Police 'fines'

[KelpieKiss]

I always rent a motorbike when I'm in Hua Hin and regularly ride without money, passport or driving lcence. (Always wearing my helmet)

I've been fortunate not to have been stopped by the MIB. What would happen to me (hypothetically) if I was stopped at a checkpoint.

Depends on the policeman who stops you but life would definitely be made easier if you weren't driving around with nothing on you. Out of all the items to carry, you should always have some money in your pocket. Why are you riding about without money anyway?

[Governor]

In many places, though I'm not sure in Hua Hin, the officer will retain your bike, chaining it up, until you have paid the fine and/or complied with the law.

You are supposed to carry your passport with you at all times though it isn't always practical so a copy of all the relevant pages will usually suffice.

[barrys]

I had my passport ID page copied onto a laminated card (credit card size), with the visa details copied onto the other side.

Very easy to carry in your wallet and so far accepted wherever I've had need to present it.

[Big Boy]

Norseman wrote:

Try hiring a car from Budget Car Rental here in Hua Hin with a Thai driver license!!

My son-in-law doesn't have any problem, although he was backed by my credit card, and for some stange reason (I wasn't going to drive the vehicle) a photocopy of my driving licence.

[Norseman]

I think it's because your farang name in your Thai driver license has been translated to the nearest possible phonetic spelling and they don't want to spell it wrong in their booking system.
Had to bring my good old readable license before Budget would rent me a pickup.

[margaretcarnes]

Come on Norseman! With respect, none of us REALLy learn to drive until we've passed the test and are out on our own (and stuck at a junction waiting for someone to tell us when its ok to go!)
I still remember that first solo flight vividly, and its over 40 years ago now, when we had the little red books even

[Norseman]

I second that completely Margaret, but a farang test is a bit tougher than the Thai test which in my view is not a test at all.

[Terry]

I have contributed a fair amount to the BIB pension fund in my time - however - there are a few basic things that I think should be said.

1) Yes - Thai driving standards are amongst the worst on the planet, but it is still a legal requirement to posess a driving licence.
2) The fact that the Thai driving test is a joke when compared to those elswhere in say Europe, U.S. and Oz is still no reason why, as a foreigner, you have no need to comply with the local Law.
3) In your native land in Europe, U.S. or Oz - how would you feel about - say - a Thai person not posessing a licence (and hence being not insured) having an accident and causing you or a loved one personal injury.

What I'm saying is simply - why stoop to the same level of indifference to the law.

We know the BIB are as corrupt as hell, but that plus the ineffectiveness of any driving tuition amongst the locals does not mean that we as foreigners should believe we can do just as we please.

It's simple - if you are living here - get a licence it's easy.
You will find that you may well end up paying less in fines!

[Takiap]

Sorry guys but the farang is not always blamed. A mate of mine, Kevin Hall, had a minor accident with a Thai from Bangkok while living in Takiap. Kevin called the BIB and when they showed up they spoke to both parties before telling the Thai to pay a few thousand baht to Kevin. As all of us who live here should know, it all depends on the officer at the time.

On a different note, I don't have a bike licence but want to get one. I'm here on a multi O visa so can I still get one? If so, could someone please put in simple steps what I need to do?

Cheers and I'll leave feedback once I've gone through it.

[Chas]

I will post here and in the forum I started on this topic too.. .I am still trying to get my Thai driving licence renewed!

I got the doctor's certificate and copied my passport. No prob.

Then, last week the spouse and I started trying for the police document/ proof of residence. We actually live in Cha Am but the Hua Hin police station is closer and we were in town so we popped in.

No problem said the nice policeman at the desk with a smile ( this IS the land of smiles) and the amount you must give me to do it is 1000 baht. He was right up front about it too. No dancing around. He gave us a choice of doing it the easy way or the hard way. My spouse said we wanted to do it the RIGHT way and after a long, friendly conversation, we walked out without the paper.

Next stop, the "correct" police station in Cha am and I will probably get stuck paying the 1000 baht bribe. I plan to take a day next week to see how far I can get with it.

The whole thing is that we did NOT need any proof of residence when I got the original license a year ago. Why is the renewal more difficult than getting the original license?

On an interesting side note: when processing the license last year, at the very end after all the testing was done, they were going to give me a motorcycle license. However, I do not know how to drive a motorcycle and I was amazed at how close I came to getting a license to do so anyway!

[chelsea]

3) In your native land in Europe, U.S. or Oz - how would you feel about - say - a Thai person not posessing a licence (and hence being not insured) having an accident and causing you or a loved one personal injury.

Terry I agree 100% with what you said above, if you come on a holiday to Australia you are legally required to posess an international licence and as far as I know is only valid for 3 months. If you are here any longer you have to get a local licence from the state where you live. If you leave it any longer and get caught you will get done for unlicencesed driving and also your insurance is invalid. So if you have an accident you will have to pay for both parties.

