Thread: Tourists: Don't hand your passport to tour companies in Thailand

Tourists:

Don't hand your passport to tour companies in Thailand
Jul 26, 2013



It's illegal for tour operators in Thailand to hold tourists Passport. Passports cannot be handed over to third parties.

Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak has blankly called for an end to the age-old Phuket practice of foreigners’ passports being held as a condition of renting motorbikes, cars and jet-skis

“Because passports are the properties of the governments that issue them, those who seize them – for any reason – are in fact seizing the property of a foreign government.

Minister Somsak suggested temporary drivers’ licenses be issued to visitors as a substitute. These would require the renter to prove that he or she already has a valid license in their own country.

“If the individual forgets to bring their home-country driver’s license, or they do not have one, they would have to contact the Land Transportation Office, which would be able to providing a temporary license within four hours of testing the person’s driving skills,” he said.

Minister Somsak did not elaborate on the practice of law-enforcement agencies confiscating passports of tourists while conducting investigations.

Department of Special Investigations (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith, accompanying Minister Somsak on his visit to Phuket this week, offered a counter-suggestion.

“Vehicle-rental operators should accept a signed copy of the customer’s passport* instead. This means we could still coordinate with Immigration Police if the renter does not return the vehicle or seriously damages it, and then tries to escape from Thailand. Immigration might refuse them permission to leave until the case is settled,” he said.

But DSI Chief Tarit also issued a clear warning: “Regardless of whatever measures are taken to facilitate Phuket’s tourism industry being cleaned up, after we have established our Organized Crime Center for Tourism [story here], we will crack down on all illegal businesses – including dodgy vehicle-rental operators, illegal taxis and other law-breakers.”

“We know of 59 businesses – including 13 in Phuket – that have used nominees [so they could be legally registered as companies], and we are conducting special investigations into these. We have taken legal action against 14 businesses already and are working through the list,” he added.

“Concerning organized crime in Phuket, this is my last warning – you have 15 days to legalize your activities. After that, we will clean up the entire island,” Mr Tarit warned.

DSI chief Tarit also levelled his warning at corrupt officials in Phuket.

“If we learn that local government officials have been involved, they will not be exempt from the full force of the law,” he said.

eturbonews.com

“Concerning organized crime in Phuket, this is my last warning – you have 15 days to legalize your activities. After that, we will clean up the entire island,” Mr Tarit warned.

It is laughable what a goat the fella is.

It's fvcking embarrasing, I know I cvnt spell, but at least I can think. And he's in charge of an economy whereas I'm only in charge of a family.

Dumb n dumber look like PHD students compared to this lot.

somsak is a dreamer -- a provisional license and test in 4 hours.

Surely he is aware that testing occurs using the students vehicle, however the student cannot rent a vehicle without the licence.

besides a provisional licence means nothing if you cack up or abscond with the bike. They don't take your passport to prove you can drive, they take it to make sure you pay.

A credit card is required for the owners security, but that would require a merchant account and tax on income declared, and that most certainly ain't gonna happen.

good picture of him though.

The passport thing is a joke anyway, so you damage a jet ski or some monkey claims you did, just go to your embassy, tell them what happened and they'll give you a new one, or at least travel papers to get home. It's a pain in the ass, but I would prefer to do that than accept being extorted.

Originally Posted by Bung

Tourists should be required to show they have a motorcycle license from their own countries before being allowed to rent one here.

Simply to show that they can in fact, ride a motorcycle.

If they cannot show police they have one when stopped and checked, the renters should be fined.

Quite simple but that will never happen. It would go a long way in preventing deaths.

Yes, it would prevent deaths, but that type of Government interference would also go a long way towards making Thailand more like the shit holes we left to come here. If you can drive a car, you can ride a motorcycle, special licenses are silly anyway.
If someone is riding a bike for the first time and is too stupid to putt around the side streets until he gets the feel of the bike, then he's a Darwin candidate who needs to be removed from the gene pool.

Originally Posted by Mid

“If the individual forgets to bring their home-country driver’s license, or they do not have one, they would have to contact the Land Transportation Office, which would be able to providing a temporary license within four hours of testing the person’s driving skills,” he said.

nice little earner

Originally Posted by BobR

If you can drive a car, you can ride a motorcycle,

Not .....

When I rented a bike in Pattaya, I handed them my British Club Football team card. It looked very official and they snapped it up like a shot.

