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

[sahibji]

This episode takes the cake for being ludicrous,illogical and uncomprehesive.

Vendors are selling knives, machettes,small swords in the open.How can a swiss knife possibly be more dangerous than those items which can be bought off the shelves or even by the roadside.

[PLW]

Looks like they are using Martial Law to take advantage.

[OccamsRazor]

Snapshot from the video does seem to show it is not specifically a Swiss Army Knife.

[PLW]

Maybe they are using martial law as an excuse

[CapeThai]

I think that woman`s voice was a more deadlier weapon than that knife. She should have been arrested for having an offensive tongue.

The situation may have gone better if she had kept her big mouth shut.

how many of us have lived or witnessed a woman with high pitch sharp voice bragging on for hours making the place a living hell

i wouldnt have her even as my lawyer i would strangle her like a chicken before the end of the day..

sure the situation would have settle down without that <deleted> making all this racket noise..

police are doing their job! ok is not a big knife but its their job to control..

To control what ? Fining people with a ( tool kit Swiss army knife) in the car ) ? BS.....this is more arrassement than controlling. They should head down to Sukimvit and control the drug dealers

[benw10]

what kind of idiot would say it was for self defence? why not say it was for getting stones out of the buffalo's hoof, or peeling a mango, or even using the tweezer to pluck eyebrows at the traffic lights?

[jeffreybangkok]

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

Not only Thai eat with only fork and spoon. All Asian countries ppl eat only with fork, spoon and chopstick. Pls check your facts before making incorrect comments

[hawker9000]

I watched the video and there was no swiss army knife anywhere. It looked like a large lock knife. It doesn't seem to be a leather man type tool either with pliers, saw, knife and all the bits either. Police are right to question why need such a knife and self defence is a fair answer.

If the lady had a swiss army knife they would have been on their way and no fine either. There would be no video and no bs replies of outrage.

Are me and phuketrichard the only ones who have noticed there is no Swiss army knife or multitool in the video?!

Yes, watched the video. No, it looks like a sportsman's knife. 'Had what looked like a shroud cutter at one end. Larger than what most people might think of as a "pocket knife" perhaps, but not by the looks of it a switchblade or weapons grade knife. Any knife with an actual cutting edge, even a box cutter, can be used offensively and do a lot of damage if that's the intent.

Why were they stopping the car and subjecting it to such a search in the first place?

[eastcanje]

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.

Did you mean "a hoe", or "a ho"?

[Larry001]

I just fell off my chair in pain from laughing so much. I thought this was a joke. Guns everywhere and they take a couple to the police station because they have a Swiss Army Knife.

Talk about "keystone cops' and authorities. I am still laughing in disbelief.

I am glad they did not miss their flight

[techboy]

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

I don't see your point. More to the point is was having the knife illegal? If so it is very frivolous law.

[wowfactor10]

Well if there was only thais sitting in that car i sure the end result would have be the same hahahaha...

Still very nice of this policeman for not making them all pee in the cup and plant some narcotics inside...

[roo860]

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

Not only Thai eat with only fork and spoon. All Asian countries ppl eat only with fork, spoon and chopstick. Pls check your facts before making incorrect comments

I think you will find he was joking!!!!

[roo860]

Always thought in the UK it is illegal to carry a knife no matter what it's for?

[rmacee]

Ok officer ..let's start again ..This one is for ...and this one is just a tooth pick .. now can u go and find some real criminals ..

Edited February 7, 2015 by rmacee

[roo860]

Carrying a knife without good reason, blade length less than 3 inches, lock knife etc illegal. Thats UK rule, what about Thailand?

[mikosan]

Swiss1960, on 06 Feb 2015 - 19:35, said:

Well, those Dutch have been RIGHTFULLY fined... should have been much more... first of all, the knife in the video is DEFINITELY not a Swiss Army knife... I would know about that... and second, if it would have been, where is the licence from the Swiss Government for foreigners to carry a Swiss Army knife???

givem 10 years!!!

Idiot, no one was "carrying" the knife, it was in the console, which means, if anyone is at fault, it would be the driver. But really, it is a bit hard to defend the RTP action, bit hard for most, except their own kind. Sometimes I would if Thais actually grow up from year 7.

Who's the idiot? You don't have to be 'carrying' to be in possession of it. And as I understand, the Thai lady stated it was hers and she carried it for self defense.

[BlackJack]

a screw driver can do more damage as its longer and can penetrate further

and if i am pulled up i suppose they would ask me why the tyre wrench is under my drivers seat?

[joboss]

You have to laugh at the stupidity of the RTP.

Just 10 feet from the Police Box on Soi 4 is a Vendor openly selling much bigger knives than this. 40 Feet away, just outside the Post Office you can buy any copy watch you want. Around the corner, about 100 feet away, are more prostitutes than you can shake a stick at.

Then again, just across the road near Soi 3 you can buy any sexual aid you want, including Viagra, copy DVD's, bags and clothes.

Do the RTP know the world laughs at them?

I fail to see why you call the RTP stupid in regards to this incident.

The knife vendor, the watch knock off seller, the prostitutes looking out for shaking sticks and the stall holders near Soi 3, are all, I assume, Thais.

In any case I imagine that they have paid their tea money to the RTP in advanced understanding to secure their stall positions.

The guy getting the grief for the pen knife is Farang.

Can you perceive the difference?

[sabaii69]

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.

You should leave the hoe's in the bar, mate

[joboss]

What happens when Crocodile Dundee says

"That's not a knife, THIS is a knife"

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect Thailand1423281035.717856.jpg

He gets put under house arrest by the ATO. -- Australian Tax Office.

