SOCIAL ORDER CRUSADE

Siam Square nightclub shut

BANGKOK: -- A leading nightspot in Siam Square was ordered closed for 30 days after one of its customers was found to be underaged, police said yesterday.

Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont led the police raid on CM2, in the basement of Novotel, which is owned by Chiang Mai Thai Rak Thai MP Pornchai Atthapreeyangkoon.

There were more than 300 foreigners in the bar at the time.

Police said many of them were not carrying passports.

Customers' urine was also tested. Police said some showed positive, but it was still not known if this was from illegal drug use or other factors.

It was said to be the first raid on nightspots in the area under the government's social order crusade.

A police source said the raid followed a report that Russian prostitutes were working in the bar.

However, there was no evidence linking Russian tourists who were found there to the sex trade.

--Bangkok Post 2004-03-19

So there you go.

Always carry your passport with you, or at least a photocopy.

I scanned the first and detail pages of my passport, on my computer.

Then printed them out, credit card size and had them laminated together to form

an ID card, of sorts.

The original is far to valuable to keep in my pocket for the

Katoeys to pick pocket!!

Becoming a police state - you bet!

But do you know that the police will accept a copy?

I carry my Thai drivers license.

Do they accept a Thai drivers license in lieu of your passport?

SOCIAL ORDER CRUSADE

Siam Square nightclub shut

BANGKOK: -- A leading nightspot in Siam Square was ordered closed for 30 days after one of its customers was found to be underaged, police said yesterday.

Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont led the police raid on CM2, in the basement of Novotel, which is owned by Chiang Mai Thai Rak Thai MP Pornchai Atthapreeyangkoon.

Shot in the foot ??

And it is well known for it's Russian hookers.

Don't know about Bangkok but here in Phuket a Thai driving license seems to be as good as a passport. It is also accepted on internal flights as proof of identity. I am sure that the police must understand that passports are too valuable to carry around on a night out. I have heard, though have no personal experience, that here in Phuket they would give you a ticket and you would have to produce the passport to the local police. On a recent trip to Bangkok I must admit that I was surprised at the high police presence almost everywhere. Don't think I would want to live there.

I have been checked twice by the tourist police (just unlucky and not in any bars). A copy of your passport is ok. Make sure you photocopy the following pages:

Your details page.

Page with latest visa stamp.

TM Card.

If you go up country then ensure you have your original passport with you and do not just relie on your copy, you may have to produce the original if stopped by the police. Do not leave it back in Bangkok because you think it is safe there.

Everybody I know who has carried a copy in Bangkok and who have been checked have had no problems..........but play it safe out of Bangkok..........

Off topic, racistic post and subsequent comment removed.

/Admin

Edited March 19, 200422 yr by george

It's pretty profound or something that the owner is a member of Taksin's party,

Thai Rak Thai. I not sure what to think of that.

Hi every one. Well since having my passport stolen a few years back, and the nightmares that caused, I leave mine at home. We live mid way Chiang Mai/Lampang, very rural and a lot of North - south police checks, but in 3 yrs none of them asked for a passport or copy of! I think they would be happy with a Tesco points card really Pip

I’m curious…

Somebody know what kind of drugs them checking on these urine tests?

I’m living in Amsterdam and Bangkok and what is legal in one Country is illegal in the other…

So far I know, THC can be tested for more then 4 month after consuming and in case our friends in brown are checking also on Cannabis Products I would have a hard time to prove, that I did use the drug (legal) outside of Thailand ….

Thanks

Hmmmm - interesting

Factioning within TRT?

MP from Chiangmai = PM's home town

MP from TRT = PM's own party

Club raided with 300 foreigners present = further TRT attempts to Fulfil Purachai's declaration of "clearing out all the unwanted foreigners on 1 year visas"? (made on TV in Khao San Road approx 2 years ago when he was Interior Minister)

Mohammed Wan Noor - Purachai's replacement as Interior Minister - has just been replaced .... Mohammed had a surge of enthusiasm for Social Order "clearances" when he first took office, maybe this is a case of new guy showing willing to the PM? If so, expect more raids like this for a month or so until he gets settled into the job and can prove to the boss that he's a good party member, then it'll all go quiet again.

Hmmm - showing to be a good member of the party - now what other countries/regimes has that phrase been associated with over the last century?

So there you go.

Always carry your passport with you, or at least a photocopy.

I scanned the first and detail pages of my passport, on my computer.

Then printed them out, credit card size and had them laminated together to form

an ID card, of sorts.

The original is far to valuable to keep in my pocket for the

Katoeys to pick pocket!!

"The original is far to valuable to keep in my pocket for the

Katoeys to pick pocket!!"

Are you saying that gays pick your pockets?

Please explain. I would hate to think that you were being homophobic!

thanks

Thai drivinglicence work as good as your passport.

So there you go.

Always carry your passport with you, or at least a photocopy.

I scanned the first and detail pages of my passport, on my computer.

Then printed them out, credit card size and had them laminated together to form

an ID card, of sorts.

