MiB fine bars 30,000B over music licence!

[usual suspect]

Well folks it's low-season, not many customers for the many bars in H.H..yet the MiB feel it's prime-time to milk some big tea money!
Many bars in the 'square' have been fined this crippling sum just for playing the 'wrong music' in the afternoon..yes it's true..a mate was choosing music off youtube on a bar's system, he spent 3.500b that afternoon, the bar was quite busy..when lo & behold 4 officers arrived, led the mamasan away to the station & fined her!
Since that event 3 days ago many more bars have been hit with this big fine..the excuse ranging from 'wrong type of music' to 'wrong type of Sony licence'.
None of the bar owners know what has prompted this action, so if you're in a bar at nighttime & the music is switched off you know why..

[centermid7]

^ if you are thinking just the HH police then you are not thinking big enough!

[richard]

Hear Geronimo got hit. Who else?

Guess MIB tea money is short due to the recent 'you know what' and this will help top it up

[blue05]

the police have zero rights over music licences iy is the lads that usually come down from BKK

also if you do not pay the fine and fo to court then the fine is around 2000bt. Many in Pattaya used to send their cashier to the monkey house for the night with the promise of 1000bt and paid the fine on the monday morning

[dalmatiandave]

May be many more bars will become a pile of bricks just like that eyesore in Bintibaht. Why cant the authorities put a temporary hoarding up to make the place look more presentable. Looks awful when walking down the street.

In terms of music does anyone know the real reason for the fines. Presumably bars think they have the correct licenses so what's the deal.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

[richard]

Not many have a license that enables playing off of YouTube I've been told. Some bars push it but are either already greasing palms or have appropriate MIB connections

[Pagey]

I've just spoke to a bar owner about this and they said you have to buy the licence from a different organisation now (probably same organisation but with a different name)

[Jose]

The reason for the youtube clampdown is that you tube is now officially supported in Thailand,
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busines ... 33975.html

[Pagey]

Youtube Thailand is nothing to do with a bar not having the current licence to play music.

[Lung Per]

I read elsewhere a former Chief of Police who transferred to Prachtuabkhirikhan is now back in charge in Hua Hin. A connection, perhaps? Old dogs, old tricks?

[usual suspect]

My Mrs has just brought home ALL our CDs..till all this boils over somewhat.
The MiB as a rule have clamped down like this every year just before high-season starts..around the end of October..& yes each year hand out big fines..

(Of course I go go slightly off-topic here & say that my firm belief is that ALL the powers-that-be..MiB, HH Amphur, Landlords/landladies of every bar..they ALL know nearly all the bars are funded by farang money..no matter what financial hurdle you lay down, 1 phonecall to Norway, Sweden etc & the Mamasan's fairy god-father will wire more Baht to her..this is on top of what he sends every month for rent & the key-money each year. A good 80% of the bars are open so the B/Gs can enjoy themselves each evening..check for outside table, Sangsom, soda & ice..they do not need to make money..Mamasan pays staff..Farang pays Mamasan/wife..simples!)

Hence MiB have no qualms about dealing out monster-size fines, & land-owners bump-up rent & key-money in big %ages annually without a hint of remorse.. Rant over..

[blue05]

can we clarify that the MIB have no rights over music licenses this is a separate license and the company that collects are from BKK

[Pagey]

Regardless of where they are from why remove cd's IF you have the current correct licence?

[huahin4ever]

Well I know several owners which is Thai and they don't have any farang that can send money. Feel sorry for them with the low season and very few customers. I think there soo will be several bars up for sale.

[oakdale160]

The police are in a strange postion when the military is running the country, they are trivialized to some extent, particularly as the army is doing some of the things that the police never had the guts to tackle. So, they are looking for areas where they can flex their muscles and make some cash. Checking that bars have the correct music license and play the correct music--- its kind of pathetic.