My experiences with Thai Police

[Grumpy Old Man 204]

I would like to share my interactions and experiences with the Thai Police in and around Chiangmai over this last six months; there are many stories online about the Thai Police being corrupt, lazy, not fit for purpose, incompetent and generally a total waste of good skin so I would like to share my experiences.

 

Many people might find this strange but I keep a detailed log of all my Police interactions, check point stops and general enquires, you never know when you might need the information.

 

My vehicle is fitted with a forward and rear facing colour, full HD and infrared camera system, this makes keeping a traffic or check point stop log much easier.

 

On average I have been stopped at a check point once a day for the last six months the most check point stops in a twenty four hour period being SEVEN; all of the check points I've been stopped at have been well laid out normally reducing the road to one lane for the check point management with at least five officers.

 

I have only ever been asked once for a driving licence and on production of my Thai driving license was told OK and passed through the gate on wheels used at the check point.

 

On many occasions when I lower my driver side window and in my best British English say "Good morning, afternoon or evening how can I help you" and the Police Office sees an old very white guy they don't even engage in conversation and just wave me through.

 

I have only even been asked once if I have been drinking whisky before driving and with a polite "No drink whisky" I was waved on; the officers can tell at a glance if you're worth further investigation.

 

Two non check point interactions with Thai Police I want to share; when my wife and I returned to our home in the private village where we live the front door was open / ajar and Mrs GOM said she was sure she'd closed and locked it, we both backed away from our home and contacted the village security / gate house, they called the Police and within ten minutes two armed officers arrive, checked their weapons and did a house sweep; very impressed with their professionalism.

 

Last Saturday my friend called me at 07:00Hrs announcing he was in jail, could I come and help him; jail turned out to be a holding cell at a district Police Station. I got the location for Google Maps and after a nice coffee took a leisurely drive to the Police Station on entering the Police Station I was greeted by two officers who spoke basic English and asked how they can help me; with my very bad Thai and Google translator they understood I was here to try and help Mr . . . . . who I understand is in their custody, very much to my surprise they invited me through to the holding cell area and there was my friend looking very sorry for himself.

 

Every interaction, check point stop and general enquiry I've had has been conducted in a very professional manner, maybe I've just been lucky.

Edited June 26, 2018 by blackcab
Reduced font size

[Vacuum 5,756]

49 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Man said:

I have been stopped at a check point once a day for the last six months

In 18 years, I've been stopped 2 times at check points.

[jonwilly 554]

As both a Scooter rider and car driver I have been stopped by police while on my bike more times then I could mention.

Always polite and after a check on licence sent on my way with a smile.

During the year following the passing on of the late Head of State I wore a badge the Thai 9, given by Thai friends, more that once when they saw this I was waved on without stopping and usually a polite nod of the head or even a salute on a couple of occasions.

Never been stopped in my car apart from the time I went through a Red Light.

B400 fine and good laugh down the Police station when reliving me of my Baht.

 

john

Edited June 25, 2018 by jonwilly
Spelling

[watcharacters 3,211]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Old Man said:

On many occasions when I lower my driver side window and in my best British English say "Good morning, afternoon or evening how can I help you" and the Police Office sees an old very white guy they don't even engage in conversation and just wave me through.

 

t doesn't even require British English  for me to get the same result.       

[bontang 62]

Thai Police are Ok as long you have all you credentials in order, ,Driving License, Car/Truck Rego, & be polite,                      If you respect them they will always respect you,  

Edited June 25, 2018 by bontang

[Kieran00001 2,730]

53 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

In 18 years, I've been stopped 2 times at check points.

 

Your 18 years with only 2 stops only demonstrates that you have barely been anywhere in 18 years, travel through half the provinces of Thailand and you, like every single car, will get stopped.

[rumak 1,175]

when on occassion i am stopped I do not act upset.   I show my thai drivers license, if asked a question

i answer politely.   don't get stopped a lot since i do not live in the city where there are lots of checkpoints, but when i was the police were nice.   

been here 25 years......and have driven in almost every province.   

 

Edited June 25, 2018 by rumak

[Thailand 11,992]

Driven almost every day for the many years I have been here, only ever stopped once in Chiang Mai city and the province. I guess I am lucky or the op is very unlucky.

 

Couple of times, when driving between provinces  going up North, but basically quick look and wave through.

 

[EL159 283]

The OP must either be very unlucky or very suspicious. I ve been in Chiang Mai 13 years ( and yes, in answer to another poster I do get around quite a bit!). Apart from the frequent checks you get in different towns if you travel during Songkran, I would estimate that I ve been stopped no more than five times in thirteen years.

 

I drive confidently but safe, I drive politely despite provocation from crap drivers, an I live a normal healthy life.

 

The OP had to effectively bail his pal out of jail at 7am. These days thats the classic drink driving scenario. I guess if you live that kind of life youre kind of asking for it! Not the OP I know, but I also havent had any of my friends banged up because I keep good law abiding friends!

[Stubby 149]

I've been stopped numerous times at check points over the years. Every time the cops fined me I had done something wrong. All other times I get thanked for cooperating and get to go on my merry way. So, no gripes here. Few too many check points perhaps, but then there's a lot of wrongdoers, so it's probably a good thing. Not that check points seem to be much of a deterrent for bad driving. Still, they have forced more folks to wear motorcycle helmets from 9am to 3pm, though, so that's a good thing.  

 

Stubby

[Jackie66 78]

Bored? hehe Sounds like you are seeking out police checkpoints so you can write something in your logs

[catman20 4,145]

14 hours ago, bontang said:

Thai Police are Ok as long you have all you credentials in order, ,Driving License, Car/Truck Rego, & be polite,                      If you respect them they will always respect you,  

agreed 

[Briggsy 15,369]

I am firmly convinced that the OP's experiences with the Thai police would be markedly different if his vehicle were a Honda Click and he was 25 years old.

 

For a start there would be a lot more fines. A lot more.

 

Thai police checkpoints are there primarily as revenue-raising activities. They do serve other functions. Old white guy driving a four-wheeled vehicle = way too much time and effort for probably zero return. "Go go go" as the Thai police say.

[animalmagic 1,089]

I have been stopped several times and questioned at a few; although one was trying to practice spoken English.  Have always found them to be polite and asking relevant questions for the purpose of the roadblock.  The roadblock/checkpoint was reasonably well laid out, in a relatively safe location for operation and lit to the best of their ability within the constraints of local street lighting.

The only problem I had was when driving back from Phitsanulok with my wife who, on seeing the police roadblock/checkpoint, immediately lunged for the glove box.  At first I did wonder what she kept in there, but it all became clear as she pulled out her lipstick; apparently its good to look your best when you open the window.  Learnt a lot from that one; I don't wear lipstick but it's now kept in the small tray next to the gear stick!

[simoh1490 5,949]

If the OP has in fact been stopped at police check points on average once a day for six months I can only presume he lives right next to a police checkpoint and has no alternate route from where he lives. I've lived in Chiang Mai for 16 years and I drive a lot, I never get stopped when driving locally or even around the city. The only times I may get stopped is if I head up to Chiang Rai or South to Central Thailand and even then I almost never get stopped, just waved through. I think I've only been actually stopped and asked questions maybe four or five times in those 16 years so there's something incomplete about the OP's story.

Edited June 26, 2018 by simoh1490