Fined because of wrong colour car roof !

[espinoza]

Yesterday my wife and me were stopped in a police check in Phon Phsai, Nong Khai. Since the police found everything in good order they had to fine us 400 Bath because the cars registration paper says the car is white, but in fact the cars roof is black. The car is not white, its white with a black roof. In my opinion this is just bu---hit, as it was the road authorities of Thailand that issued the paper, not us.

Is this really reason to fine anybody?

Have anybody ever heard of cases like this?

is it a part of the peace and happiness campaign?

Edited May 31, 2015 by espinoza

[nev]

They will find any way to fine you, I got fined for having my fog lights on at night driving along a dark stretch of road.

[TP1]

Why can't I believe what the OP is saying?

May be it's just me.

[stoneyboy]

I bet you went through the roof didn't you ?

[NancyL]

This is why I carefully look over every document I receive at a government office before I leave and ask them to correct mistakes or explain items I don't understand on the spot before I leave. You won't believe how many times they make mistakes. Of course, I ask in a pleasant way and there is always much embarrassed smiling. No one has ever been offended or refused to correct a mistake. This is one major reason I'm glad I learned to read Thai and take my big English-Thai and Thai-English dictionaries (yes, two big books) with me when I go to a government office to engage in an activity I've not done before.

I've found my own anal-retentive characteristics to be more reliable than depending on a native Thai speaker to "help me out".

[bdenner]

Did you get a receipt?

I was fined 200 Baht (receipted) for not having the "Carry Boy" registered. It had been on the back of my DMax 10 years at the time. They have a mastermind somewhere who just devises ways to raise revenue. Too bad he/she could spend more time getting un roadworthy buses and trucks off the roads.

[bikerlou47]

I changed the color of my Honda 750 and it was made a federal case!

[espinoza]

Did you get a receipt?

I was fined 200 Baht (receipted) for not having the "Carry Boy" registered. It had been on the back of my DMax 10 years at the time. They have a mastermind somewhere who just devises ways to raise revenue. Too bad he/she could spend more time getting un roadworthy buses and trucks off the roads.

Yes we got the receipt. Crazy country this.

[espinoza]

I bet you went through the roof didn't you ?

I went through the roof, but realised that it could easy bring another fine.

[espinoza]

This is why I carefully look over every document I receive at a government office before I leave and ask them to correct mistakes or explain items I don't understand on the spot before I leave. You won't believe how many times they make mistakes. Of course, I ask in a pleasant way and there is always much embarrassed smiling. No one has ever been offended or refused to correct a mistake. This is one major reason I'm glad I learned to read Thai and take my big English-Thai and Thai-English dictionaries (yes, two big books) with me when I go to a government office to engage in an activity I've not done before.

I've found my own anal-retentive characteristics to be more reliable than depending on a native Thai speaker to "help me out".

I`m not yet able to read and write Thai, but my wife both reads and writes. Its her car, but she expected the authorities could make the paperwork proper, its their trade not her. another thing is that nor she or me can see that the colour of the car roof have any importance. In my home country I can paint my car as I wish, exept for imitation of the emergency wehicles uniform paint.

[evadgib]

Footage of this sort of stupidity would exceed 'Gangnam style' !

Edited May 31, 2015 by evadgib

[espinoza]

Dashcam footage of this sort of nonsence would quickly exceed 'Gangnam style' if posted online.

Maybe I will post the receipt on youtube. I just have to get it translated

[Anthony5]

Yep, everything must be absolutely correct in your blue book. If it is two tone it must been shown as that, Carryboy must also be noted in the blue book.

Strange how half the populous can drive totally illegal every day with noooooooooooooooo problems eh.....

I assume license plates, head and tail lights don't have to mentioned in the blue book, because I see daily multiple cars and trucks missing one or another of these. Some either have none at all.

[rijb]

Why can't I believe what the OP is saying?

May be it's just me.

Sounds black and white to me.

[thaibeachlovers]

This is why I carefully look over every document I receive at a government office before I leave and ask them to correct mistakes or explain items I don't understand on the spot before I leave. You won't believe how many times they make mistakes. Of course, I ask in a pleasant way and there is always much embarrassed smiling. No one has ever been offended or refused to correct a mistake. This is one major reason I'm glad I learned to read Thai and take my big English-Thai and Thai-English dictionaries (yes, two big books) with me when I go to a government office to engage in an activity I've not done before.

I've found my own anal-retentive characteristics to be more reliable than depending on a native Thai speaker to "help me out".

I`m not yet able to read and write Thai, but my wife both reads and writes. Its her car, but she expected the authorities could make the paperwork proper, its their trade not her. another thing is that nor she or me can see that the colour of the car roof have any importance. In my home country I can paint my car as I wish, exept for imitation of the emergency wehicles uniform paint.

It's nothing to do with the colour- it's all about the money. That was just the excuse.

My SIL wants to buy a new car, but she can only do so in the same town as her blue book address. I'm truly boggled. TiT.

[simon43]

Perhaps we can have a competition as to which poster had to pay a driving fine for the most stupid reason given by the cop.

I'll start off with a good one.

In 2002, when I first cam to Thailand, I was fined 1,000 baht by a traffic cop close to Dorn Meung airport in BKK, because he said the tollway there was only for Thai drivers, not foreigners

Now who can do better than that?

[KhunBENQ]

Official color change in car registration book from "orange" to "orange black"

Edited May 31, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

Why can't I believe what the OP is saying?

May be it's just me.

Dislike, -1.

What do you know?

Color is part of the entries in the blue book.