The original is far to valuable to keep in my pocket for the

Katoeys to pick pocket!!

They will arrest you one day for forging documents!

Yes they will accept a photocopy if you tell them you were afraid of losing the original. Make sure you photo copy your picture and your visa stamp or entry stamp.

So there you go.

Always carry your passport with you, or at least a photocopy.

I scanned the first and detail pages of my passport, on my computer.

Then printed them out, credit card size and had them laminated together to form

an ID card, of sorts.

The original is far to valuable to keep in my pocket for the

Katoeys to pick pocket!!

"The original is far to valuable to keep in my pocket for the

Katoeys to pick pocket!!"

Are you saying that gays pick your pockets?

Please explain. I would hate to think that you were being homophobic!

thanks

Check the Pattaya forum out. The statement was Katoey not gay, and in the Pattaa forum they talk frequently of Katoey Pickpockets.

IT/ADMIN

Please go along with your passport not even a photocopy

No racist post is acceptable!. by the way Somboom does not know anything to say I suggest that he be banned from membership.

Yes it does seem the Thai driving License works as good as a Passport (I guess unless your in some deep crap).

Sometimes I think things are suspect until they are written in Thai.

During APEC i was picked up and searched by the police 3 times on the way to Sukhumvit

on each occassion i was asked to produce my passport/work permit.

On each occassion i produced a business card with my name , thai address and phone number on it

The police kept insisting on my passport

I kept saying catch 22

catcha 22

yes catch 22

Thai law says no business card with thai address unless you have valid passport and WP

i handed him my business card

no good he said

hey dude its your law not mine

it worked 3 times

or was it the Micky Mouse picture on my business card?

i would never go out with my original passport or work permit, copies only.

if they want to see the original escort me home and i'll show it

Do they accept a Thai drivers license in lieu of your passport?

...of course they accept a Thai Driver License everywhere and I have one. At least they can read it

Hmm CM2... used to be my favorite club. Does anyone know when its going to re-open? I still have my bottle there Yeah that place is known for Russian Prostitutes, but then again... what the ###### is Patpong? Yes they are classified as dancers (and they are Thai) but they are just as much pros... I remember a few years ago one of the nicest headlines in the newspaper was: "Police found and arrested 3 prostitutes in Pat Pong area" Woaw.... Another case of TIT (this is Thailand)

Of course everyone knows the law...and the law says "prostitution is illegal", therefore it does NOT exist in Thailand. Only foreigners would break the law.

But arresting Russian Prostitutes??? BTW its the asians and Thais (and the middle easts) that take them home... its not the Farangs!!! Farangs go for Asians, not Russians... If we want blondes we just go back home to our countries... We don't need to travel all across the globe to pick up a blonde...

Closing a club for this is really pathetic... where is this country going to? A real Police State / Dictatorship.

But one thing that IS getting a pest in Thailand is these goddamn Kathoeys, and they seem to be left alone. Try walking at night along Asoke or Sukhumvit around Soi Cowboy area... They just can't leave you alone.

And YES a Thai Drivers License is OK

And NO a fotocopy is NO LONGER OK in BANGKOK. Most of them still deam it ok but since march 1st you need to be carrying VALID ID (No Copies)

And YES they do check for use of canabis. Actually they can just take a HAIR and in about 2 days they can tell you exactly WHEN you took WHAT and this can go back several years...

Happy Waterless Songkhran in a couple of weeks...

Photo Copy of Passport will due w/photo ID. You would be crazy to bring your passport out and about in Thailand unless you want to have it nicked.

How do I get a Thai driving license?

ASIC

So far I know, THC can be tested for

THC= Total Hangover Cure, or so I hear.........

Carry copies of passport and international DL If they want to see my originals they are going to have to take me home to see them.

Getting worse in Bangkok all the time. Never had problems in the counrty !

Sure is getting more & more like a police state, even my Thai friends are beginning to comment

ASIC,

How do I get a Thai driving license?

If you have an international one you can just change it into a thai one at their License center.

If not you need to do a small driving test.

You also need a doctor's certificate, copies of pasport ect, two pictures, and 500 bath.

Also need to do a coulourblind test at the centre.

I only know where the one in pattaya is:

It's on the exit from highway 7 were it joins highway 33 ?? to rayong behind the International school.

from pattaya drive to chonburi , 4 kms outside pattaya you got a intersection were the rayong highway starts, drive about 8 km's to the chonburi nr 7 highway.

When you come down the hill you see the two higways splitting up left chonburi , straight rayong. Take the u turn just after the split (not marked). Drive back to pattaya for about 80 meters, take the left small road , center is behind the corner on your right.

if you also drive motorcycles you need an extra one for that also.

Good luck

B

Don't know about Bangkok but here in Phuket a Thai driving license seems to be as good as a passport.  It is also accepted on internal flights as proof of identity.

Foreign driver's licenses with a photo apparently can also be used for domestic flights. I have never had a problem flying domestically with my U.S.-issued driver's license.

Chuck