driving licence fine

[glassdude007]

seems the coppers never bother with the throngs of un license safari ATV riders using on the road to Kata beach everyday go figure?

[Smokin Joe]

A UK drivers licence is the Paper licence. This is commonly supplemented with the Plastic Card.

To legally drive overseas (i.e. In Thailand) an International Drivers Permit is also required to accompany the Paper licence or plastic card licence.

The Op did not have the correct documentation.

As a Tourist he can ride/drive with an IDP for up to 90 days.

Any longer than this he is deemed not to be a tourist and requires a local licence.

IDP is not required in Thailand, provided there is a valid home DL with photo, in English.

From Thai Motor Vehicle Act:

Section 42

Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver's license. The driver must carry the driver's license and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request. This does not apply for those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.

If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license specified in the Section 42-2. In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver's license, and show them to competent officers upon request.

Section 42-2

In case there's a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver's license, an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license issued by such a foreign government, or an automobile association authorized by such a foreign government.

[vogie]

Ok so my "crime" was not carrying my plastic card licence. I live in CM, i was visiting my friend in hospital in Phuket. Because I know you need to carry a licence, i took my paper licence with me. Surely this should have been accepted, its a legal document. The reason that i didnt have my plastic card was because it was lost and my a new one will be delivered to my sisters house in Scotland and she will send it to me.

Surely these traffic BIB and their farang helper would be better occupied actually trying to improve the way people drive in Phuket, like driving on the correct side of the road, with helmets on, with a maximum of 2 on a bike, you know dangerous illegal things ?!! But no, far easier to screw the tourists, for no other reason than to steal money from them. And having a Thai licence is better than my original UK licence ?? its a joke. !!

I know the laws, thats why I tried to follow them as best as I could during the interim period before my plastic card arrived..

Two wrongs don't make a right and if you're looking for sympathy on TV, forget it.

[stevenl]

A UK drivers licence is the Paper licence. This is commonly supplemented with the Plastic Card.

To legally drive overseas (i.e. In Thailand) an International Drivers Permit is also required to accompany the Paper licence or plastic card licence.

The Op did not have the correct documentation.

As a Tourist he can ride/drive with an IDP for up to 90 days.

Any longer than this he is deemed not to be a tourist and requires a local licence.

IDP is not required in Thailand, provided there is a valid home DL with photo, in English.

From Thai Motor Vehicle Act:

Section 42

Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver's license. The driver must carry the driver's license and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request. This does not apply for those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.

If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license specified in the Section 42-2. In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver's license, and show them to competent officers upon request.

Section 42-2

In case there's a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver's license, an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license issued by such a foreign government, or an automobile association authorized by such a foreign government.

Exactly. And since that treaty exists between virtually all countries, home license is by law sufficient. IDP makes sense to prevent problems, but is not required.

[Smokin Joe]

A UK drivers licence is the Paper licence. This is commonly supplemented with the Plastic Card.

To legally drive overseas (i.e. In Thailand) an International Drivers Permit is also required to accompany the Paper licence or plastic card licence.

The Op did not have the correct documentation.

As a Tourist he can ride/drive with an IDP for up to 90 days.

Any longer than this he is deemed not to be a tourist and requires a local licence.

IDP is not required in Thailand, provided there is a valid home DL with photo, in English.

From Thai Motor Vehicle Act:

Section 42

Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver's license. The driver must carry the driver's license and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request. This does not apply for those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.

If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license specified in the Section 42-2. In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver's license, and show them to competent officers upon request.

Section 42-2

In case there's a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver's license, an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license issued by such a foreign government, or an automobile association authorized by such a foreign government.

Exactly. And since that treaty exists between virtually all countries, home license is by law sufficient. IDP makes sense to prevent problems, but is not required.

No. "he must carry documents specified by the treaty" refers to the IDP if acceptance of his home country license is based on the 1949 convention. An IDP may not be required if acceptance of home country license is based on a different agreement such as the ASEAN agreement that only applies to the ten ASEAN countries.

Nowhere does it say the IDP is not required in other cases.

Not in the 1949 Geneva convention

Not in the Thai Motor Vehicle Act

Not in the Thai Land Transportation Act

[stevenl]

IDP is not required in Thailand, provided there is a valid home DL with photo, in English.

From Thai Motor Vehicle Act:

Section 42

Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver's license. The driver must carry the driver's license and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request. This does not apply for those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.

If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license specified in the Section 42-2. In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver's license, and show them to competent officers upon request.

Section 42-2

In case there's a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver's license, an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license issued by such a foreign government, or an automobile association authorized by such a foreign government.

Exactly. And since that treaty exists between virtually all countries, home license is by law sufficient. IDP makes sense to prevent problems, but is not required.

No. "he must carry documents specified by the treaty" refers to the IDP if acceptance of his home country license is based on the 1949 convention. An IDP may not be required if acceptance of home country license is based on a different agreement such as the ASEAN agreement that only applies to the ten ASEAN countries.

Nowhere does it say the IDP is not required in other cases.

Not in the 1949 Geneva convention

Not in the Thai Motor Vehicle Act

Not in the Thai Land Transportation Act

We have had this discussion here on TV many times, every time reaching the conclusion: IDP is not required, with a few provisions. Do a search on the subject, especially your namesake, NomadJoe has done some very good posts on the subject.

But I'm not having this discussion here again (and again and again).

[Smokin Joe]

We have had this discussion here on TV many times, every time reaching the conclusion: IDP is not required, with a few provisions. Do a search on the subject, especially your namesake, NomadJoe has done some very good posts on the subject.

But I'm not having this discussion here again (and again and again).

You are correct we have had this discussion here on TV many times, every time reaching the conclusion: IDP is required

I'm going to continue to agree with what Thai Law says

[stevenl]

We have had this discussion here on TV many times, every time reaching the conclusion: IDP is not required, with a few provisions. Do a search on the subject, especially your namesake, NomadJoe has done some very good posts on the subject.

But I'm not having this discussion here again (and again and again).

You are correct we have had this discussion here on TV many times, every time reaching the conclusion: IDP is required

I'm going to continue to agree with what Thai Law says

Not correct, but up to you.