This 3 months situation also applies to locals. If you move interstate you have 3 months to change you licence to the state where you are living full time. If you do not the same situation applies to them. I know that 1st hand as it happened to me and was very close to being locked up one day for unlicenced driving.

I would imagine that the same applies to anyone that is living in Thailand on a full time basis. I do not see what the problem is, with getting a local licence and save all the hassels with the local police. I would imagine that the same applies over there that if you do not have a vailid licence, you are an unlicenced drive and therefore your insurance will be invalid.

Basically those without a valid licence are no better than the rest of the country that drives around unlicenced.

Also here, to open bank accounts etc you need some form of photo ID to pass the 100point ID requirement and bacically other than a passport, your drivers licence is the only other thing that has a photo on it to ID you.

If it is a legal requirement, what is the problem with doing it, it is better to be on the right side of the law than the wrong side, it can save a lot of heartache farther down the track.

[Big Boy]

Terry wrote:

3) In your native land in Europe, U.S. or Oz - how would you feel about - say - a Thai person not posessing a licence (and hence being not insured) having an accident and causing you or a loved one personal injury.

This situation is becoming the norm in the UK as a result of the UK making the test increasingly hard to pass.

I know dozens of Thais who make their annual pilgrimage to Thailand for the purpose of renewing their international licence. The insurance companies here will insure for one year only on the basis of an international licence, but these people simply move their insurance each year. Fortunately, I don't know any who have had an accident so far - if they did, I don't think the insurance company would be dumb enough not to investigate properly, and they'd refuse to pay.

I must add that I do know several Thais (my wife included) who have legitimately passed their UK test.

[margaretcarnes]

Not sure I fully agree with Big Boys thoughts that the UK test is increasingly hard to pass, therefore causing more people to drive without a licence?
Its certainly different now, with the written test (maybe that causes a lot of problems!) But I think a lot of people simply can't afford the lessons and test these days. You could argue that if people can afford a car they can also afford to pass the test, but try telling that to the many who need a licence in order to apply for the jobs for which it is essential.
Then there are the ones who don't give a youknow for others and nick cars for joy riding, or just carry on driving anyway when banned.
6 dead down South just last Friday due to a maniac who had already had DD convictions.
Making the test 'harder' isn't an answer. Enforcing the law is, wherever you live.

[Name Taken]

When they wave at you I normally wave back and keep driving unless they are right in front of me blocking the road .It works most of the time but has backfired once recently .I kept going at a steady speed 50km at most .A policeman further up the road that I had not seen jumped into the road so close to the car that I had to swerve round him ,even at that speed I could not have stopped .He threw his little rule book at the car and dived into the bush he had just come out of .I glanced round and saw that he was ok and kept going until I got to a brightly lit and populated area .I then stopped and let them catch me up .Told them some cock and bull story about not knowing they were police (men in black jackets at night loitering in an unlit soi? I had a point I feel) 1000 baht .Worth it to see the guy with the leaves in his messed up hair .The same guy has pulled me since.I stopped this time, and he really gave me a talking to in front of his officers in order to regain face .A few wais and Na khrups and he sent me on my way with no fine .He also clearly told me that next time he stops me he expects me to pay something for whatever I have done wrong .He did it with a friendly smile .

Put it into perspective .

Whilst not drunk I was certainly over the limit .
No Licence international or otherwise on me .
No passport with me .
By the time they had all made statements it would have read that I swerved round a roadblock and almost ran over an officer of the law then made an attempt to flee .

What would have happened in England ?

I think I will stop and give him his tea money in future .

Mind you if I'm on the motorbike ?



Crazy88

[Big Boy]

Not sure I fully agree with Big Boys thoughts that the UK test is increasingly hard to pass, therefore causing more people to drive without a licence?
Its certainly different now, with the written test (maybe that causes a lot of problems!) But I think a lot of people simply can't afford the lessons and test these days. You could argue that if people can afford a car they can also afford to pass the test, but try telling that to the many who need a licence in order to apply for the jobs for which it is essential.
Then there are the ones who don't give a youknow for others and nick cars for joy riding, or just carry on driving anyway when banned.
6 dead down South just last Friday due to a maniac who had already had DD convictions.
Making the test 'harder' isn't an answer. Enforcing the law is, wherever you live.

Margaret, are you in touch with any Thai (or other non-British) residents in the UK? This is a genuine problem in the Bristol area, and I also know several that have taken the Thai International route in the London area as well.

Its the easy way out - nearly every one of them have started driving with their International licence while they learn to drive properly in the UK unfortunately most of them pick up so many bad habits that they never manage to pass their UK test. Having started, they continue - unfortunately, if they have an accident, their insurance will be invalid.

To my mind this is a stupid loophole that is putting us all at risk. Its just as bad as what was suggested in another thread recently - take a Thai with you to interpret and give the right answers just to get a licence that you couldn't get yourself. If you're not good enough/fit enough then don't do it - you are dangerous