[chrisinth]

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There is something wrong here with the reporting, it does not look like a Swiss Army knife to me. It is not red, it is silver like stainless steel with a wide blade width. It looks more formidable than a Swiss Army knife. Perhaps the cops were right in confiscating it.

The biggest problem with this entire thread is the title. I think the 'swiss army knife' was added to cause controversy; it seems to have worked very well by Coconuts.

The knife that was confiscated (in the video) was NOT a swiss army knife utility tool. Judging by the size of it in the officer's hand, I would guess that it had a blade length of between 3 1/2 and 4 inches.

For the last 42 years of my life, everyday I have been working, all over the world, I have carried knives. Habitual I know, but it can save lives. Current EDC (every day carry) is a folding knife with a 2 1/2 blade and I have no intention of changing things because of this.

That said, I never would take a knife out with me intentionally when socializing. Or going to an airport unless the use was for self protection.

[Kinnock]

machete taxi driver = ok

small army knife = criminal ?

Selling stabbing knives, knuckle dusters, cross bows, fake drugs in a street market = OK

Letting violent criminals walk out of your police station after going to the wash room = OK

Extorting money from tourists for not having a passport = OK

Running away when protesters occupy all the main road junctions of your city = OK

Dressing like an S&M club Gestapo officer = OK

[Equalizer]

''Authorities today backed up police officers''. Says it all really doesn't it. Like a few others have said. What is not public about a stall full of knives on a market. I really think Thailand is not grasping the power of social networking and the word Viral. At the min they are exposing themselves as a laughing stock.

[masuk]

What's the betting that the Swiss knife was not returned to the owners?

Even the smallest Swiss knife is worth more than the ฿500 fine.

This whole business sounds a lot like the urine testing of farangs which the police boss said was not official.

[Kinnock]

The posters saying the police were right and quoting UK, US, Australian laws ........ just off the boat or what?

[roo860]

The posters saying the police were right and quoting UK, US, Australian laws ........ just off the boat or what?

Weren't they just comparing?

[spidermike007]

This one is completely over the top. That is a utility tool. It is not a weapon. These misguided revenue collection agents, posing as law enforcement should use a standard like they have in the US. Up to a 4" blade is ok to carry. Something like that. They are taking this too far. Misguided does not even begin to characterize these tiny men who pretend to be policemen.

[jackcorbett]

When I first read this, I was carrying a Swiss Army knife in my pocket. I try to carry it everywhere, especially when I head upcountry with my girlfriend and drink beer with her brothers. I need it for opening beer bottles. Even in my own condo where I have a pretty good assortment of tools, I am constantly using it to work on light fixtures and other repairs. I have four Swiss Army knives but two of this type as it is small enough to be practically unnoticeable in my pocket while it sill has a very useful of the most essential tools for my needs. I have lost two knives of this model so I keep a spare because I find it to be that essential. As for a weapon, I'd prefer using my fists if it came down to it (I avoid all potential physical confrontations as my first line of defense), because its blades are too small to be very effective in a defense situation and the knife is too short to have an effective reach whereas my fists do not have this shortcoming.

[Baerboxer]

In defense of those Police Officers;

1) It clearly shows in that VDO that the knife in question is NOT a "Swiss Army Knife" !

2) The knife that IS clearly visible is about 3 X the size of a "Swiss Army Knife" !

3) The cops on site, behaved very professionally and calmly, but

4) The Thai female Passenger was NOT very polite, but rather VERY arrogant & condescending towards the courteous cops and even exclaimed at some point during her tirade, that she was "a Citizen of The Netherlands" . . . . . - She also intimated that she carried that knife for "Self-Protection".

5) Under Thai (most any nations's Laws) there IS a max. allowable "Blade-Length" making the distinction between a (Peel My Apple Knife" versus "Potentially Dangerous Weapon" knife.

5) For clarity's sake, I attach a comparison picture of what people perceive to be a Swiss Army Knife and then, the knife in question:

Swiss Army Knife's blade is approx. 5 cm in length.

VDO shown knife appears to be approx. 15 cm in length.

The ONLY problem with this Post, therefore, is the Heading; it should have NOT have included the words "SWISS ARMY KNIFE", because it wasn't ! ! !

As Churchill put it so brilliantly:

. . . For everything that happens in this world, there's a logical explanation . . . . . . .

. . . and THEN; there's the truth . . . . . . .

There are some large Swiss Army knives available, made by Victorinox and available from their stockist here. Some are single bladed and some have other tools. There are a variety of blade lengths available.

The knife uncle Rubl posted, issued to him by the Netherland's Army, looks like what is now called the Pioneer model. I have the same. That was issued to the Swiss Army too until a few years ago when they updated to a new model, The model name was then changed to Pioneer from Soldier.

The Victorinox range is considerable from very small to quiet large, with different tools and uses.

The Ranger series has large model, single handed opening, and a blade that locks. The handles are more shaped like in the video.

What is the Thai law on carrying a pocket knife - is there a specific blade length stated? Is the knife restricted to slip-joint, or are locking mechanisms allowed? Can the knife be automatic, assisted opening, one handed opening or must it be designed for 2 handed opening? The UK and Germany have very specific rules in their laws, not the same btw. Somehow, I doubt Thai law is that specific.

I can't tell from the video whether the knife is made by Victortinox, which are all commonly called Swiss Army knives, even though only a few models were ever issued to the Swiss Army, or not. Is it really the one that you picture here? How did you id it?

The police found the knife and asked about it. Saying it was for possible self defense categorized it as a weapon. Why she didn't say it was for cutting things, a tool if a breakdown, cutting food, or to smash windows if in accident and door jammed. A friendly, smiley approach and story would of been more sensible and may have got a different response.