was not stupid and knew how to answer that one. Then, "Do you like Bush?" I told them my honest answer on that one and they both smiled exposed gold teeth, one guy took my money and placed it in his pocket and affixed the visa stamps to my passport. I suspect had I answered differently I would not have been given a visa. Then as I was walking out, one guy said "by the way do you know that it is very dangerous for Americans to be in Egypt right now?".

[Godfree2]

I remember a few years ago being stopped on a road block returning from San Patong to CM, they took me aside and after all the usual identity questions they asked what I thought about Thaksin, I said I don't know him so have no opinion, then they asked if I supported Obama for prez, I said yea, they gave thumbs up and I was on my way.

[Mapguy]

I don't trust the Thai police, If the ask me those questions, about where you go what you do etc... I never answer, just give a "Thai" answer like I don't know....and they also think that's ok.. never got in trouble doing that... I think it's none of their business where I was or where I go etc.

Thai questions and answers to "where are you going" or "where are you coming" from are just polite conversation and there are three standard answers, tura, tio and talat (business, pleasure and market), no details required or expected.

Very handy polite responses to add to your everyday vocabulary. In my experience, the query follows a greeting with a nod if not a wai depending upon age and the degree of acquaintance.

OP had a very pleasant encounter, as reported, and got off with a polite warning to wear his helmet and have all his docs on board rather than be discommoded by a ticket. Might also have been an informal check of his sobriety at that time of night, which isn't a bad idea.

OP wasn't ordered to spread eagle face down on the pavement, frisked, cuffed or hauled away. Chiang Mai is not Ferguson, Missouri, USA!

Edited October 11, 2014 by Mapguy

[DogNo1]

It's foolish to ride without a helmet.

[Motown239]

You wrote a interesting narrative. In recent months, I've noticed

[slipperylobster]

It all sounds familiar. I would not worry about it much. That policeman was just showing off his worth to the others. A bit of play. He probably wanted to score an arrest, and did what he could. Sounds like he was hoping you would bribe him, in front of his seniors, so he could arrest you for that. (the newest crackdown)

I get pretty tight lipped when I am stopped. I speak a few more words of the lingo than most, but I sure will not impress any policeman by saying he is law mak..... Pretty lame for some of these "proficient" farangs to insist you flaunt your abilities. The policeman probably would just give you a nod..but would be thinking..."farangs never really do pronounce it right". My girl understands me, only because she knows all the words and phrases she taught me.... whether I pronounce them exactly correct ....is improbable.

In either case...you handled yourself well enough. Courteous, not drunk, no bribe...and just full of info.

[cardinalblue]

Foreigners have incentives to learn English as it builds towards citizenship along with green cards works and all sorts of benefits...

What do we get here? Discounts at national parks and low cost healthcare - wait latter cancelled.

We are nothing but a guest and many a guest spends lots of money in Thailand for big ticket items...

Can understand it if you have children but bad investment otherwise....

[FolkGuitar]

It really is a shame these drunks don't get taken off the roads. They are a menace to everyone else, drivers, pedestrians, and property, And the worst part is, they either think that's funny, or just incorrect. The one or two who actually DO acknowledge that they are putting others at risk, are simply to selfish to give a shit about others.

[cardinalblue]

In 1983 we graduate students were told to stay away from east St. Louis and Fergusson and for good reason...

Why was this advice given to us?

CB

[Dante99]

Thai questions and answers to "where are you going" or "where are you coming" from are just polite conversation and there are three standard answers, tura, tio and talat (business, pleasure and market), no details required or expected.

I find those questions disturbing,

Again, where I go and where I come from is none of their business.

Your statement "if they want to be polite the could ask "how are you doing", or say "good evening sir"... is demanding that they follow your cultural norms. You think the only rules for polite behavior are the ones from your home country?

[elektrified]

Big checkpoint near my house on the middle ring road last night.

Got stopped at about 11:30, in my car.

Had had many drinks, was certainly over the limit but not quite paralytic.

All very polite and friendly.

