On The Spot Fine

[Bernard]

Did a U Turn on my motorbike in Petchakesem Road yesterday and was stopped by a motorbike Police Officer. I have no complaints as I saw the sign but decided to do a U turn because the road was absolutely clear.

The officer explained in broken English why he had stopped me and I then offered to add someing to the tea fund. He would have none of it and asked me to follow him back to the Police Cabin at the traffic lights where he gave me a ticket for 400 Baht. I paid the fine and then to my surprise the officer told me to follow him again whereupon he took me back to Starbucks via a shortcut.

Throughout the entire procedure the guy was as pleasant as anyone could be and I have to say has restored my confidence in the police.

[Big Boy]

What sign did you see? I didn't realise U Turns were illegal here.

[dtaai-maai]

They are at traffic lights. The signs are similar to what you were used to in the UK.

[Big Boy]

You're probably right, but which particular sign did he see?

[jimmy40]

I got the same last year, He didn't get me on the spot but found me in the binterbaht area in about 10 minutes, on the spot fine [tea money] 500 baht

[Big Boy]

OK, so what sign did you ignore?

[PeteC]

They're usually something like below. of course pointing the other way here. Pete

images.jpg (8.37 KiB) Viewed 854 times

[Big Boy]

I must admit, that was the last thing I was expecting to see. OK, now I understand why Bernard had no complaints. 400/500 Baht, I wonder what such an offence would have cost in our home countries. Why do people think they are above the law here?

[PeteC]

I must admit, that was the last thing I was expecting to see. OK, now I understand why Bernard had no complaints. 400/500 Baht, I wonder what such an offence would have cost in our home countries. Why do people think they are above the law here?

Honestly speaking, it gets quite easy to follow what most of the Thai drivers do. Human nature I guess, since "setting a good example" usually falls on deaf ears and blind eyes.

Another example, left turn on red OK if nothing coming. Something is coming but the drivers behind you are landing on their horn and want you to squeeze in between cars with the right of way. Pete

[playboy]

I got fine $150 for not stop at stop sign in Los Angeles! in bicycle........

[Takiap]

I must admit, that was the last thing I was expecting to see. OK, now I understand why Bernard had no complaints. 400/500 Baht, I wonder what such an offence would have cost in our home countries. Why do people think they are above the law here?

As Pete says BB, I guess it's just human nature. Besides, as people always point out here on the forum, we are only guests in Thailand, and should therefor fit in and do as the Thai's do.


Jokes aside, traffic laws don't and can't work here as they do in the west. Try staying two seconds behind the car in front of you for example - you might just as well stop and turn of the motor. The same applies to getting across a busy road. If you wait for someone to stop and give you a chance, you'll never get across.


One also needs to remember that the police, when they finish shift, are just regular road users as well, and they too do U-turns where they're not meant to, and etc.

[Big Boy]

You're probably right. I'm a driver of very limited experience here. Not through choice - my car is overdue, and whenever I try to hire a car, there are either none available, or available at extortionate prices.

Maybe, if I get to be a regular road user, I'll get off my high horse. However, when I have driven here, it does seems quite easy to drive by UK standards.

[Pleng]

Did a U Turn on my motorbike in Petchakesem Road yesterday and was stopped by a motorbike Police Officer. I have no complaints as I saw the sign but decided to do a U turn because the road was absolutely clear.

The officer explained in broken English why he had stopped me and I then offered to add someing to the tea fund. He would have none of it and asked me to follow him back to the Police Cabin at the traffic lights where he gave me a ticket for 400 Baht. I paid the fine and then to my surprise the officer told me to follow him again whereupon he took me back to Starbucks via a shortcut.

I presume you had at some point told the officer that's where you were going? Or was it a date?

As other's have mentioned it's easy to slip into Thai ways but there's really no need to be u-turning at traffic lights off the highway. If you turn left or right there's always a uturn very shortly after the lights to get you back in the direction you need to be heading.

And doing a naughty manoeuvre directly in front of the police cabin? Silly boy! :p

[Bernard]

I presume you had at some point told the officer that's where you were going? Or was it a date?

As other's have mentioned it's easy to slip into Thai ways but there's really no need to be u-turning at traffic lights off the highway. If you turn left or right there's always a uturn very shortly after the lights to get you back in the direction you need to be heading.

And doing a naughty manoeuvre directly in front of the police cabin? Silly boy! :p

No it wasn't a date, god forbid! I had reached Starbucks by the time he caught up with me so he knew I was going for coffee.

I would also like to say that I have held my hands up here and admitted that I was in the wrong in my original post......or if I didn't then I do so now.

[margaretcarnes]

Bernard hasn't actually said that he did a U turn at traffic lights - only that the Cop asked him to accompany him BACK to the police box at the traffic lights. So we don't know whereabouts on Petkhasem the incident happened.
But after all the complaints about accidents outside MV for example I don't think it's unreasonable for drivers to observe such simple rules of the road.
OK - many Thai drivers ignore them at their peril, and at the peril of other road users, and I do agree it's easy to slip into Thai ways. But as with the drink driving issue it would be good to think that expats at least have some common sense and consideration, even if Thais often don't.