Pattaya; Australian arrested for carrying fake driving license

[dirtydog]

Australian arrested for carrying fake driving license at Pattaya Police Checkpoint

Five suspected drug dealers and an Australian man in possession of a fake driving license have been arrested by Banglamung Police.

The five drug dealing suspects were caught in two separate drug suppression operations which also led to the seizure of 80 Yabba Tablets and 33.3g of Crystal Methamphetamine.

Mr. Adrian Sunac aged 30 from Australia was caught at a Police Checkpoint and when asked to present a valid driving license, produced a license which appeared to be issued by the United Nations but is in fact a fake document.

We would like to warn foreign drivers who reside in Pattaya that the only licenses which are acceptable under Thai Traffic Laws pertaining to foreign drivers are either Thai Driving Licenses or International Driving Licenses issued by your country of origin which can only be used on a short-term basis.

Australian arrested for carrying fake driving license at Pattaya Police Checkpoint | Pattaya One - Pattaya News, Thailand News, World News, updated 24 hours a day

[aging one]

In reality what percentage of Thai drivers do you think hold a valid drivers license of any kind? I would say for sure less than 50%, thereby nullifying a chance at an insurance claim it would seem. But TIT.

Wow crackdown on the streets.

[boloa]

Your better off saying you left your DL at home and pay the 200 baht fine than used one of those copy licence's.

[aging one]

If one of our mods had been a skin head 20 years ago it would have been him.

[BobR]

This is a good place to ask if anyone knows, how do you get a legitimate international drivers license, is there any such thing?

My California license has expired and the fuckheads will not renew it by mail, which means I'll be screwed when I go home next time. I'm not worried about driving to the DMV with an expired license, but I doubt if Avis in the USA will rent a car to an American with a Thai Driving license.

[Chairman Mao]

Hopefully he'll tell the court that he'll be happy to take the police to where they openly sell them less than 50 meters away from a major police station.

[Rigger]

This is a good place to ask if anyone knows, how do you get a legitimate international drivers license, is there any such thing?

You get one from your country of residence, I have a Oman drivers licence and thai, but when returning to australia I have to get a Oman international license as I no longer hold a Australian license.
To get a international I just pay 25 USD and show a current licences

[Kurgen]

If one of our mods had been a skin head 20 years ago it would have been him.

Still be a bald, old miserable bastard

[SEA Traveler]

This is a good place to ask if anyone knows, how do you get a legitimate international drivers license, is there any such thing?

My California license has expired and the fuckheads will not renew it by mail, which means I'll be screwed when I go home next time. I'm not worried about driving to the DMV with an expired license, but I doubt if Avis in the USA will rent a car to an American with a Thai Driving license.

Get a IDP (International Drivers Permit) from your Thai drivers license issuing office using your Thai drivers license. I have one and so does the spouse. Too easy. No test. Just fill out the form, pay the fee and get the IDP issued to you. Takes an hour or so.

[aging one]

Get a IDP (International Drivers Permit) from your Thai drivers license issuing office using your Thai drivers license. I have one and so does the spouse. Too easy. No test. Just fill out the form, pay the fee and get the IDP issued to you. Takes an hour or so. __________________

Exactly to avert any problems. I have heard the new Thai ones that day Drivers License and your name in English + passport number are now accepted, but cant guarantee that.

I always to and get one. Its 500 baht. Last time with Alamo who I always use they had a book they looked through to see if mine was okay or not. This was on the international one.

Next year I will try to use the Thai one, but pay 500 baht to have the real one as insurance. Hell I must have 10 now.

[Bangyai]

In reality what percentage of Thai drivers do you think hold a valid drivers license of any kind? I would say for sure less than 50%, thereby nullifying a chance at an insurance claim it would seem. But TIT.

You would think so AO but not according to several brokers I have spoken to on the grounds that it the car rather than the driver that is insured. I have been over this with them so many times and always get the same answer which I still find hard to believe.

Either way, knowing insurance companies I would not fancy putting this to the test.

[shaggersback]

My five year ozzie Dl expired this month too ... :-(

Never bothered to get a thai jobbie but looks like I will have to now.
Back to school or just do a test?
If my oz d/l has expired will i have to go through a driving test as well as a written one ?
Ohhhh I hope not. :-(

[superman]

In reality what percentage of Thai drivers do you think hold a valid drivers license of any kind? I would say for sure less than 50%, thereby nullifying a chance at an insurance claim it would seem. But TIT.

You would think so AO but not according to several brokers I have spoken to on the grounds that it the car rather than the driver that is insured. I have been over this with them so many times and always get the same answer which I still find hard to believe.