No big deal.

They are looking for drugs, I think.

Too many posters on here make an issue of nothing.

No big deal to you maybe. I hope I'm not the unfortunate one to get hit by you when you are driving drunk - especially with my kid in the car. It's people like you who should be arrested and spend the night in the cage while you sober up and think about your actions. I have nothing against adults going out and doing as they wish, including drinking until they pass out, but please, take a taxi home so you don't kill someone.

[FolkGuitar]

Big checkpoint near my house on the middle ring road last night.

Got stopped at about 11:30, in my car.

Had had many drinks, was certainly over the limit but not quite paralytic.

All very polite and friendly.

No big deal.

They are looking for drugs, I think.

Too many posters on here make an issue of nothing.

No big deal to you maybe. I hope I'm not the unfortunate one to get hit by you when you are driving drunk - especially with my kid in the car. It's people like you who should be arrested and spend the night in the cage while you sober up and think about your actions. I have nothing against adults going out and doing as they wish, including drinking until they pass out, but please, take a taxi home so you don't kill someone.

Let's hope that the next big push by the police/army is one that gets rid of the drunk drivers. Nothing wrong with drinking. Nothing wrong with getting drunk. Something VERY wrong putting my life, or the life of my family or friends in danger because of it.

[Genericnic]

Sounds like he wanted to practice his Engrish and you obliged.

The correct action would have been to ask, "Am I being detain or arrested, officer? If not, am I free to go?"

As far as having been in Thailand for five years without learning any Thai passed hello and thank you -- yes, they are right it is an outrage.

Would it be OK for a Mexican to move to your hometown in New York and not learn any English? Wait...don't answer that...

The "correct action", my derriere!

Agreed. That "correct action" wouldn't even work in the US. My former law partner was a retired police sergeant. He would say using a line like that would put you in contempt of cop and would have guaranteed the OP a ticket at the very least.

Remember Toto, you are not in Kansas anymore.

David

[SeaVisionBurma]

Post containing ALL CAPS, a reply quoting it, and a couple of troll posts not contributing anything to the discussion have been removed.

[uptheos]

Big checkpoint near my house on the middle ring road last night.

Got stopped at about 11:30, in my car.

Had had many drinks, was certainly over the limit but not quite paralytic.

All very polite and friendly.

No big deal.

They are looking for drugs, I think.

Too many posters on here make an issue of nothing.

No big deal to you maybe. I hope I'm not the unfortunate one to get hit by you when you are driving drunk - especially with my kid in the car. It's people like you who should be arrested and spend the night in the cage while you sober up and think about your actions. I have nothing against adults going out and doing as they wish, including drinking until they pass out, but please, take a taxi home so you don't kill someone.

I agree but would add that along with that night in the cage goes a 20,000 baht fine, which might assist with the thinking,

[Konini]

As far as having been in Thailand for five years without learning any Thai passed hello and thank you -- yes, they are right it is an outrage.

Yes, it is not that hard to learn enough to be functional.

There are many reasons people don't (or can't) learn to speak Thai.

[Konini]

Finally, on the subject of learning languages, I could go into detail of your misuse of the English language in your post, but that would violate forum netiquette policy.

Ouch!

[Konini]

Big checkpoint near my house on the middle ring road last night.

Got stopped at about 11:30, in my car.

Had had many drinks, was certainly over the limit but not quite paralytic.

All very polite and friendly.

No big deal.

They are looking for drugs, I think.

Too many posters on here make an issue of nothing.

No big deal to you maybe. I hope I'm not the unfortunate one to get hit by you when you are driving drunk - especially with my kid in the car. It's people like you who should be arrested and spend the night in the cage while you sober up and think about your actions. I have nothing against adults going out and doing as they wish, including drinking until they pass out, but please, take a taxi home so you don't kill someone.

I agree but would add that along with that night in the cage goes a 20,000 baht fine, which might assist with the thinking,

Drink driving does seem to be one of those subjects that people either laugh off or are deadly serious about, doesn't it?

