Tired of the Police Shakedowns while driving - Getting worse

[remaxtony]

Monthly I drive my vehicle from Bkk area to Surin area to visit the wife's family.

This week will mark the 3rd trip in a row where we get pulled over exiting one of Bkks toll booth areas by the police. There are dozens of police pulling people over as they exit and it appears to be random. Unfortunately, I seem to always get pulled over and I'm convinced its because I'm a Farang, but they are also nabbing many others and most are Thai's.

It is a basic shakedown and they say that you are speeding. They say they have video from the highway before the toll booths. Since I know this is happening all of the time, I don't speed. I argue this case and want to see proof, and they say that I can go argue at the police station. But, if I pay the fine now of course, I can just drive on. No ticket is written.

The last 2 times it was 400 baht. This time, 2 days ago, he asked my wife for 1000 baht and I almost went thru the roof. I speak Thai, but usually let my wife do the arguing. She got him down to 400 baht and I paid and we left. She says everytime, do you want to go argue at the police station??? Obviously she and I both know that we don't want to exit the highway system and waste that amount of time when we are staring in the face of a 6 hour drive. We pay and go.

So, I basically just chalk it up to an extra 400 baht toll to drive on the tollways here now. But, when people ask why long term expats complain about the small things that bother us in Thailand,,,,,,,it is these kinds of shakedowns that can drive you nuts after a while. Will 400 baht kill me? No, but it pisses me off no matter how affordable it is.

[robblok]

Just get a good car cam, they have speed displayed on the video too. The good ones like the one I have you can play back on your mobile phone wireless. That makes it quite easy to proof stuff.

[DavisH]

Or have your wife film your speed for that stretch, and also the ensuing conversation with the policeman. I hate this shit, though it's never happened to me.

[bikerlou47]

I got stopped last week after going thru the toll booth and was given a pass!! :-)

[marko kok prong]

I got pulled over twice in April for being in the outside lane,near Rayong,but as we were coming over a hill,how could they know,how long i was in that lane,i just played dumb,pretended i spoke no Thai,thet could not be bothered with the hassle,and let me go,but my freind got pulled up outside Bangkok ,same thing they told him he was speeding,he argued,and eventually they changed it to saying he had modified his car[lowered it,which he has],but he told them he had put bigger wheels on,he got away with it,but yes it is a total scam,and i thought the General was cracking down on this,seems not enough.

[bkkmick]

Where possible use the Easy Pass. They never seem to stop cars going through that. At least they never stop me when I use it.

[ExpatOilWorker]

I drive a lot and never get pulled over, other than one in a blue moon for speeding,but then it is usually for a good reason!

[patekatek]

Do you think it may be due to your vehicle license plate indicating you live a heck of a long way away from Bangkok and will likely pay the "fine" on the spot rather than have to deal with going to a police station?

[khunano]

Where possible use the Easy Pass. They never seem to stop cars going through that. At least they never stop me when I use it.

That's the trick, keep moving, don't step on the brake, accelerate instead....

[elgordo38]

Easy you will have all the positive posters jumping on your back about saying negative things about Thailand. Their fingers are always at the ready on the keyboard to give you a broadside. I am sure that they will come up with some exotic answer as to why you should contribute to the Thai economy or tell you to go back to your home country if your not happy. They have a cast in stone mindset. Pays to have thick skin on TV. As Scotty used to say on Startrek " Aye captain the shields are up and holding"

[Don Mega]

I know these shakedowns exist so I just speed everywhere I go, hey if they are gunna extort me for the crime I might as well do it.

I actually got pinged proper recently, A registered letter arrived at work and it was a speeding ticket. 140km/h in an 80 zone = 500B.

Seems they like to set up a camera on Sukhumvit road between Pattaya and Laem Chabang, looking at the pic (front on) I was in the right hand land and the sign for the Coco housing development was just behind me.... the only place tha camera could have been was on the opposite side of the road in the bus shelter out front of the police resort joint.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Sorry OP but you are becoming part of the problem, by paying a bribe you contribute to the corruption. Next time call their bluff and go to the police station. If everyone does that they will get nothing from the scam and will stop. To stop corruption each one must act correctly in their own day to day lives, its not going to be stopped by a general and a junta. The dash cam is a good idea.