Either way, knowing insurance companies I would not fancy putting this to the test.

Pick-up trucks are automatically insured 'any driver', maximum 7 persons. A car, SUV etc can be named driver only or any driver. An international licence is only allowed for the first 3 months of ones annual insurance policy. Thereafter a Thai licence must be obtained. That is how my insurance was explained to me.

[nevets]

Police and insurance always OK with my UK drivers licence card .

[Fabian]

My five year ozzie Dl expired this month too ... :-(

Never bothered to get a thai jobbie but looks like I will have to now.
Back to school or just do a test?
If my oz d/l has expired will i have to go through a driving test as well as a written one ?
Ohhhh I hope not. :-(

I am glad that my driving license never expires.

[Maxion]

Police and insurance always OK with my UK drivers licence card .

Cool.
You might not be so happy when during a claim process they ask for a licence thats valid in Thailand. Unless its supported by an international licence its as good as useless.

[socal]

In reality what percentage of Thai drivers do you think hold a valid drivers license of any kind? I would say for sure less than 50%, thereby nullifying a chance at an insurance claim it would seem. But TIT.

Wow crackdown on the streets.

Even with less then 50%, life still goes on.

[socal]

This is a good place to ask if anyone knows, how do you get a legitimate international drivers license, is there any such thing?

My California license has expired and the fuckheads will not renew it by mail, which means I'll be screwed when I go home next time. I'm not worried about driving to the DMV with an expired license, but I doubt if Avis in the USA will rent a car to an American with a Thai Driving license.

A registries office will have an Intl drivers lic. Mine was $15 for 2 years or something. It was cheaper then the fine for not having one, tahts why i got one

[david44]

My five year ozzie Dl expired this month too ... :-(

Never bothered to get a thai jobbie but looks like I will have to now.
Back to school or just do a test?
If my oz d/l has expired will i have to go through a driving test as well as a written one ?
Ohhhh I hope not. :-(

I am glad that my driving license never expires.

So where is that one issued Hamburg?

[Khun Custard]

This is a good place to ask if anyone knows, how do you get a legitimate international drivers license, is there any such thing?

Let me share with you what I experienced today!
OK, I have a valid, one year, Thai licences (car and bike) that are now 9 months old; so the wife and I went to get an Thai international licences for our forthcoming driving holiday/trip.

I have a current Australian licence and I took along 3 previous (expired) International licences issued in SE Asia countries.
You'll also need either your yellow book or go to Immigration to get a Cert. of Residence and your passport as a part of the paper procession.

Off to the Pattaya licence office next to the Regent School, the wife was told we had to go to the Chonburi office (50km's up the track). Arrived at the Chonburi office and wife's Int. licence no probs. 1 hour later and Tb500 all good
( N.B. in most other countries they are usually the equiv. of TB1 to 1.5 k)
BUT because I have not held a Thai licence for more than a year they refused to issue one to me. WTF!!!

On presenting what was a polite and balanced case (the Thai licences, current licences from other countries, 3 expired international licences) and that I have held licences for 35+ years the answer was still no.

When I put the question to the senior officer "how would you like to buy me a TB35k ticket to return to Australia to get the International licence so I can take my family on a holiday" she just shrugged her shoulders in that all too frequently occuring Thai "fuck you falang" gesture and said come back after one year.

So, motoring holiday is now cancelled, wife and kid are miserable.

In reality what percentage of Thai drivers do you think hold a valid drivers license of any kind? I would say for sure less than 50%

Yep, I think your on the money but isn't good to know that Thai's (and Thai expats) driving overseas have validated their driving skills and credentials by such rigerous and appropriate process.. I think not!

[nedwalk]

To get a international I just pay 25 USD and show a current licences

yep i usually do the same pay 25 to the RACQ and get 1, but i think mine has now expired, usually i leave under the seat of her chopper, still does,nt stop the bastards from pulling me up cause i,m a white c@#t

[good2bhappy]

a kao san issue?

[deathstardan]

@KhunCustard.

If you look at the top of your license, there is a green strip that runs across it and it says *Temporary Car * This is for your first, initial licence.

Once this expires, you replace it with a 5 year license. Dark blue strip across it that says *Private car*

As you found out, they will not issue an international permit on a temporary license.

[hazz]

^A rare example of thailand doing a kind thing to the rest of the world. given the stringent nature of the thai driving test and its contribution to reducing the 23,000 RTA deaths a year in thailand. I think we should be grateful that they demand people get a year of practice driving in before being let loose in the real world.

[deathstardan]

^ I couldn't agree more.