Annoying to be caught if the entry is not accurate.

But sorry no escape here.

RTP is creative if they need money

About the lights on: another unbelievable rule that opens a path to abuse.

You must not turn on the lights as long as you can see a car to the distance of 150m.

As said: arbitrary abuse possible.

The modern "daylights" (usually LED) are tolerated.

Edited May 31, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[marko kok prong]

Yep, everything must be absolutely correct in your blue book. If it is two tone it must been shown as that, Carryboy must also be noted in the blue book.

Strange how half the populous can drive totally illegal every day with noooooooooooooooo problems eh.....

Agree transam,coming back from Koh chang,i saw a old pickup that looked like it had been in a demolition derby,it was a mass of dents and jagged metal,not one light was unbroken,and it was stacked to overflowing with sawn logs,in fact it was overflowing,as i had noted several lying in the road before i came up on it,how the hell could this be on the road,later i saw what appeared to be it's sister vehicle, broken down with a snapped rear axle,no wonder with the huge logs they had on it,the back wheels where like two donuts,on either side,almost horizontal on the road,my theory is the cops realise these people have no money,so just ignore them,after all it is not about enforcing the law,but lining there pockets,i was told recently that to get into the police you have too know someone,and pay around 200,000 baht to get accepted then,they have to buy the gun,motorbike,and not sure about the uniform,so this could take a few years to recoup,not sure if this is true,but if it is well of course they will be corrupt[receipt or not,i spose they have to give some out],the whole structure needs overhauling,from what i can see the general doing is no more than the usual hot air,and band aid solutions,sack the whole force,make them reapply for their jobs,give them a new Blue instead of that awful brown uniform,a decent salary and benefits,supply all Police equipment,like most of the rest of the world,at the moment they are like a Yoeman Police force,but of course this would cost billions so will never be done,but it would benefit the country much more than a high speed train link to China.

[marko kok prong]

Why can't I believe what the OP is saying?

May be it's just me.

Dislike, -1.

What do you know?

Color is part of the entries in the blue book.

Annoying to be caught if the entry is not accurate.

But sorry no escape here.

RTP is creative if they need money

About the lights on: another unbelievable rule that opens a path to abuse.

You must not turn on the lights as long as you can see a car to the distance of 150m.

As said: arbitrary abuse possible.

The modern "daylights" (usually LED) are tolerated.

Meanwhile most of the rest of the world realises that it is far safer to drive with your lights on,than off,in some countrys this is mandatory,yet Thailand goes the other way,who would have thought it?

[MW72]

They will find any way to fine you, I got fined for having my fog lights on at night driving along a dark stretch of road.

Was there any fog on the night in question? If not then you deserved to be fined. If there was then they were wrong to fine you. They are called fog lights for a reason.

[Naam]

I bet you went through the roof didn't you ?

I went through the roof, but realised that it could easy bring another fine.

because the car papers do not mention "habb hole in loof"

[daveAustin]

This is why I carefully look over every document I receive at a government office before I leave and ask them to correct mistakes or explain items I don't understand on the spot before I leave. You won't believe how many times they make mistakes. Of course, I ask in a pleasant way and there is always much embarrassed smiling. No one has ever been offended or refused to correct a mistake. This is one major reason I'm glad I learned to read Thai and take my big English-Thai and Thai-English dictionaries (yes, two big books) with me when I go to a government office to engage in an activity I've not done before.

I've found my own anal-retentive characteristics to be more reliable than depending on a native Thai speaker to "help me out".

If they're so inclined, they'll find a way to de-money you no matter how smart you purport to be.

[Happy Grumpy]

The fine was for being farang, not the roof.

Consider it farang tax.

Next.

[marko kok prong]

The thing with the lights is crazy,given 50% of motorsai drivers never look before they make a manouver,a light coming at them out of the corner of they're eye may make all the difference.

[h90]

In my country if you change the color of the car you need to register it, if not you get much bigger troubles than 200 Baht.

[Banzai99]

The fine was for being farang, not the roof.

Consider it farang tax.

Next.

And all the Thais that got stopped and fined on the same night, were their fines for being Thai, a Thai Tax ?

Freekin minorities, always playing the " They're all out to get me card ".

You only stopped me cos I'm black is often used in the same way in the UK.

Edited May 31, 2015 by Banzai99

[KhunBENQ]

Meanwhile most of the rest of the world realises that it is far safer to drive with your lights on,than off,in some countrys this is mandatory,yet Thailand goes the other way,who would have thought it?

Agree and one of the rules I don't care about.

When I find its time to switch on the light I do.

Traffic law has not been reworked since 1979 !! (as far as I know).

http://thailaws.com/law/t_laws/tlaw0140_5.pdf

Edited May 31, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[marko kok prong]

They will find any way to fine you, I got fined for having my fog lights on at night driving along a dark stretch of road.

Was there any fog on the night in question? If not then you deserved to be fined. If there was then they were wrong to fine you. They are called fog lights for a reason.

Not sure about this,i live in rural Thailand,and the amount of unlighted tractors,motorsais,old car without lights at night is scary, or random drunks staggering into the road,you really need good illumination on country roads at night,and of course if you hit them because you could not see them,there will be no,well they were at fault for driving without lights,no it will be Falangs fault ,falang pays,better to get a fine than hit someone.

[Banzai99]

Lights on is only for VIP's, Police and Emergency vehicles.

When I drive on the mountain road coming from Pattaya to Korat, my lights are on no matter what time of day or night, my life is considered to be important to me, I know they've made improvements to that road, but its still dangerous in places, years ago it was extremely dangerous.