Farang drivers & police stops

[oaklandpete]

I have a retirement visa & lost my regular driver so am planning to buy a car. A friend suggested that Farang solo drivers are more likely to be stopped by police & shaken down or otherwise mistreated . Is this a reasonable fear or a slim chance with anecdotal exceptions ? I can stand occasional stops & small payoffs.

[brommers]

I have only been shaken down once in ten years & that was in Uttaradit. And when I told him he was corrupt he gave me my money back and told me it go, In Chiang Mai I have always been dealt with politely and always waved on, no matter what time of day or night. So my experience is completely opposite to what you have been told.

[vogie]

Total poppycock, how do the police know if your farang or Thai as most windscreens are blacked out anyway, change friends, they talk rubbish.

[johnmcedinghburg]

I also never had any problem wit police, received 2 tickets one for u turn and one for wrong parking what was correct. So just go and drive only make sure that you have an Thai license, insurance in order and respect THE law. I had an accident my fault no problems, iT was even an police car i crashed into [emoji23] so enjoy Driving

[Microwave]

Agreed. The police can't tell who's behind the wheel when they stop a vehicle.

If I'm driving alone or have another farang in my car, then I pretend that I don't understand Thai (even though my Thai is fluent) and have always been let go with no money being transacted. After seeing that the driver is a farang I usually I receive a salute from the policeman, his arm pointing me to the road, and the policeman saying something along the lines of, "ok, go". I continue the confused look on my face and drive away...

If I have a Thai friend in the car with me, then I've had to pay fines (no more than baht 100) or my Thai friend being told of some law and to tell me about the law which I've violated. Then I'm set free.

After being pulled over I've heard the policeman/men say in Thai, "What do we do, it's a farang?". Or, "This is Thailand, you must learn Thai." Once a policeman told the other policeman that "the farang is very good looking". Fortunately I received the, "ok, no problem" words in English and was motioned to continue on.

Hope this info. helps.

[ubonjoe]

Some posts saying this is a troll topic have been removed. A repeat will result in formal warning.

[chingmai331]

I have clear windows and everyone can easily see i'm a farang car driver. I've had no problems at all with any policeman in T'land. But, that said, i'm a particularly good driver so can avoid problems better than the average farang, or Thai driver.

[FolkGuitar]

I don't think I've ever met a man who said he was a poor driver.

We all think we drive as well as an Indy race driver.

But the police generally don't stop us for our driving (unless speeding.) They do stop us at check points, inspect our papers, smile, salute, and tell us to drive on.

There is NO concerted effort to shake down foreigners. Stick with the law and you'll have no trouble.

[MrBrad]

I don't think I've ever met a man who said he was a poor driver.

We all think we drive as well as an Indy race driver.

But the police generally don't stop us for our driving (unless speeding.) They do stop us at check points, inspect our papers, smile, salute, and tell us to drive on.

There is NO concerted effort to shake down foreigners. Stick with the law and you'll have no trouble.

Anyone know who might have sent this to PostSecret?

[FolkGuitar]

I don't think I've ever met a man who said he was a poor driver.

We all think we drive as well as an Indy race driver.

But the police generally don't stop us for our driving (unless speeding.) They do stop us at check points, inspect our papers, smile, salute, and tell us to drive on.

There is NO concerted effort to shake down foreigners. Stick with the law and you'll have no trouble.

Anyone know who might have sent this to PostSecret?

.jpg

Must have been sent by a woman. No man would admit to such a thing! ROTFL!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

If I'm driving alone or have another farang in my car, then I pretend that I don't understand Thai (even though my Thai is fluent) and have always been let go with no money being transacted. After seeing that the driver is a farang I usually I receive a salute from the policeman, his arm pointing me to the road, and the policeman saying something along the lines of, "ok, go". I continue the confused look on my face and drive away...

I hear more people do that, but personally I don't bother. I prefer just speaking Thai, never any issue either and it makes for a more normal/pleasant encounter.

