Metropolitan police chief tells foreigners to carry passports or copies at all times

[Franko666]

Yes, have to respect the rules of any country that you visit or live in. I carry a photo of my passport on my phone to ensure I abide by the law.

At the end of the day if this catches only one illegal foreigner or only saves one life by arresting a potential threat then this initiative has worked.

I am sure the very same people that suggest this is too controlling of the govt will be the same ones that complain about the govt if someone that this initiative is targeting commits a violent crime.

Can't win if you do and can't win if you don't.

Hey you're no fun Aussie guy, that was nearly a serious comment, wheres the fun in that !!!!!!!

[The Big Mango]

don't knock them when they are doing their job foreigners must carry their passports or a facsimile of the id section it is an offense not to carry the passport..

100% incorrect. It absolutely is not an offence "not to carry the passport".

I am happy to bet you USD $10,000.... You in?

Im in as long as you agree to follow the letter of the law and not accepted deviations and or interpretations

Gotcha!! Confessions of illegal gambling by 2 big time foreign criminals. Can I join the police now?

??? ??? ???

I see my criminal detection skills have got you worried.

No , just dont understand your reply

But if your surname is clusoe ( spelling ) shouldnt you be looking for a diamond somewhere ?

Lol

[sandrew33]

don't knock them when they are doing their job foreigners must carry their passports or a facsimile of the id section it is an offense not to carry the passport..

100% incorrect. It absolutely is not an offence "not to carry the passport".

I am happy to bet you USD $10,000.... You in?

Im in as long as you agree to follow the letter of the law and not accepted deviations and or interpretations

The letter of the law is what I'm basing this on...

The letter of the law does not require one to carry a passport at all times.

[Crossy]

Will the ID discussed in this thread suffice one wonders http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/898085-id-card-for-farangs/

[Nickymaster]

Bet that made all the tourist feel welcome.........

yeah carrying a passport copy is a nightmare. Definitely a reason to stay away from Thailand. Surely nobody wants to cooperate in making Thailand a safer place.

They should also get rid of those time consuming immigration counters at the airport. It would make many tourist feel more welcome.

[Merylhighground]

don't knock them when they are doing their job foreigners must carry their passports or a facsimile of the id section it is an offense not to carry the passport..

100% incorrect. It absolutely is not an offence "not to carry the passport".

I am happy to bet you USD $10,000.... You in?

Im in as long as you agree to follow the letter of the law and not accepted deviations and or interpretations

Gotcha!! Confessions of illegal gambling by 2 big time foreign criminals. Can I join the police now?

??? ??? ???

I see my criminal detection skills have got you worried. ?

Criminal detection skills???

More like mental instability...

[kimamey]

don't knock them when they are doing their job foreigners must carry their passports or a facsimile of the id section it is an offense not to carry the passport..

100% incorrect. It absolutely is not an offence "not to carry the passport".

I am happy to bet you USD $10,000.... You in?

Im in as long as you agree to follow the letter of the law and not accepted deviations and or interpretations

Gotcha!! Confessions of illegal gambling by 2 big time foreign criminals. Can I join the police now?

??? ??? ???

I see my criminal detection skills have got you worried.

No , just dont understand your reply

But if your surname is clusoe ( spelling ) shouldnt you be looking for a diamond somewhere ?

Lol

Don't change the subject. You know gambling is illegal.

Don't worry though by Monday that diamond will be on a table with the criminals sat behind it looking miserable whilst I point at them and smile.

[gandalf12]

what an utter pillock, i am an ordinary man in the street, as it were, and i knew this was going down before it happened, if i was a guy who had something to hide i would have stayed in last night, simples. lol

As a normal man in the street, I would have stayed in as well.

A passport pick pocket could have had a field day.

Then you would have got the 'only your original passport' police, trucking you to the lockup.

Then there's the drug tests they would likely have forced you to take.

Not to mention queuing in front of police and army for two hours would completely ruin my evening out.

Quite frankly, if I were a tourist, I would be visiting somewhere nicer.

Been all over the world, the only other place I was ever asked for ID was Israel.

And they asked everyone, at roadblocks, not people in nightclubs with white faces.

Had to produce my ID once in Saudi but that isnt bad for having spent over 30 years overseas and Saudi is the a**hole of the world

[Rimmer]

A baiting flame and replies to it have been removed

[connda]

Why don't they try issuing Thai ID cards to long-stay expats, i.e., those who are married or retired and have 5 years 'in-country' without returning to their home countries. Me? Married to a Thai, and this is 'home', whether jingoistic compassionate Thailand accepts it or not. Haven't been back to my home country for 8 years, and no plans on the horizon to return.

Well, no big deal. I don't frequent BKK tourist spots or Chiang Mai nightclubs. I'll probably just add a copy of my Tabien Baan (Yellow Book) to the passport copies I carry on my person and in the car, and then I've just renewed my Thai DL which has all that info on it anyway. So? Whatever.

I'm surprised tourists don't get a clue that they aren't really welcome here and to vote with their feet. But they don't, so again...whatever.

