Had my pickup searched today

[slackula]

For those who know Phuket up here in Cherng Talay if heading South towards the Police box the is a small soi just before the TOA hardware shop after PTT that connects with Patak road.

So I'm going along that and there is a little checkpoint with 4 cops who waved me over. I started to reach for my licence but they asked me where I was going (Vachira hospital to visit a friend) and said they wanted to search the car.

OK, no problem. They went through the glove box, the cubby box between the front seats, checked under the seats and then they noticed my cigarettes and lighter and made a bit of a show about testing the lighter, then searched the little bag that I carry when driving where I keep my passport and small change etc, went through my wallet and then looked into all the wheel arches. They asked me to watch them conduct the search.

They noticed I don't have licence plate on the back (it fell off about two years ago) so I just said that I am waiting for the finance company to get me a new one, they were OK with that and then they all saluted and waved me on my way.

Never had anything like this happen before, normally it's just show licence and off I go.

It's a sleepy little soi with a few sparse Thai households and a largeish wood warehouse and I seldom drive down it so I don't think they were waiting for me in particular. They didn't check my passport or my licence at all, it was rather strange.

Anybody have any ideas what it might be about?

[daveboy]

Maybe they were looking for contraband.

[chassamui]

Looking for Ocker Rocker's body parts?

[Marmite the Dog]

I've had them ask me to open my glove box before. Luckily I had hid the 20kgs of ya ba in the centre console bin...

[wasabi]

They probably did the same with every other vehicle.

[shaggersback]

I saw them there today also. Soi 8 prasart.
Never seen them set up there before either , but the bib have been busy around cherngtalay the last few days. I passed them on the bike as they were searching another bike and let me pass.
Unusual , its all rubber tree plantation .

[wasabi]

Insurgents around!

[kingwilly]

I had a similar random search in bangkok. I think they were looking for drugs

[Boon Mee]

^
& money.

That time of the month to pay the mia noi's apt rent...

[Ratchaburi]

Some times they are given information by informant, about some one moving drugs through a area.
Then they more the drug a different direction.

[Brown Sugar]

This happens on a regular basis in the area in which I live (Nakhon Sawan), including what appear to be random check points on rural back roads, usually no real problem. Asked my local 'friendly cop' why they do this he said looking for drugs and illegal work immigrants from Burma (bit big to go in the glove box). However what I have noticed is that they appear for some reason to concentrate on pickup trucks and motorcycles cars are usually just waved through with a quick salute and 'have a nice day'. Don't know but maybe it is because I have a local number plate on my car?

[slackula]

I think they were looking for drugs

That was the first thought that crossed my mind. After I got out of sight of them I pulled over and went through the car to try to make sure nothing had been stashed by them during the search.

Never seen them set up there before either , but the bib have been busy around cherngtalay the last few days. I passed them on the bike as they were searching another bike and let me pass.

They do seem to have been more active than usual lately, I wonder if people have started using Soi 8 to nip around the back of the police station and avoid where the checkpoints are usually set up.

It was all very cordial and polite though. The thing that struck me as odd was that they didn't want to even glance at my licence.

[Dillinger]

made a bit of a show about testing the lighter

they were checking for a low flame on your lighter, maybe you look like a crackhead

[somtamslap]

I saw them there today also.

Location: Surin

GIVE ME SIGHT BEYOND SIGHT!

[stickmansucks]

Happens all the time in Bkk and it is a bit scary that the monkeys could plant something in the car so it is better to record them doing their monkey job with your phone.

[slackula]

Happens all the time in Bkk and it is a bit scary that the monkeys could plant something in the car so it is better to record them doing their monkey job with your phone

I lived in Bkk for over 5 years before moving down to Phuket and the only time I can remember getting pulled over was for driving a new car with a red plate after dark.

I get pulled over fairly frequently here, but until yesterday it has always been just to check my licence and the insurance sticker. Oh, and I got breathalysed one Songkran at 10 am!!!

Perhaps they thought I was Texpat.

[Looper]

I was searched last year in Patong.

I was carrying Sisaket Girlie on the back and the cops opened the luggage box and pulled out a silver necklace I had bought for Crazy Chinese GF back home. Of course Sisaket Girlie clocked it so I had to smile and pretend it was a surprise present for her.

Oh well a trip back to the jewellery stall for another necklace the next day

[shaggersback]

I saw them there today also.

Location: Surin

GIVE ME SIGHT BEYOND SIGHT!

Lol , I can't help it if these guys can't locate me. I do move between ZSurin and Phuket a lot tho.
Currently Slappy , I AM in Phuket.
. On a more serious note , why can't I post pics from my ph.
. FOking Lumia.

[nedkellylives]

A neighbor of mine had his vehicle searched as well, he had been smoking pot in his car before he was stopped, lucky he had none left

[the dogcatcher]

Got stopped on the way back from Cambodia.
They found 10,000 cigarettes.
Lucky I was an Arsenal fan.

[Mr Earl]

Aren't there search rules here? What if you said no to a search?

Once heading north on my big red moto, stopped at a police checkpoint and was asked where I was going? I said I didn't know. The police man got very irritated, like I had to know where I was going. I honestly didn't know where I would end up that day.
Now I always declare a destination.

[nedkellylives]

Aren't there search rules here? What if you said no to a search?

Once heading north on my big red moto, stopped at a police checkpoint and was asked where I was going? I said I didn't know. The police man got very irritated, like I had to know where I was going. I honestly didn't know where I would end up that day.
Now I always declare a destination.

We always get asked where we are going at roadblocks outside of Phuket and tell them where we are heading for, last trip heading out Chang Mai and heading back Phuket, they do not want to know your exact destination on the day they pull you over