It also highlights I'm not an impressionable tourist who might be shaken down, but as your post proves this likely isn't even a consideration as not speaking Thai will result on being sent on your way, too.

Indeed the OP has been fed crap.

[masuk]

Three years ago, I was after a new car, but none available in Chiang Mai for 6 months or more. So my buddy located a dealer halfway to BKK, and we subsequently bought the car, and headed north back to Chiang Mai.

We hadn't been driving more than an hour, when we were stopped by a lone policeman. He stepped out onto the road about 400metres in front and stopped us. (super eyesight?)

We were fined 100baht for having a red plate and driving it out of the province!!! We paid up, with the advice from the policeman being "take the red plates off!" We drove around for more than 4 months with no plates and not stopped once.

Difficult to figure out sometimes.

[true blue]

been driving a car on thai roads for the last ten years,mainly in chiang mai,never stopped at check points just waved through.

[khwaibah]

If I'm driving alone or have another farang in my car, then I pretend that I don't understand Thai (even though my Thai is fluent) and have always been let go with no money being transacted. After seeing that the driver is a farang I usually I receive a salute from the policeman, his arm pointing me to the road, and the policeman saying something along the lines of, "ok, go". I continue the confused look on my face and drive away...

I hear more people do that, but personally I don't bother. I prefer just speaking Thai, never any issue either and it makes for a more normal/pleasant encounter.

It also highlights I'm not an impressionable tourist who might be shaken down, but as your post proves this likely isn't even a consideration as not speaking Thai will result on being sent on your way, too.

Indeed the OP has been fed crap.

Its called bar talk..

[sappersrest]

No problems at all.

[worgeordie]

If you have all your documents,i.e. driving license,car is taxed,insured,

and you are not driving under the influence,and driving in a proper

manner,they would have to be very imaginative to think something up

to" shake" you down. I also think your friend who says single Farang

drivers are stopped more,just wants you to chauffeur him around.!

regards worgeordie

[uhhh ohhh]

I know this is a car conversation but some observation from a motorbike driver. In the last 2 weeks I've been stopped twice. The first time for something, I did wrong, but the officer said I could pay on the spot or the police station. I said, I'll pay here....it will save me a trip. How much? 500 baht, said the officer. I said, I'll pay at the station...that's too much. He said how much can you pay. I said 200 baht. He said okay....leave under my ticket book as he walked to the other side of the rode and said...."I NEVER SEE YOU TODAY." This was near the McDonalds at the Night Bizarre. The next time I was in a group of bikes with other Thai riders right next to me. We all crossed a road illegally and an officer pulled me out of the group. Coincidence? I think not. I was in the wrong both times so I don't mind paying. But my opinion is we are singled out when it's possible.

[Tonto21]

Only rarely do I get stopped when going though a police traffic check point and then after they ask where I'm going wave me on. Have been stopped for bogus reasons a few times traveling though mid Thailand...... fines no more than 400 Baht in total. Fact is I was speeding each time, my fine just didn't go where it should of.

[Cheesekraft]

I always just continue driving.. really slowly... and they end up waving me on

[cmth]

All of my experience is on motorbikes. I have only been stopped once for not wearing a helmet. I paid 200 baht on the spot. Other than that I have been waved on through numerous checkpoints. A friend of mine got a ticket for riding a motorbike on the express way but it was highway police and they were giving everyone tickets. There were about 12 officers handing out tickets as fast as they could write them. Both cases the Farang was clearly in wrong, so I don't see it as a shakedown.

[troy]

Its called "Driving at the speed of white"

[petermik]

Total poppycock, how do the police know if your farang or Thai as most windscreens are blacked out anyway, change friends, they talk rubbish.

You talk rubbish.........the past 5 times I have taken Highway 9 (Kahchanapisek Road) in BKK I have been stopped by the police-thai drivers in front of me not stopped jusi waived on-you must wind your window down to take the Toll Card and that,s when they can tell if farang or Thai and they try it on telling me to pull over out of the way of the toll booth-luckily I,m with my TGF and she politely speaks with them and thus far no tea money.