13 replies to this topic

[Sexpat]

Taken from the Postbag, Bangkok Post:

"There is a plague in Thai society and it is called corruption. Now I know this is no big surprise, but it is becoming more and more bold.

Yesterday my friend was stopped by a policeman while just coming onto the expressway at Sukhumvit Soi 1. Having done nothing wrong (also not surprising) my friend knew it would probably cost him a bribe of about 100-200 baht.

When the policeman walked up to the window, my friend realised this was the same policeman that had pulled him over previously (also for no reason). The first time the policeman said he merged onto the expressway too quickly. This time he merged too slowly. The policeman said he wanted 1,600 baht because he wanted to go buy a bottle of Johnny Walker whiskey.

My friend refused. He then searched the car, taking his time looking through my friend's possessions. He saw a bottle of Rainex from America, started asking if it was a good product, and wanted that. He wanted my friend to give him a carton of cigarettes. In the end, and 500 baht poorer, my friend was able to drive away.

I understand that corruption is a deep-rooted problem in this country, but tell me, does it have to be so bold?"

http://www.bangkokpost.com/090508_News/09May2008_news98.php

[Hedda]

Now that it's illegal to drive with a mobile phone that's not "hands free," the boys in brown have another reason to be pulling you over to discuss the weather. There used to be a stretch of Sukhumvit a few km south of the Lotus store in south Pattaya, where you could expect to see a police car and a few cops rotuinely stopping cars for no reason other than to fleece their drivers of 200 Baht. Thankfully, that "baht stop" seems to have disappeared in the past two years.

[Gaybutton]

A couple of months ago I was pulled over, for no reason, by a motorcycle cop just as I was entering an expressway in Bangkok from a toll booth. He gave me a song and dance about whatever it was I was supposed to have done wrong. I never did understand it. He first tried to shake me down for 10,000 baht! I laughed in his face and told him there was no way I'm giving him 10,000 baht. He laughed too and said the actual fine is 2000 baht. I told him I don't believe that one either. He said I could either pay it or go to the police station and pay it there, but the fine really is 2000 baht. I paid it.

I suppose I could have gone to the police station, but I had no clue where it was or how to get there. I probably could have made an issue of it, but it wasn't worth it to me to end up going through what probably would have been at least an entire day of bullshit.

The trouble is, when you encounter one of these corrupt cops you're at their mercy. There's not much you can do about it unless you want to go through whatever steps it takes to do something about it. Also, I was reluctant to cross him. He could have trumped up any kind of charges he wanted. What could I have done about it? I decided it was better to part with 2000 baht and be pissed off, but at least be on my way, rather than to deal with whatever I would have gone through. If I am ever faced with a similar situation, I probably would do the same thing.

So far, that's the only time something like that has ever happened to me in Thailand.

[frodo77]

I have been stopped several times and after looking at my driver's licence the policeman just waves me on. Mind you, I have always had Thai bf with me, which might explain it?

[geneman]

I have been stopped several times and after looking at my driver's licence the policeman just waves me on. Mind you, I have always had Thai bf with me, which might explain it?

Don't we all know by now that Thailand has the best police money can buy! They have a license to print money and the best advice if you are stopped for either a triffling or non-existant offence is to pay up the 2-500 fine rather than have the hastle of going to a police station and being made to wait hours to pay a fine.
It is only worth making a stand if the sum demanded is (a) you are innocent and can prove it or unreasonable given the circumstances. Having a Thai with you is certainly a plus but your companion will usually do very little to help except suggest that you had better pay up. Thais do not like confrontation and will do everything to avoid it but even your best friend will back down in the face of a uniform.
It would appear that over the past two or three years police corruption has increased in all areas - car/motorbike stopping, demands to bar owners for tea money and purchasing tickets for sporting events sponsered by the police. Try to get a visiting card from a senior policeman or olitician and wave it in front of the next policeman who stops you - it works a treat and they usually back off and wave you on. Otherwise, pay up and be on your way.
So long as the police remain underpaid and the senior officers still pay for their positions, corruption will never disappear. And it is not just a Thai phenomenon but prevalent all over Asia. If you get stopped, get your bribe in early enough and even the most serious offences can suddenly "disappear" off the books. Once the paperwork has been done there is very little that can be done to alter it. Also remember that "fines" are usually shared by all police officers from the top ranks downwards. Next time you are travelling along Beach Road, Pattaya have a look at the Royal statue outside Pattaya police station, paid for it is said, by a German many years ago to evade a very serious charge.