Mam told each of us, as we were old enough to drive or ride motorbikes, that if she ever opened our bedroom door and got a whiff that we had been drinking (we were too young and innocent to know how she'd know) and she knew we'd been on the road she would phone the local police station and tell the officers to watch out for us in future. She always told us that if we killed ourselves, it would be our own stupid, selfish faults, but the though of us taking the life of someone else's son or daughter or mother or father, which sadly often is the case when there are collisions (not accidents) where alcohol is a factor, almost angered her.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she would have had it been necessary, but fortunately instilled into all of us the common sense not to do it. And I'm glad that she did. One of the only times that I have ever really REALLY totally and completely lost my temper with Mr K was when I found he'd accepted a lift home from someone who was visibly drunk.

Aren't there countries where you can be jailed for driving under the influence?

[mesquite]

Big checkpoint near my house on the middle ring road last night.

Got stopped at about 11:30, in my car.

Had had many drinks, was certainly over the limit but not quite paralytic.

All very polite and friendly.

No big deal.

They are looking for drugs, I think.

Too many posters on here make an issue of nothing.

No big deal to you maybe. I hope I'm not the unfortunate one to get hit by you when you are driving drunk - especially with my kid in the car. It's people like you who should be arrested and spend the night in the cage while you sober up and think about your actions. I have nothing against adults going out and doing as they wish, including drinking until they pass out, but please, take a taxi home so you don't kill someone.

I agree but would add that along with that night in the cage goes a 20,000 baht fine, which might assist with the thinking,

Drink driving does seem to be one of those subjects that people either laugh off or are deadly serious about, doesn't it?

Mam told each of us, as we were old enough to drive or ride motorbikes, that if she ever opened our bedroom door and got a whiff that we had been drinking (we were too young and innocent to know how she'd know) and she knew we'd been on the road she would phone the local police station and tell the officers to watch out for us in future. She always told us that if we killed ourselves, it would be our own stupid, selfish faults, but the though of us taking the life of someone else's son or daughter or mother or father, which sadly often is the case when there are collisions (not accidents) where alcohol is a factor, almost angered her.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she would have had it been necessary, but fortunately instilled into all of us the common sense not to do it. And I'm glad that she did. One of the only times that I have ever really REALLY totally and completely lost my temper with Mr K was when I found he'd accepted a lift home from someone who was visibly drunk.

Aren't there countries where you can be jailed for driving under the influence?

Yes. The US and Sweden, and I'm sure there must be others.

Edited October 12, 2014 by mesquite

[Dante99]

As far as having been in Thailand for five years without learning any Thai passed hello and thank you -- yes, they are right it is an outrage.

Yes, it is not that hard to learn enough to be functional.

There are many reasons people don't (or can't) learn to speak Thai.

Unless they have mental or physical problems, those "reasons" are mostly just excuses.

[FolkGuitar]

Big checkpoint near my house on the middle ring road last night.

Got stopped at about 11:30, in my car.

Had had many drinks, was certainly over the limit but not quite paralytic.

All very polite and friendly.

No big deal.

They are looking for drugs, I think.

Too many posters on here make an issue of nothing.

No big deal to you maybe. I hope I'm not the unfortunate one to get hit by you when you are driving drunk - especially with my kid in the car. It's people like you who should be arrested and spend the night in the cage while you sober up and think about your actions. I have nothing against adults going out and doing as they wish, including drinking until they pass out, but please, take a taxi home so you don't kill someone.

I agree but would add that along with that night in the cage goes a 20,000 baht fine, which might assist with the thinking,

Drink driving does seem to be one of those subjects that people either laugh off or are deadly serious about, doesn't it?