Edited March 19, 2016 by connda

[Jay1]

If I would have read the article fully before posting on 2 separate occasions "my passport stays at home" I would have realised that no one has even asked me to take my passport out.

The chief clearly states "passport or copy"

Lesson learned: read the full article before throwing a tantrum haha

Edit: errors in typing

Edited March 19, 2016 by Jay1

[robertson468]

Or a photocopy. You need to change that headline.

Agreed. A bit mai-pen-rai of TV and don't say you were just copying from the original - please!

[sandrew33]

Anyone living here should know they have to carry a copy of their passport. I hope the message is communicated to tourists via their hotels or Embassies.

Anyone living here with decent Thai legal advice would understand that this is BS.

You of all people should know better.

There is no legal requirement to carry your passport or a copy. It has to be accessible within a reasonable period of time I.e you can leave it at home.

This has always been the case and was confirmed by a different chief of police only last year.

But you should have access to decent Thai legal advice Brewster and you should be able to confirm this.

I agree that carrying a copy on ones phone is prudent to avoid drama but if you get the wrong cop they'll just demand the original anyway. The law does not require you to have original or copy on you. Period.

I never mentioned the law, just that longtime expats like myself, unlike tourists, should know that carrying a copy of your passport is prudent. I have no desire to have any hassle if stopped, and having to retrieve my passport, or find someone to retrieve it, would be hassle.

I would imagine that this crackdown is linked to the new overstay penalties which come into effect tomorrow. I make sure my passport copy has not only my ID page, but also my Extension of stay stamp.

Fair enough. You did however say "they have to". They don't.

I've lived here 9 years, never carried a copy of my passport (or the original) either in Thailand or in any of the other 50+ countries I've been in.

[bazza40]

Beatup. There's nothing unreasonable about being asked to carry a photocopy of the passport and visa.

[Wilsonandson]

Beatup. There's nothing unreasonable about being asked to carry a photocopy of the passport and visa.

The last thing I want to carry around is my passport. Nearly 10,000 baht and 6-8 weeks to renew if lost. No way. Arrest me. I'd rather spend a night in the cells than have to take my passport everywhere. So never will, never shall, cuff me.

[RIJoe]

The horse that never dies and actually seems to enjoy the beating...

[The Big Mango]

don't knock them when they are doing their job foreigners must carry their passports or a facsimile of the id section it is an offense not to carry the passport..

100% incorrect. It absolutely is not an offence "not to carry the passport".

I am happy to bet you USD $10,000.... You in?

Im in as long as you agree to follow the letter of the law and not accepted deviations and or interpretations

Gotcha!! Confessions of illegal gambling by 2 big time foreign criminals. Can I join the police now?

??? ??? ???

I see my criminal detection skills have got you worried.

No , just dont understand your reply

But if your surname is clusoe ( spelling ) shouldnt you be looking for a diamond somewhere ?

Lol

Don't change the subject. You know gambling is illegal.

Don't worry though by Monday that diamond will be on a table with the criminals sat behind it looking miserable whilst I point at them and smile.

5555 okie-dokie

[peteregion]

C'mon guys.!

Go to any Kodak shop with your passport.

For $3 they will colour copy your passport front page and Visa/Extension, reduce to wallet card size and laminate with one on the front and the other on the obverse.

In less time than it takes you to enjoy a cold frothy.

Do it on the way home from your annual Immi visit - you'll need a coldie by then.

You miss the point entirely! Thailand police are doing this under the assumption that foreigners are guilty or criminals without reason. They are harassing tourists causing undue stress and given their history perhaps even causing fears of being bribed. Nobody goes somewhere on vacation expecting to be confronted by the police demanding to see their passports unless they are in a communist country. As much as I like Thailand I think the BIB are wrong in this and I hope they lose tourists for their actions.

You must be a newbie.

It has been a RTP Police directive for decades.

Only in "communist countries" - codswallop!

It has not been a police directive to go check the public to see if they have a passport in their possession.

What you are saying is that while in London or Sydney I can expect a task force to hold me from leaving the club until I produce my passport. Methinks you are the newbie

I think you have not been out of your house before. I traveled frequently and had been to countries in most of the continents of the world. As an alien (as some countries called us), you have to have your original passport with you if the police or immigration officer checks you. Even a copy is not recognize. Otherwise you would be escorted back to the station (until someone brings your passport to the station) or escorted back to the hotel.

In some countries, you may get away if you can offer the officer or police some cash in exchange for not having your passport with you. And these are not communist countries.

[connda]

Or photocopy, carry on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And they posted that on large, readily viewable signs at Immigration checkpoints at airports and land crossing????? They look something like this???:

Foreigners Must Carry Passports or Photocopies of Passports at All Times!!!

I'm assuming those signs are now posted at Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi International Airports???

Now, why do I think not? But please, by all means, correct me if I'm wrong. Anybody?

[trainman34014]

Obviously they couldn't find 15 bridge clubs with old ladies playing cards then ?