I'm damned if I'm gonna hand my passport over to anybody

Originally Posted by BobR

...If someone is riding a bike for the first time and is too stupid to putt around the side streets until he gets the feel of the bike, then he's a Darwin candidate who needs to be removed from the gene pool.

Yep, a candidate for self-removal, but as too often happens such creatures make their existence known by taking down others.

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by BobR

If you can drive a car, you can ride a motorcycle,

Not .....

In the UK if you have a full car licence you can ride a motorbike up to 125 cc on L plates.
Doesn't mean you can actually ride a motorbike though.

In Oz you don't even need the car licence just apply for the motor bike "L's" .

Not really related to my statement though .

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by BobR

If you can drive a car, you can ride a motorcycle,

Not .....

I probably should have worded it better; a big bike no but anyone can ride a Honda Wave, a Fino or similar small bike.

Yes, the big bike rentals should either be gone or require a motorcycle license.

Originally Posted by Mid

In Oz you don't even need the car licence just apply for the motor bike "L's" .

Yes, but even the application to gain your Learner plate in Aus involves a weekend course to teach you the basics first.

“If the individual forgets to bring their home-country driver’s license, or they do not have one, they would have to contact the Land Transportation Office, which would be able to providing a temporary license within four hours of testing the person’s driving skills,” he said.

i thought current law stated that to drive legally in the kingdom, one requires either a valid thai DL or a valid international DL, not a home issued one ... ??? doesn't this make a mockery of the law

I always use an international licence and have never had any trouble when stopped by BIB.

I've been using my home license for 11 years and never had any problems.

Originally Posted by Bung

Tourists should be required to show they have a motorcycle license from their own countries before being allowed to rent one here.

Simply to show that they can in fact, ride a motorcycle.

If they cannot show police they have one when stopped and checked, the renters should be fined.

Quite simple but that will never happen. It would go a long way in preventing deaths.

I don't understand ??
That is not fair !!!!
Thais have drivers license and are allowed to drive cars. Do they know how to drive ? NO !
In any civilized world they would FAIL !

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by BobR

If you can drive a car, you can ride a motorcycle,

Not .....

Most people who have a drivers license can barely handle a car- bikes are completely different animals.

If you "reside here" and you do not have a Thai Driving license any insurance you may have is null and void. A friend of mine discovered (to his cost) this when he damaged his almost new pick up truck causing some THB 200,000:00 worth of damage whilst using an American issued license (luckily no other vehicle or person was involved). Considering just how easy it is to obtain a Thai license does it make sense to go through any hassle with either the police or insurance company by using a foreign license.
Just as a side note last year I wanted to hire a car at Heathrow the price was considerably reduced when I proffered my Thai licence pity I could not have used it legally in the UK being British. Does this prove that Thai drivers are safer than Europeans??? I wonder!

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

When I rented a bike in Pattaya, I handed them my British Club Football team card. It looked very official and they snapped it up like a shot.

I'm damned if I'm gonna hand my passport over to anybody

Game the game:
How to Make a Fake Passport for School Projects | eHow UK

You just need the kit, and assemble them when your there... best to use a made up country name to avoid any hypothetical comeback.

List of fictional countries - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'd love to get a fake pass port made up and then rent a jet ski in patong on my last day of holiday giving the fake as security.
Ride the Ski arround to Kamala Beach then torch it.
Get my stuff from my hotel and got to airport and go home before Jimmy or Kenny or what ever that Bastard's name is who Rips people off at gun point on Patong Beach realises it.
Now I know I ll never be able to go back there again, but I dont care Its a Shit hole any way.
I think it would be great pay back for all the misery the Jet Ski unts have given to people over the years.
Ok let me have it.

Originally Posted by Bung

Tourists should be required to show they have a motorcycle license from their own countries before being allowed to rent one here.

Simply to show that they can in fact, ride a motorcycle.

If they cannot show police they have one when stopped and checked, the renters should be fined.

Quite simple but that will never happen. It would go a long way in preventing deaths.

Silly copper knuts still wrote me out a ticket claiming it wasn't legal because it wasn't an IDP (which has no Thai anyway)
My license is in English and it does have a photo which which meets requirements.

Didnt pay it .

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

When I rented a bike in Pattaya, I handed them my British Club Football team card. It looked very official and they snapped it up like a shot.

When I rented a bike it Pats they got a "doctored" photocopy of my passport