How to Deal with Thai Police?

**ftpjtm** · 09-03-2014, 09:54 PM

The most basic of questions compared to most posted here, but after searching 7 pages and not seeing it asked.....

I'm a "newbie" part time expat planning on spending more time in LOS as years go by. I pretty much don't speak any Thai, and wonder how you all deal with being stopped by the Police. My wife is stopped occasionally, sometimes for legitimate reason, other times not. She always makes the problem go away with a few 100 Bhat notes. I was stopped once with my wife in the passenger seat. After a 10 minute argument during which no English was spoken but I was apparently (falsely) accused of driving through a red light, and during which 200 Bhat was passed out the window and then thrown back in with unappreciated disgust, the problem finally went away for the wife-gagging sum of 2000 Bhat.

I regularly pass Police road blocks which I understand are great revenue enhancers for the local PD and wonder how I will fare in my first solo experience with one? Any advice from you long time expats? How do the police deal with non Thai speakers? Assuming that I have done nothing wrong, any suggestions as to the best way to deal with the situation?

**Fluke** · 09-03-2014, 09:59 PM

Always insist on a receipt .

**Albert Shagnastier** · 09-03-2014, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by ftpjtm

How do the police deal with non Thai speakers?

They generally try to charge you more the less language skills you have Vs. the value of the vehicle you're driving.

C=ls2 x VVT (3n2)

In laymans terms, if you look like a sack of shit and are driving a shed - 100bt should be sufficient.

If your step has spring and you push a nice motor 200-500

**Necron99** · 09-03-2014, 10:02 PM

Drive within the law and if stopped and booked, ask for a ticket.
2k is bullshit for a bribe unless you are done DUI.
I have never been jit up by the cps at checkpoints, solo or with the missus.
Usually when I roll the tinted glass down there is a smile and a wave on through past all the thais having their trucks searched.
Staying away from shitholes like patts and downtown bkk might help.

**melvin** · 09-03-2014, 10:07 PM

2000, is quite stiff

what you describe is one of the reasons I try not to drive alone in LoS

have been stopped a few times (without any reason),
I behave in a way most expats would advice you not to do;

I am totally unhelpfull
I don't smile
I'm annoyed
I'm not polite
I'm close to angry
I'm not servile
I don't offer Thai baht

have worked so far, wouldn't recommend it though

**Albert Shagnastier** · 09-03-2014, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Necron99

Usually when I roll the tinted glass down there is a smile and a wave on through

I'm assuming the staff and glowing eyes allow access to the Jedi Mind Trick?

Some proppa "These aren't the droids you're looking for" shit.

Nuff respect

**Albert Shagnastier** · 09-03-2014, 10:14 PM

I must add, if you can get past without stopping - do that.

**ftpjtm** · 09-03-2014, 10:22 PM

Maybe I should add that I'm in Sattahip so I regularly pass by Pattaya on Sukhumvit which has almost daily road blocks.

My 2k adventure took place on the motorway entrance off of Rama I Rd in BKK.

Is it really better to ask for a ticket? I thought that involved spending hours at the local police station and was something most expats go to great lengths to avoid?

**Albert Shagnastier** · 09-03-2014, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by ftpjtm

Is it really better to ask for a ticket? I thought that involved spending hours at the local police station and was something most expats go to great lengths to avoid?

It's not rocket science mate. You can pay a bribe or park your car/go to the police station/pay/your fine/come back/drive off.

**Rural Surin** · 09-03-2014, 10:57 PM

Challenge them straight up...

I've seen this forever. Cowering unnecessarily to the make-believe authority.
If the masses would simply stand their ground and challenge towards those things that are just not right....we might see a change - or, perhaps not.

Knowing these idealistic visions [and actions] might be dangerous. Yet, they're not going to disappear unless the population twist the paradigm.

Fuck Thai policing systems, which fall just shy of a criminal organization [broadly].

**melvin** · 09-03-2014, 11:13 PM

agree with you,

challenge the sods

when they say I'm speeding I stare angrily at them and just say no I'm not speeding

when they say they will give me a fine I just stare into the sky and don't answer
at all

after a few secs they will say again that they will give me a fine
me: no answer
this pisses them off and they will repeat that they will give me a fine
me: no answer

sods: why you not talk

me: why should I talk? you have not asked me anything

sods: we said we will give you a fine

me: silence

sods: piss off

**Albert Shagnastier** · 09-03-2014, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Challenge them straight up...

Ok. This is a pivotal point right here.

If you HAVE done something wrong you are due to pay a fine. Official fines are very very low. However, normally you have to waste a few hours this route. Negotiate.

If you HAVE NOT done anything wrong tell them to get fucked.

**Satonic** · 09-03-2014, 11:34 PM

Don't stop.

Seriously

**Umbuku** · 09-03-2014, 11:39 PM

I have been stopped several times for the farang tax, mostly in Bangkok but twice out on the highways in the country. Never paid more than 400B.

One stop near my home in Bangkok the officer took my drivers license and didn't return it but gave me a ticket instead. Apparently my license plate was positioned too high and for that I would be fined 2000B. My wife called in her brother, a taxi driver, who went to the police station and argued the case for me. He requested I stay home and he handle it alone. He got the fine reduced to 150B and my license back explaining later that if I had gone it would have gone up the chain to higher ranking officers who may have asked for even more money.