[Bosse137]

I am not a violent person.I am 72 years old and has never hit anybody in my life,not even had the urge to do it.I have lived here more than twenty years and know about policecorruption.I also know,that the police can easily fabricate some reason to put me away for a long time.So,I have decided to go along with their demands and give them the money they ask for.BUT,everytime,when they accuse me of something I am not guilty of,my temper just flairs up like crazy and I screem to them,hitting my fist in my other hand and,I guess,look absolutely crazy.By the time I start to cool down a little bit,up till now,they say" Go,go!".Once I told the cop"If you want me to give you money,just say so.Do not accuse me of something I am innocent of"! Well,as I said,I have been lucky,and I promise myself to keep my cool next time.Which I know I will not....

[vogie]

I know these shakedowns exist so I just speed everywhere I go, hey if they are gunna extort me for the crime I might as well do it.

I actually got pinged proper recently, A registered letter arrived at work and it was a speeding ticket. 140km/h in an 80 zone = 500B.

Seems they like to set up a camera on Sukhumvit road between Pattaya and Laem Chabang, looking at the pic (front on) I was in the right hand land and the sign for the Coco housing development was just behind me.... the only place tha camera could have been was on the opposite side of the road in the bus shelter out front of the police resort joint.

Yeah I have been caught doing 130 kph on the Pattaya to Bangkok, where, not too bothered, fined 500฿ (£10) Bring it on Thailand, you'll do for me. What with water bills at 200฿ and my electric bills at around 1200฿, there must be something To complain about, but for the life in me, I can't think of a thing!

[gemguy]

Hmmmm...interesting developments occurring where one may surmise or certainly suggest that crack downs on crime and corruption result in the already well corrupted members of sociality finding numerous different means of generating their corrupt revenues...maybe?.. possibly?... you would or could think that is the case????....and probably be correct.

Cheers

[spidermike007]

Sorry OP but you are becoming part of the problem, by paying a bribe you contribute to the corruption. Next time call their bluff and go to the police station. If everyone does that they will get nothing from the scam and will stop. To stop corruption each one must act correctly in their own day to day lives, its not going to be stopped by a general and a junta. The dash cam is a good idea.

Exactly. Correct. Do everything you can to resist and push back. I will not pay you one baht. Do what you need to do. You ain't getting nothing out of me.

[thailandforumaddict]

Stop looking like an easy guy ! Why do they give up when I tell them that I was not speeding ?

Of course I also have a dashcam and it seems to explain them how life works <3

[yougivemebaby]

My technique is to not fight them. I keep 200 baht next to me at all times. I hide the rest of my money. When i get pulled over I tell them all I have is 200 baht. I've never had one refuse it. TIT

[thailandforumaddict]

Camera is at KM 42 on the highway to Pattaya (highway passing Suvarnabhumi airpot), both ways.

I know these shakedowns exist so I just speed everywhere I go, hey if they are gunna extort me for the crime I might as well do it.

I actually got pinged proper recently, A registered letter arrived at work and it was a speeding ticket. 140km/h in an 80 zone = 500B.

Seems they like to set up a camera on Sukhumvit road between Pattaya and Laem Chabang, looking at the pic (front on) I was in the right hand land and the sign for the Coco housing development was just behind me.... the only place tha camera could have been was on the opposite side of the road in the bus shelter out front of the police resort joint.

[Don Mega]

Camera is at KM 42 on the highway to Pattaya (highway passing Suvarnabhumi airpot), both ways.

I know these shakedowns exist so I just speed everywhere I go, hey if they are gunna extort me for the crime I might as well do it.

I actually got pinged proper recently, A registered letter arrived at work and it was a speeding ticket. 140km/h in an 80 zone = 500B.

Seems they like to set up a camera on Sukhumvit road between Pattaya and Laem Chabang, looking at the pic (front on) I was in the right hand land and the sign for the Coco housing development was just behind me.... the only place tha camera could have been was on the opposite side of the road in the bus shelter out front of the police resort joint.

yes iam fully aware of those camera's.

Read my post and understand the location of the one that snapped me, it is a very random camera.

[ggt]

these kinds of shakedowns that can drive you nuts after a while.

You have just entered the Thai twilight zone...where you start counting your change...noticing that you are paying more than Thais for good and services...and are generally being taken for a fool by any Thai wishing to extract baht from this foreign ATM machine...