Mam told each of us, as we were old enough to drive or ride motorbikes, that if she ever opened our bedroom door and got a whiff that we had been drinking (we were too young and innocent to know how she'd know) and she knew we'd been on the road she would phone the local police station and tell the officers to watch out for us in future. She always told us that if we killed ourselves, it would be our own stupid, selfish faults, but the though of us taking the life of someone else's son or daughter or mother or father, which sadly often is the case when there are collisions (not accidents) where alcohol is a factor, almost angered her.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she would have had it been necessary, but fortunately instilled into all of us the common sense not to do it. And I'm glad that she did. One of the only times that I have ever really REALLY totally and completely lost my temper with Mr K was when I found he'd accepted a lift home from someone who was visibly drunk.

Aren't there countries where you can be jailed for driving under the influence?

In Japan, a school teacher who gets stopped in a roadside alcohol check, who shows ANY alcohol consumption (one drink is enough) ...gets arrested... and loses their job. THAT is how serious Japan feels about people who are supposed to set a good example for others vis a vis civic concern!

THAT is what it is all about... civic concern. A moral responsibility not to endanger others.

There really is NO excuse for driving while intoxicated. None.

Here in Chiang Mai, if you've had a couple of drinks and want to leave the bar/party, there are always tuk-tuks or selors that can take you home for about the price of another couple of drinks. And if not, there certainly are more than enough guest houses you can check in to, to go to sleep. And no good reason not to. The misconception that "I can drive fine even after a few drinks" is just that; a misconception proven time and time again.

If you drive after having a couple of drinks, you are putting others at risk, without asking them if it's OK to do so. If you don't ask them, it's nothing more than a selfish assumption on your part that either everyone around you doesn't mind that risk, or you don't give a damn about them.

We don't have to stop drinking. We DO have to stop endangering the lives of others because we drink.

And until people have enough civic concern to do the right thing, we need MORE roadblocks. We need MORE police checking for drunk driving. And we need MORE enforcement of laws already in place here in Chiang Mai.

Not wearing a helmet or not carrying the proper documents doesn't endanger others. Drunk driving does.

I'll step off my soap box now. Sorry, but I'm one of those who have lost family to drunk drivers.

[amexpat]

Well said. I agree,

but

"there are always tuk-tuks or selors"

I don't know what a "selor" is. Neither does google.

[eeeya]

Si lor... 4 wheel?

[mikey88]

"Had many drinks but wasn't quite paralytic"

Just provide your registration number and I'll report you myself....

How dare you put my life at risk.....

Re the other issue...I guess the cops don't know whose here until they look....

There's so many expat unsavouries from all around the world in Asia....Phuket being a case in point...

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

^^ perhaps the poster was greatly exaggerating his lack of sobriety

Hey everybody with half a spine.. Time to get fake offended!!!!

Such heroes

#dogpile

[kalbo123]

For all the people who don't like drunk people in traffic at night.

Stay home, go back to your nanny state but don't complain.

It is what it is here and it will never change.

People drink, drive and most of them are Thai.

Even when not drunk horrible drivers.

It's a Thai thing, like covering up high profile murder cases.

Rich people do not go to jail.

Corrupt system in whole Thai society.

Nothing we can do about it but accept it, it is here to stay.

[chiang mai]

For all the people who don't like drunk people in traffic at night.

Stay home, go back to your nanny state but don't complain.

It is what it is here and it will never change.

People drink, drive and most of them are Thai.

Even when not drunk horrible drivers.

It's a Thai thing, like covering up high profile murder cases.

Rich people do not go to jail.

Corrupt system in whole Thai society.

Nothing we can do about it but accept it, it is here to stay.

I do not accept that for one moment and I don't accept excuses for it.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

^^ which part of that statement do you not accept?

[Dante99]

+1 for CSNecktie

Edit: you got in while I was typing, very slowly as usual

Edited October 12, 2014 by Dante99

[Godfree2]

For all the people who don't like drunk people in traffic at night.

Stay home, go back to your nanny state but don't complain.

It is what it is here and it will never change.

People drink, drive and most of them are Thai.

Even when not drunk horrible drivers.

It's a Thai thing, like covering up high profile murder cases.

Rich people do not go to jail.

Corrupt system in whole Thai society.

Nothing we can do about it but accept it, it is here to stay.