**Yasojack** · 09-03-2014, 11:46 PM

never paid anything up here, they stop me see i'm farang i salute them and wave me on.

I have heard if your stupid with them they may radio ahead and you get stopped again, get one of those cameras.

**Bettyboo** · 10-03-2014, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by melvin

2000, is quite stiff

Quite???

I've been stopped twice, both times I was in the wrong, handed over my Thai driving licence with 200 baht attached, got the license back and drove off.

2000???

Get a Thai license, get a small transparent pouch, put 200 baht visibly behind your license; only give it if you have done something wrong or in a hurry...

**Yasojack** · 10-03-2014, 12:17 AM

Ye run the B'stards down.

Originally Posted by Satonic

Don't stop.

Seriously

**ftpjtm** · 10-03-2014, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Satonic

Don't stop.

Seriously

I here on the English language news reports of the various Foreigners who were stopped at a Police roadblock because they looked suspicious and sure enough illegal drugs were located in the car.

I am a bit nervous about "challenging" these guys, wondering what they may "find" in my car!

Glad to hear that the 2k was over the top, it could get pricey if fines like that are the norm for farangs. My wife really doesn't know, she has been out of LOS for so many years a lot of times it's me showing her around!

**Thormaturge** · 10-03-2014, 11:10 AM

Carry a wad of hundred Baht notes. The last time I was stopped the cop hinted that the "fine" was usually ThB 700 but I would be let off for ThB 500. I only had a thousand Baht note and...you guessed it...back came ThB 300.

Going by AS post No 3 .. I was driving a near-new Camry and wearing a shirt and tie.

Expat forums are full of jaded foreigners who stood up for their rights and are now either back in their home country or getting stopped weekly to "teach them a lesson". I get stopped around once a year, pay up, smile and thank them for drawing my attention to my excess speed/the bus lane/ some obscure rule which I was hitherto unaware of. They thankfully don't "get" sarcasm.

**Pragmatic** · 10-03-2014, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by ftpjtm

I was apparently (falsely) accused of driving through a red light

Buy a "dash-cam' and tell them to stick their trumped up fines, if you're sure they're in the wrong.

**Pragmatic** · 10-03-2014, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by ftpjtm

I am a bit nervous about "challenging" these guys, wondering what they may "find" in my car!

You either listened to the wrong people or you've seen too many movies.

**Pragmatic** · 10-03-2014, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

If you HAVE NOT done anything wrong tell them to get fucked.

Ditto.

**leemo** · 10-03-2014, 11:37 AM

I keep 100 in the cup holder by the driver window, and when stopped simply flick it open as the window slides down. Worked once, cop relieved the note, smiled and waved me on.

I also put 100 in the little thingy for tools under the bike seat, which is so convenient I think Honda designed it specially for farangs in Thailand, and when stopped I lurch forward instead of getting off the bike, and open and lift the seat for officer to rummage. The money vanished twice, which means two less racist hassles.

**Lantern** · 10-03-2014, 11:38 AM

Only ever been stopped once and it was on my first trip in 2006.
Roadblock in Karon, cop flagged me down and asked for licence, handed over my Australian one. He then noticed I was wearing a Thai King pendant around my neck.
He proceeded to stroke the pendant whilst making some sort of coooing noise.
After a second or two he waved me on.

Always wear it now when riding in LOS.

**9999** · 10-03-2014, 11:50 AM

If you done something wrong you should just pay, not sure about this 2K business seems way over the top almost unbelievable. If you done nothing wrong and get pulled over, just wind down your window and make sure you are seen adjusting your dash cam / smart phone or w/e.

I'm not sure about this tough man aggression towards Thai cops. It might work 20 times without fail, but the time it doesn't might not be worth all of that.

Out here in the sticks where they have roadblocks due to the drug trade, not many cops speak english. It's generally a mistake to bust out your bestest Thai with the police. I usually smile and give a salute, feign no undertand Thai, and get waved on.

Only time I was ever stopped and searched was when I was splitting visa run costs with this ex-army Israeli. The guy was a total prick, we were appraoching the army checkpoint outside Mae Sai, where they are pretty serious, constantly catching Burmese trying sneak in (I saw a fake monk pulled off a bus once trying to get through). So this jew who is forever speaking ill f Thais, started ranting how the Thai army are not a real army. When we reached the checkpoint the jew gives the army a disdainful glare. Next thing we are ordered out of the car and patted down with guys sporting M-16's, as one of the drive the car up the ramps and gave it the full work over.

Lucky to as I often carry a bit of spliff on these lonley border run road trips but didn't have any on this occasion. I must have passed the checkpoints between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai 100 times and that's the only time I ever been pulled over.

The only time I was ever attempted to pay road tax was after the mountains coming from the North into the Northeast (leoi). This cop signalled me over from miles away. I wasn't wearing a seatbelt but he couldn't possible have seen. I forgot about the seat belt and pulled over, when he saw, he said he was pulling me over and fining for no seat belt. Fair enough. The Mrs said he must have eagle eyes, we all had a laugh, coughed up the 200 bt, he put it in his pocket and we drove off.

In Chiang Mai city I've been done for no seat belt, no motorbike helmet, and only ever issued official fines, handed over licence, and paid at cop shop to retreive licence.

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