Police Roadside check at Market Village

[Bernard]

You will probably have seen my post a few minutes ago regarding the issue of my Thai driving licences. Quite ironically, I was stopped at the checkpoint set up on the Southbound lane near Market Village at about 12.15 today, whilst travelling to the Licence Dept ! I showed the officer my UK driving licence and my girlfriend explained that we were on our way to get a Thai licence but he just wasn't interested. Gave him something for the tea fund and he smiled and sent me on my way.

Can I assume that when stopped in future my Thai licence will allow me FREE passage ?

[GLCQuantum]

Can I assume that when stopped in future my Thai licence will allow me FREE passage ?

You are entitled to assume that, yes.

[Terry]

As long as they don't want to book you for some other matter - generally yes!

[buksida]

Unless they want to fine you for your helmet being the wrong colour or your rego sticker being in the wrong place ....

Ahh - Terry you beat me!

[Terry]

I was also going to add that it all depends on what you are driving

Motorcy without helmet - definitely

Pickup truck with or without seatbelt - highly likely

Normal motor car - unlikely

Benz - never in a million years

Chances also increase towards the end of the month - before pay day

[johnnyk]

I got stopped just north of MV on a motorbike last Feb. I was wearing a helmet and had a valid Int'l Drivers License. He looked at it, I spoke a few words of my tiny Thai vocab, he complimented me, smiled and told me "no pompem".
It was a pleasant surprise as I was quite prepared to be hit up for 200 baht.

[MrPlum]

It's been three years since I was last stopped and fined. Now I'm stopped and allowed to move on. Holding a Thai driving licence, keeping the helmet on and being polite seem to be the key. Prior to that it was getting tedious. Some roads were becoming like Toll Roads.

[Takiap]

I was also going to add that it all depends on what you are driving

Motorcy without helmet - definitely

That's what I thought, but watching the Thais, I've discovered otherwise. When you spot them up ahead, you simply turn around and head back in the other direction, against the flow of traffic of course.


Pickup truck with or without seatbelt - highly likely

Agree. I have heard you are not actually allowed to transport anything on the back of a pickup unless you have green plates, so if this is the case, most pickups make for an easy target.


Normal motor car - unlikely

If the windows are tinted enough to prevent them from seeing there's an ATM behind the whee.


Benz - never in a million years

True - I've never seen one being stopped yet.


Chances also increase towards the end of the month - before pay day

Definitely true, but this just makes living here that bit more enjoyable. After all, we're not talking very hefty fines anyway.

[Super Joe]

And don't forget the other side of the coin... nothing for speeding 99% of the time... tea money instead of court for drink driving... compensation instead of jail should you wrecklessly maim someone... etc.

We all do/would take advantage of the corrupt system when it suits us, so just view these small ones as coupons we're collecting.

In so many ways over here we really wouldn't like them doing their jobs properly.

SJ

[Lung Per]

And don't forget the other side of the coin... nothing for speeding 99% of the time... tea money instead of court for drink driving... compensation instead of jail should you wrecklessly maim someone... etc.

We all do/would take advantage of the corrupt system when it suits us, so just view these small ones as coupons we're collecting.

In so many ways over here we really wouldn't like them doing their jobs properly.

SJ

I disagree. If they did their job properly far more than half of the Thais should be taken off the roads for traffic violations, starting with no drivers license, no helmets, too many on a scooter, driving in the wrong side of the road, drunk driving, speeding, etc. etc. ect. thus making driving for the rest more safe. That would really clear the roads.
Iknow, whishful thinking!

[Super Joe]

I'm sure they'd be able to adapt to whatever was required to keep motoring, nice thought though Lung

The overriding positive of proper enforcement ofcourse would be the drastic reduction in lives lost, which I guess trumps the fact that half my spending money would suddenely have to be diverted to late night taxis

SJ

[Takiap]

And don't forget the other side of the coin... nothing for speeding 99% of the time... tea money instead of court for drink driving... compensation instead of jail should you wrecklessly maim someone... etc.

We all do/would take advantage of the corrupt system when it suits us, so just view these small ones as coupons we're collecting.

In so many ways over here we really wouldn't like them doing their jobs properly.

SJ

Unlike LP, I agree with you SJ, and I for one like things just the way they are. If I wanted western standards, I'd be living in the west. These days I actually prefer driving in Thailand, and I honestly can't remember when last I got annoyed on the roads here.

[Dannie Boy]

And don't forget the other side of the coin... nothing for speeding 99% of the time... tea money instead of court for drink driving... compensation instead of jail should you wrecklessly maim someone... etc.

We all do/would take advantage of the corrupt system when it suits us, so just view these small ones as coupons we're collecting.

In so many ways over here we really wouldn't like them doing their jobs properly.

SJ

Unlike LP, I agree with you SJ, and I for one like things just the way they are. If I wanted western standards, I'd be living in the west. These days I actually prefer driving in Thailand, and I honestly can't remember when last I got annoyed on the roads here.

But surely it's not a good idea to be encouraging the police and all of us to be turning a blind eye to drunk driving? I don't want to be a victim of somebody who has drunk 6-8 beers, whether it is here or in the west, but to say if you want western standards then don't live here is not the answer, well certainly not by my standards. What would you think if a drunk driver ploughed into you and killed one of your children?

[Takiap]

Dannie Boy, the original post was actually about licenses, rather than about drinking and driving. Thailand does actually have drink driving laws in place, but like so many other things, they're not enforced. All I'm saying is, if you feel threatened on the roads here, then you really do only have two options, irrespective of whether you think they're right or wrong. You can either stay off the roads, or else you can live elsewhere.


Maybe not the right answer in your mind, but it's just the way it is. One only needs to be in the country for a few days to see how it works here, so in my opinion, anyone that has decided to come and live here, has done so knowing what it's like.

Of course I don't want to be a victim of a drunk driver, but drinking and driving happens here, and it's not going to stop just because 5% of the population want it to. Even the police drink and drive, so again, you have to decide whether or not living here is worth the risk.

[Dannie Boy]

Dannie Boy, the original post was actually about licenses, rather than about drinking and driving. Thailand does actually have drink driving laws in place, but like so many other things, they're not enforced. All I'm saying is, if you feel threatened on the roads here, then you really do only have two options, irrespective of whether you think they're right or wrong. You can either stay off the roads, or else you can live elsewhere.


Maybe not the right answer in your mind, but it's just the way it is. One only needs to be in the country for a few days to see how it works here, so in my opinion, anyone that has decided to come and live here, has done so knowing what it's like.

Of course I don't want to be a victim of a drunk driver, but drinking and driving happens here, and it's not going to stop just because 5% of the population want it to. Even the police drink and drive, so again, you have to decide whether or not living here is worth the risk.

Takiap, the original quote may have been about licences but then SJ said that one of the advantages of living here was that you could get away with all and sundry including drunk driving by giving the BIB "tea money". LP was against that principle, you said you agreed - all I said was that I didn't and wouldn't encourage such actions even though there is probably no chance of changing the culture. I live here so have accepted what the dangers are, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it!!