[peteregion]

Anyone living here should know they have to carry a copy of their passport. I hope the message is communicated to tourists via their hotels or Embassies.

Anyone living here with decent Thai legal advice would understand that this is BS.

You of all people should know better.

There is no legal requirement to carry your passport or a copy. It has to be accessible within a reasonable period of time I.e you can leave it at home.

This has always been the case and was confirmed by a different chief of police only last year.

But you should have access to decent Thai legal advice Brewster and you should be able to confirm this.

I agree that carrying a copy on ones phone is prudent to avoid drama but if you get the wrong cop they'll just demand the original anyway. The law does not require you to have original or copy on you. Period.

I never mentioned the law, just that longtime expats like myself, unlike tourists, should know that carrying a copy of your passport is prudent. I have no desire to have any hassle if stopped, and having to retrieve my passport, or find someone to retrieve it, would be hassle.

I would imagine that this crackdown is linked to the new overstay penalties which come into effect tomorrow. I make sure my passport copy has not only my ID page, but also my Extension of stay stamp.

Fair enough. You did however say "they have to". They don't.

I've lived here 9 years, never carried a copy of my passport (or the original) either in Thailand or in any of the other 50+ countries I've been in.

Nonsense. I have been to more than 50+ countries and some of them demands that you carries your original passport. Some of these countries are so called first world developed countries.

[bazza40]

Beatup. There's nothing unreasonable about being asked to carry a photocopy of the passport and visa.

The last thing I want to carry around is my passport. Nearly 10,000 baht and 6-8 weeks to renew if lost. No way. Arrest me. I'd rather spend a night in the cells than have to take my passport everywhere. So never will, never shall, cuff me.

Completely agree, a passport is a valuable document. A PHOTOCOPY is no big deal. Have you read something into my initial post I am not aware of?

[The Big Mango]

Wheres Somchai , im sure he would end this debacle of a debate and put all us straight as to the rules.

55555

[Wilsonandson]

The Thai's have a credit card sized i.d. If only all countries had these similar i.d cards. I'd carry that everywhere.

[MaeJoMTB]

.

In some countries, you may get away if you can offer the officer or police some cash in exchange for not having your passport with you. And these are not communist countries.

Having your 'papers' with you is a feature of totalitarian governments the world over in modern history.

The flavour of the regime doesn't matter.

The Gestapo or the Stazi, or the KGB bring fear to their citizens with the demand 'papers please'.

It's a slippery slope that many countries have slid down.

PS

At the latest raid at Zoe Yellow in CM, it was original passports only, Thai DL and passport copies not accepted.

Taken to the police station and held until your original passport was presented.

Edited March 19, 2016 by MaeJoMTB

[SoFarAndNear]

In some countries, you may get away if you can offer the officer or police some cash in exchange for not having your passport with you. And these are not communist countries.

Yes and there are countries, I am not mention any names now, where police will demand money even if everything is in order.

[Wilsonandson]

Beatup. There's nothing unreasonable about being asked to carry a photocopy of the passport and visa.

The last thing I want to carry around is my passport. Nearly 10,000 baht and 6-8 weeks to renew if lost. No way. Arrest me. I'd rather spend a night in the cells than have to take my passport everywhere. So never will, never shall, cuff me.

Completely agree, a passport is a valuable document. A PHOTOCOPY is no big deal. Have you read something into my initial post I am not aware of?

Yes, I can't read. 555

[sandrew33]

I think you have not been out of your house before. I traveled frequently and had been to countries in most of the continents of the world. As an alien (as some countries called us), you have to have your original passport with you if the police or immigration officer checks you. Even a copy is not recognize. Otherwise you would be escorted back to the station (until someone brings your passport to the station) or escorted back to the hotel.

In some countries, you may get away if you can offer the officer or police some cash in exchange for not having your passport with you. And these are not communist countries.

Over 50 countries. Never taken my passport out with me anywhere.

You wanna list the countries where you've been required to produce it in the streets?

Perhaps also a photo - you must be the dodgiest looking bloke on earth

Edited March 19, 2016 by sandrew33

[Fairynuff]

C'mon guys.!

Go to any Kodak shop with your passport.

For $3 they will colour copy your passport front page and Visa/Extension, reduce to wallet card size and laminate with one on the front and the other on the obverse.

In less time than it takes you to enjoy a cold frothy.

Do it on the way home from your annual Immi visit - you'll need a coldie by then.

If it costs $3 where you come from, how much would it cost here in Thailand where the local currency is Baht?

[farcanell]

The reason I decided to do the mission tonight is because many entertainment venues which attract foreign tourists are located in these areas. And since many foreigners visit these areas Im afraid some of them might have ill-intentions to be involved in dark business, or even crimes, especially trans-national crime.

This operation also helps to boost confidence between tourists and the security forces, he added.

The biggest pile of horsesh!t I've ever heard.

People who frequent clubs = criminals is what he is saying. Jesus wept

And yet... He also goes on to say that everything was OK.... So if they (BIB) are going to use this tactic to catch international criminals, that's 0 for 1.... In every checkbox...