[MRSBUCKET]

Now that it's illegal to drive with a mobile phone that's not "hands free," the boys in brown have another reason to be pulling you over to discuss the weather. There used to be a stretch of Sukhumvit a few km south of the Lotus store in south Pattaya, where you could expect to see a police car and a few cops rotuinely stopping cars for no reason other than to fleece their drivers of 200 Baht. Thankfully, that "baht stop" seems to have disappeared in the past two years.

The police car that you refer to has moved it's pitch further on, about half a kilometer past Chaiyapreuk traffic lights and the 7 - 11 on the corner.
I was stopped by them about 2 weeks ago. Had the bf with me and the police officer asked him if I had been drinking. This was about lunch time and I had not been drinking.
He said he stopped me because he thought he could smell alcohol on my breath. I may be a deep breather at times but from 50 yards and outside the car - I don't think so. I drove off after laughing at him.

On another occassion I was stopped on my monthly travels to Khon Kaen. Stopped on the mountain going towards Karat.
I thought that everything was going to be OK on this trip in my new car. I had just got the number plates after 2 months of waiting for them and having to wear the temporary red ones that are supplied with new cars. However the licence disc was to follow and I was given the receipt by Toyota to show that all was paid for and I was waiting for the disc to follow.
The policemen that stopped me said I did not have a disc. I showed him the receipt and he took me over to see the boss sitting at a table by the road. I started shouting at them and told them there was no problem and they dont know what they are doing. After more abuse from me he told me to go.
I therefore now carry a camera in the car which I will use to photo any police that dont have a valid reason to stop me. They won't like that and I now think that the best way is to shout at them and be offensive.
I remember reading a long time ago that someone was stopped at a pay toll on the highway for no reason and asked for money. The guy got out of his car, locked it and began to walk away. There it stood blocking the road so the police told him to go without any money passing.
Perhaps being firm with them is the answer.

[Gaybutton]

I now think that the best way is to shout at them and be offensive.

I disagree. I think shouting and being offensive is the worst thing you can do and it can lead to serious consequences. Being firm is one thing, but shouting and being abusive is a different matter. How do you respond when someone, rightly or wrongly, does that to you? I don't say to simply give in, but I do say you're playing with fire by doing that. In Thailand it's the wrong thing to do. I think you were lucky, but if I were you I wouldn't make a habit of it.

[Daniel]

This thread made me smile, as I've just paid my council (local) tax bill for the year 2008/2009 here, in the UK. My bill states that (416.64 pounds sterling) twenty-five thousand baht of it goes directly to my local police authority. This bill is for a private household, not a commercial premises. Each year we pay more and each year the police cuts its service provision as it channels more and more money into pensions for retired police officers. Unfortunately, the 'extortion' in the UK is not just tolerated, it is perfectly legal.

I guess it pays to be a policeman wherever you live.

[MRSBUCKET]

Heres a little video of a policeman counting out his corruption money. Maybe I'll do some videoing as well !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB4-hsknqPI

Sorry, don't know how to add a you tube pic here. Hope the link is OK

[Gaybutton]

As a foreigner, you are in no position to do anything that the police might find confrontational.

I agree. Frustrating and anger-inducing as it might be, I'd rather pay my way out of it, forcing myself to smile, than to end up either in a worse situation or on some sort of a police shit list. I think the worst thing to do is to make waves. You might save some money, but in the long run I don't want anything out there that could come back later to haunt me. The kinds of problems described in this thread just don't occur often enough, in my opinion, to make it worthwhile to make a big stink out of it. If they were trying to shake me down for tens of thousands of baht it would be a different story, but since it usually amounts to hundreds or a couple thousand baht at most, I'd rather pay it and forget about it.