You will either find some way of accepting this corrupt Thai behavior or become embittered and eaten up with angst...

Many retirees have gone on to look for greener pastures when the daily grind becomes unbearable...

Good Luck...

[konying]

Just get a good car cam, they have speed displayed on the video too. The good ones like the one I have you can play back on your mobile phone wireless. That makes it quite easy to proof stuff.

Which one is it? brand and model please?

[NanLaew]

I have no doubts that the OP is being serially harassed and the 'up country' plates are probably the flag that gets the scam rolling. I would suggest that he let his wife drive the tollway bits instead. If she can't drive, maybe she can start using the bus instead.

[Vogele123]

Weird, it must be a local thing.

I have been driving here for almost 15 years, everytime I come upon a checkpoint they take one look at the "Farang" and simply wave me through.

I have been stopped on a motorbike, it wasn't legal, it was night time and they didn't know I was a foreigner, there was a debate as whether to let me go, however, I got what I deserved. (It cost me a few grand, but I knew I was asking for it driving that bike - I had also had a few beers and they asked me if I had been on the whisky, I replied honestly that I had not and had only been drinking beer) They confiscated the bike but made some poor fat kid take me 35KM home on the back of his bike!!!

I was stopped once in the truck for having the front number plate on the dash - just a warning, no asking for money.

Got pulled on the highway near home by the traffic / highway cops, asked for my licence which was at least 5 years out of date, told them I left it at home. They asked my 11 year old son a few questions in Thai, where we lived etc. looked at the Durian on the front seat and told me to go!

[remaxtony]

As I stated,,,,,,the stops that I am talking about are at toll booths and approx 20 cops are taking everyone,,,,,,,if they are all busy, you can get lucky and skate thru. I haven't been lucky.

My plates are Bangkok, and they have nothing to do with it. We try to argue and then just pay and go. The dash cam sounds like the ticket!!! Thanks.

[oneday]

If there is no ticket then it is a bribe pure and simple. The going bribe is 400 baht. Have the NCPO on your speed dial. Get the officers name and badge number and call the NCPO. This is the kind of thing they are supposed to be stopping.

You definitely need a dash cam and if you drive that much up there then you should get an easy pass as another poster suggested.

[HerbalEd]

If it's mostly Thais being pulled over ... and your Thai wife is with you ... why do you think your'e being pulled over because you are a farang?

[Crazy chef 1]

I got pulled over twice in April for being in the outside lane,near Rayong,but as we were coming over a hill,how could they know,how long i was in that lane,i just played dumb,pretended i spoke no Thai,thet could not be bothered with the hassle,and let me go,but my freind got pulled up outside Bangkok ,same thing they told him he was speeding,he argued,and eventually they changed it to saying he had modified his car[lowered it,which he has],but he told them he had put bigger wheels on,he got away with it,but yes it is a total scam,and i thought the General was cracking down on this,seems not enough.

Nope Dear General is busy with cracking down soap dealers in Pattaya....

[gwynt]

I know these shakedowns exist so I just speed everywhere I go, hey if they are gunna extort me for the crime I might as well do it.

I actually got pinged proper recently, A registered letter arrived at work and it was a speeding ticket. 140km/h in an 80 zone = 500B.

Seems they like to set up a camera on Sukhumvit road between Pattaya and Laem Chabang, looking at the pic (front on) I was in the right hand land and the sign for the Coco housing development was just behind me.... the only place tha camera could have been was on the opposite side of the road in the bus shelter out front of the police resort joint.

Me too, They sit in the middle with the trees as cover, if you look when going to Laem Chabang they have a plank of wood as a seat set up so they don't have to stand. Only one sign and actually no end sign.

[SantiSuk]

Easy you will have all the positive posters jumping on your back about saying negative things about Thailand. Their fingers are always at the ready on the keyboard to give you a broadside. I am sure that they will come up with some exotic answer as to why you should contribute to the Thai economy or tell you to go back to your home country if your not happy. They have a cast in stone mindset. Pays to have thick skin on TV. As Scotty used to say on Startrek " Aye captain the shields are up and holding"

Total Bollux. None of us Thai apologists are gonna try and sluff off corruption as something acceptable