Is police harassment in the Thong Lo area still a problem?

[bendejo]

On 4/16/2021 at 10:05 PM, seancbk said:

 

Why do people assume that all drug users are hippie types?   

The drugs of choice are coke and ecstasy when out clubbing and bar hopping.  

 

For those of you who need it spelled out:

This is not about law enforcement, it's about baksheesh. 

A while back there was a welcoming/bon voyage committee of BiB at Ekamai on alert to search punters going to/from Pattaya for Viagra. 

 

Not long ago some tourist entities (like certain hotels in the area) started handing out printed material warning about the police hazard, how to deal with the BiB, etc which shamed TL police (if that is possible) and word came down from above to knock it off.  There was the tale of the  retired European couple who was staying at a hotel near Asoke and was subjected to a urine test nearly every time they went out. 

 

So now they've come up with the menace of e-cigs.  They probably won't try Covid testing because the kits are too expensive.  But maybe it'll be fake tests designed to be failed, "pay now or you in quarantine for 2 weeks." 

 

Also, hippie no hap munnee.

 

 

[moontang]

3 hours ago, bendejo said:

 

For those of you who need it spelled out:

This is not about law enforcement, it's about baksheesh. 

A while back there was a welcoming/bon voyage committee of BiB at Ekamai on alert to search punters going to/from Pattaya for Viagra. 

 

Not long ago some tourist entities (like certain hotels in the area) started handing out printed material warning about the police hazard, how to deal with the BiB, etc which shamed TL police (if that is possible) and word came down from above to knock it off.  There was the tale of the  retired European couple who was staying at a hotel near Asoke and was subjected to a urine test nearly every time they went out. 

 

So now they've come up with the menace of e-cigs.  They probably won't try Covid testing because the kits are too expensive.  But maybe it'll be fake tests designed to be failed, "pay now or you in quarantine for 2 weeks." 

 

Also, hippie no hap munnee.

 

 

The ED drugs were a nice earner for them, but I wonder how that has evolved with a sidewalk seller of them on every lower Sukhumvit block, let alone many pharmacies selling Thai GPO without a script. 

[SS1]

19 hours ago, shy coconut said:

Surely then, by your explanation, any foreigner in possession of an electronic smoking 

device is breaking the law. Either they imported it or bought it. 

 

I suppose they can claim someone gave it to them, but how else would they own one?

 

But if they bought it locally in Thailand, they are still not breaking the law? The law states sales and import. In that case, the seller would be breaking the law, not the buyer. 

[bobbin]

18 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I know a few girls like to smoke while Im driving 

I think it would be better phrased if you said..

 

"I like girls who smoke while I'm driving"

 

Your phrasing suggests it's their idea..

[Nordude]

I live and drive/ride in the area every day. Haven't been stopped since late 2019. That was in a soi connecting Thonglor and Ekkamai. The cops were super nice. No problem at all.

 

I've spotted police doing stop-and-search of (Thai male) scooter riders in the area several times. Presumably they are looking for drugs.

 

Don't be surprised to get pulled over by two officers on a motorbike. As long as you don't carry anything illegal, I think you will be on your way after a few minutes. At least, that's what happened to one event I observed from start to end.

[Pepperoni314]

I live on Thong Lo alley 1. ] I have been searched by the police twice. I am a pretty average looking white guy. Once I was searched when walking home from a bar called <deleted>. I was not doing anything unusual. I was just walking with headphones in listening to a podcast. They were actually quite polite, and kept assuring me that they were actually cops. They also said they are looking for someone specific that has been seen in Thong Lo. That was about 3 or 4 weeks ago (during the month that bars were open).

The second time was 5 days ago. I was smoking a cigarette in front of my building at 2am cuz I had insomnia. They told me that it is very dangerous to be out at night. Nothing major happened. Both times they checked my pockets and asked me where I'm staying. I intend to move elsewhere soon, but for now I'm gonna just stay inside late at night. Is it true that these random stop-and-frisks are illegal? 
The fact that on both occurrences I was just searched, and not asked for money, or harassed in any major way makes me think that they are actually looking for somebody.

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, Pepperoni314 said:

I am a pretty average looking white guy

Come on....don't do yourself down.....

[l4ml4m]

On 4/30/2021 at 2:06 PM, Pepperoni314 said:

I live on Thong Lo alley 1. ] I have been searched by the police twice. I am a pretty average looking white guy. Once I was searched when walking home from a bar called <deleted>. I was not doing anything unusual. I was just walking with headphones in listening to a podcast. They were actually quite polite, and kept assuring me that they were actually cops. They also said they are looking for someone specific that has been seen in Thong Lo. That was about 3 or 4 weeks ago (during the month that bars were open).

The second time was 5 days ago. I was smoking a cigarette in front of my building at 2am cuz I had insomnia. They told me that it is very dangerous to be out at night. Nothing major happened. Both times they checked my pockets and asked me where I'm staying. I intend to move elsewhere soon, but for now I'm gonna just stay inside late at night. Is it true that these random stop-and-frisks are illegal? 
The fact that on both occurrences I was just searched, and not asked for money, or harassed in any major way makes me think that they are actually looking for somebody.

 

 

These rats are trying to find reasons to steal your money, but you are lucky enough that they could not find any good reason to do it.

 

 

[moontang]

On 4/30/2021 at 3:06 AM, Pepperoni314 said:

I live on Thong Lo alley 1. ] I have been searched by the police twice. I am a pretty average looking white guy. Once I was searched when walking home from a bar called <deleted>. I was not doing anything unusual. I was just walking with headphones in listening to a podcast. They were actually quite polite, and kept assuring me that they were actually cops. They also said they are looking for someone specific that has been seen in Thong Lo. That was about 3 or 4 weeks ago (during the month that bars were open).

The second time was 5 days ago. I was smoking a cigarette in front of my building at 2am cuz I had insomnia. They told me that it is very dangerous to be out at night. Nothing major happened. Both times they checked my pockets and asked me where I'm staying. I intend to move elsewhere soon, but for now I'm gonna just stay inside late at night. Is it true that these random stop-and-frisks are illegal? 
The fact that on both occurrences I was just searched, and not asked for money, or harassed in any major way makes me think that they are actually looking for somebody.

Are you saying there was a chance the person(s) they were looking for were hiding in your pockets?