Thai Police fines Dutch couple for carrying Swiss army knife in car (VIDEO)

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Police fines Dutch couple for carrying Swiss army knife in car (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Authorities today backed up police officers criticized for charging two Dutch citizens with carrying a Swiss army knife in their vehicle.

In a scene captured on video Tuesday by a passenger, officers who'd stopped the car on the way to the airport in Bangkok ordered the driver out of the car to search the front storage console without clear cause.

The Thai woman, who was unidentified, said in Thai she and another foreigner in the front seat both had Dutch passports, and were on their way to catch a flight back to Netherlands.

When police found the knife, the woman said she had it in her car because she sometimes drives alone in Thailand and carries it for self-defence.

Pol. Lt. Chamlong Promkal of Bangkok's Bangkhunon police department said today the officers normally set up checkpoints in their area and took the couple to the station [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2015/02/06/police-fines-dutch-couple-carrying-swiss-army-knife-car-video

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-02-06

[clockman]

Bull sh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! meanwhile there is 10,000000 known guns in Thailand.

Edited February 6, 2015 by clockman

[angsta]

A new low.

Clowns.

[pedro01]

Well she was pretty dumb saying it was for self defense...

Should have said it was for minor repairs...

[wow64]

Top police work...

[lildragon]

So wait, I can go to Sukhumvit, JJ market, hell any open market in Bangkok (or Pattaya, Chaing Mai, Phuket for the matter) and buy a whole host of illegal weapons from street vendors, but then it is illegal?

Why aren't the cops shutting down these vendors? Ohhhh, that's right, they are the ones that get kick backs from those vendors

TIT

[Pomthai]

Just utter BS isn't it. I've always carried a leather-man and basic tools for roadside repairs in our truck, and why the hell shouldn't I be able too?

How on earth can inside the center console of a private vehicle be considered public?

Just <deleted>, booking these people for this.

[Loptr]

Hmm, I bet they would have a field day with the Leatherman I carry with me where ever I go...

[kalbo123]

Catch of the century, brave police work!

[Tywais]

Usually I don't respond to these police topics but this is nonsense. Since when is a storage compartment carrying a knife in public. What if one is going camping, picnicking, etc. with knives. I wonder what the details of the law is as in some countries it is the length of the blade and the clear function such as a switch blade that defines the legality. A Swiss Army knife? That's a toolkit. Plus to be searched without a warrant I thought required very reasonable cause.

"I'd like to explain that people cannot just carry a knife in public. It's illegal,"

[trd]

As I read this I glance over to my Swiss Army knife sitting on a shelf in the living room. Should I start worrying or just hand myself in and hope for leniency from the authorities?

[konying]

did not realize it was illegal to have a small knife in the car.

[AGareth2]

major international criminals apprehended in Thailand

[berybert]

500 baht fine. Dutch man goes home and tells people not to bother going to Thailand as its full of rip off cops.

5 people take notice of him. Thailand loses a million baht worth of tourist money.

Nice work lads.

[toonsai]

[docshock13]

I sometimes carry a hoe in the tray of my pickup. Isn't that a weapon?

What about a my tire iron? I think either of these items could do a lot more damage than a pocket knife.

[angiolo]

Just an excuse with the gullible to extract some cash

[rabid old goat]

i sometimes carry my chinese look alike swiss army knife to open bottles of soda. and my 20 baht stanly knife look alike for when i have to cut things. you know like cotton thread for when you have to re-sow your cheap backpack when it comes apart or your money belts straps after you trip over. not safe to go into public these days.

[Thian]

This video will go viral in Europe. Bye bye tourists!!

I always eat with a knife and fork, that's why i also carry a small pocketknife....to cut those tough steaks that they even can't fry properly in Thailand.

Edited February 6, 2015 by Thian

[Songhua]

As I read this I glance over to my Swiss Army knife sitting on a shelf in the living room. Should I start worrying or just hand myself in and hope for leniency from the authorities?

I'm about to run downstairs and take mine out of the console of the car! I've always carried it in there. Had no idea I was breaking any law.

[Captain_Bob]

Meanwhile, anyone can buy "gardening tools" all over Thailand ;-)

[smedly]

I carry one in the toolkit under the seat of my bike and regard it as an essential part of my emergency tools, this is quite frankly shocking

[phuketrichard]

does not look like a swiss army knife more like a buck knife

it also appears to me they are in a taxi and the thai lady an the guy in the passenger seat are passengers .

I carry a Nepalese Khukuri and in my car in the door compartment on the driver side

amazing she talks after the leave u can carry a gun, big knife an no trouble

Thailand is losing it

Edited February 6, 2015 by phuketrichard

[coobah666]

That's why Thais only eat with a fork and spoon don't you know they are taught from a young age that knives are dangerous LOL

[Gweiloman]

What happens if I purchase a butcher knife from a department store? How do I take it home? Can I strap it to my drone and fly it home? Oh wait, drones are banned.

[Gweiloman]

Welcome to the New Thailand, where peace and safety reigns and happiness has been returned to the people.

Would love hear Costas and Djjamie's take on this latest measure to keep Thailand safe.

[chooka]

did not realize it was illegal to have a small knife in the car.

It is in Melbourne Australia unless it is being used in connection of employment, sport and you are current engage in such an activity or on a direct route to or from such activity.

[iReason]

I would have let them go just so she would stop talking.

Didn't help anyway...

[Gweiloman]

did not realize it was illegal to have a small knife in the car.

It is in Melbourne Australia unless it is being used in connection of employment, sport and you are current engage in such an activity or on a direct route to or from such activity.

Maybe so but do you think the Aussie police would fine someone for having a something like this in the car? It's not a knife, it's an utility tool of which the penknife is just one of many tools.

[chooka]

did not realize it was illegal to have a small knife in the car.

It is in Melbourne Australia unless it is being used in connection of employment, sport and you are current engage in such an activity or on a direct route to or from such activity.

Maybe so but do you think the Aussie police would fine someone for having a something like this in the car? It's not a knife, it's an utility tool of which the penknife is just one of many tools.

yep they will and I have done so on a number of occasions, no ifs no butts. Still classed as a prohibited weapon. Not a fine but a court appearance Edited February 6, 2015 by chooka