I suppose you could make a stink about it, and you would be in the right, but is it worth the potential aftermath? Not to me. Look a the bars. Most of them have to pay what amounts to extortion monthly. They would be in the right to fight it and refuse to pay, but they know the consequences would most likely, in the end, cause them a much larger problem or even force them out of business.

Corruption is literally a given and way of life in Thailand, and probably most other third world countries as well. If being in the right could produce the outcome I desire, then I would fight it, but I'm not going to be the one to start the Asian version of the Boston Tea Party. I'd rather live with it and put up with it once or twice a year than to stir up a problem that could either end up costing me a hell of a lot more or even end up causing me to lose my privileges of remaining in Thailand.

I think Expattaya is right. As foreigners we're simply not in a position to do much about it. The way I see it, you can either accept it as part of life here or you can pack up and leave. Trying to fight it, I think, is fighting a losing battle.

Go ahead, be the hero and fight it or try gimmicks such as the camera if you want, but this is one kind of battle I choose not to fight.

[loeploh]

When there is a police control of two police man on the highway and they try to stop me, I just don't stop and keep on driving.
This works well so far !!

[UncleSam]

When there is a police control of two police man on the highway and they try to stop me, I just don't stop and keep on driving.
This works well so far !!

That's what Bonnie and Clyde thought too.

Hehehe......

[MRSBUCKET]

Highway Police.[size=4]

After the comments that were passed in this thread previously, I can report that my firmness with the Highway Police worked again.

I have just returned from my monthly visit to the North East and the return journey was most interesting. The journey up to the North East went without any problem from the Police, it was raining most of the way, therefore they would not be visible, might get their hair wet !!! So my speed in the car was not of interest to anyone.

However, on the trip back today I lost count of the number of Police checks going on. Must have been 10 or 12 between Khon Kaen and Pattaya. I had already decided to abide by the law and control the cars speed near to the Thai speed law of 90 Kilometers per hour. OK it’s not easy to control that but I did keep it around that.

I managed to pass most of the blocks and the Police jumping into road to stop vehicles. But on two occasions they tried it on with me. The first one was on the Karat bypass.

This was a complete road block and the Policeman motioned for me to stop at the side of the road, which I did. He asked me if I knew what the speed limit was in Thailand. I confirmed that I did and said that I was doing no more than 90 kpm. He inferred that I was doing more, asked for my license and started trying to be nice to me at which point another Officer came over. This one started speaking in German and then my boyfriend said that I was a Brit. I said, firmly, with a raised voice that I was not doing any more than the limit. Then I snatched my license from the Policeman’s hand and told him that this kind of thing is no good for Thailand. At which he told me to go.

Feeling that I had made my point I carried on and after about another 80 kilometers there was another block over the road. I was in the process of overtaking two slower moving vehicles. He pulled me over to the side and started telling me that I was speeding. To which I confirmed that I was not. My boyfriend was doing some interpretation with this one as he did not speak any English. I raised the voice again and firmly said I was only doing 90 kpm, I also raised 9 fingers so he would understand. Asking for my license I just showed it to him, keeping a firm grip on it so he could not hold onto it. He then gave up with this and changed the problem to the fact that I was in the outside lane of the dual carriageway. To this I told him that I had to overtake 2 slower vehicles. He went on and on but I was not going to give in. He then backed down and told me not to stay in the outside lane again and told me to go.

So by being firm and raising the voice a bit I was just moved on without any problem. Thai’s don’t like confrontation.

Other than having the benefit of no backhanders or fines I also noted that the fuel tank was not going down so quickly. Altogether a less expensive trip this time.

[Dick]

I raised the voice again and firmly said I was only doing 90 kpm, I also raised 9 fingers so he would understand.

It's a wonder he didn't think you were offering him nine baht ! Maybe that's why he waved you on. He thought you were pleading poverty.