Police Checkpoint on Soi 94

[bonnielass]

Had always thought the roadblocks were on the main roads, until I was pulled over by police at top end of Soi 94. They asked for my International DL which I had left at home, my fault entirely.
So two hundred sputniks made the problem go away and topped up the coffee fund. The nice policeman smiled when I handed it over......

BL

[Big Boy]

They're often on Soi 94, at the taxi rank just down from where Bar Tender used to be.

[blue05]

they are everywhere at the moment, the last couple of months at night has been mad, they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two

[dtaai-maai]

they are everywhere at the moment, the last couple of months at night has been mad, they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two

Sorry, forgive me - when you say "they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two" do you mean "drunk drivers are getting a paltry fine for being stupid enough to spend the evening getting pissed before driving home"?

[Bristolian]

they are everywhere at the moment, the last couple of months at night has been mad, they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two

Sorry, forgive me - when you say "they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two" do you mean "drunk drivers are getting a paltry fine for being stupid enough to spend the evening getting pissed before driving home"?

p

I agree DM, (sorry Blue5 as I know it was not an intended agreement with the principal of DD)

By whatever means and for whatever reasons get these idiots off of the roads that we use.

[blue05]

they are everywhere at the moment, the last couple of months at night has been mad, they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two

Sorry, forgive me - when you say "they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two" do you mean "drunk drivers are getting a paltry fine for being stupid enough to spend the evening getting pissed before driving home"?

if you consider 20,000 baht for having 2 beers paltry then so be it

if you have never had a couple of beers then driven home then you are indeed a saint

[dtaai-maai]

I don't need to take the risk, but I do remember some lucky escapes 30+ years ago, when I was young and extremely stupid.

You need to establish exactly what you mean. Are you saying these people were not over the limit and forced to pay an unfair fine, or that they were only just over the limit and isn't life a bitch?

If it's the latter, I'm not interested; if it's the former, I'm genuinely asking if this happens, why they would pay, why nobody has ever challenged it, etc. In my comparatively long experience here, the vast majority of the traffic encounters people have had with police in this area have been their own fault. I don't get out much in the evening these days, so I'm happy to be corrected if dozens of sober farang are being unfairly done for drunk driving.

[Big Boy]

if you have never had a couple of beers then driven home then you are indeed a saint

I can honestly say that I do fall into that category. There are always alternatives, why risk it?

[blue05]

I don't need to take the risk, but I do remember some lucky escapes 30+ years ago, when I was young and extremely stupid.

You need to establish exactly what you mean. Are you saying these people were not over the limit and forced to pay an unfair fine, or that they were only just over the limit and isn't life a bitch?

If it's the latter, I'm not interested; if it's the former, I'm genuinely asking if this happens, why they would pay, why nobody has ever challenged it, etc. In my comparatively long experience here, the vast majority of the traffic encounters people have had with police in this area have been their own fault. I don't get out much in the evening these days, so I'm happy to be corrected if dozens of sober farang are being unfairly done for drunk driving.

you are certainly not tested at the roadside, it is all the police mafia pressure to get funds from you

when I was stopped there was no way I was over any limit as 2 small bottles of leo would not do that, however the police said if I did not pay , it was a night in the cells, a report written in thai handed to a judge in the morning and a fine of upto 64000bt, I paid the 5k after about an hour and a half of negotiations

they are in it for the cash thats it

you are lucky you are not out in the evenings because the police presence has increased 1000% A year or so ago I never saw any police at night now they are all over the place collecting the tea money

[GLCQuantum]

Quote Blue 05...

" it is all the police mafia pressure to get funds from you"

... is the most ridiculous sentence I've heard in a while. You were drink driving and got stung mate - end of.

Been here 9 years. Never had a problem. Never been hassled or pressured into handing over money. Have paid small fines when I've obviously messed up on the road. Never known anyone else get 'stitched up' either.

You receive what you give in this country. If you're a twat then the locals will make it a little more difficult for you. If you aint a twat you can just carry on doing your thing. Which category do you fall into Blue? I hear that same sentence you spouted above from aging sexpats supping their last glass of brew... contemplating where it all went wrong.

Absolute garbage. That 'other' site is filled with this kind of stuff.

[dtaai-maai]

You might be being a bit harsh, GLCQ. I've no reason to think blue05 is a liar, so it's quite possible that he was under the limit and chose to haggle the 20k the police asked for down to 5k in order to avoid a night in the cells and a court appearance.

My point really was to ask if...

they are making big cash on those that have had a beer or two

...and...

if you consider 20,000 baht for having 2 beers paltry then so be it

... were an accurate reflection of what is happening in HH of an evening or if Blue05's decision to pay up 5k was an isolated incident.

Maybe I'm naive, but surely even here in Thailand, if you are going to be taken to court for drunk driving, they are going to have to provide some firm evidence? Surely, "he appeared to be weaving across the road, milud" is not enough in 2013? They definitely have breathalyzers, so don't they have to use them?

[HHTel]

when I was stopped there was no way I was over any limit as 2 small bottles of leo would not do that, however the police said if I did not pay , it was a night in the cells, a report written in thai handed to a judge in the morning and a fine of upto 64000bt, I paid the 5k after about an hour and a half of negotiations

What a load of old codswallop!! If you are suspected of being drunk then you are taken to the police station and given a breathyliser. If you are under, then no problem. You will be dismissed and allowed to go on your way. If you are over, even then, if you have someone else to drive you home then that's what happens except you will be required to report to the police station in the morning for them to take action (or not).

If you choose to pay 5K at the roadside when under the limit, then you are not just naive, you are stupid.

Believe me...... I KNOW!

[Arlo]

Quote Blue 05...

" it is all the police mafia pressure to get funds from you"

... is the most ridiculous sentence I've heard in a while. You were drink driving and got stung mate - end of

.

Why is it the most ridiculous sentence you have heard in a while? If they are all about safety on the roads, then why would they let you pay them on the spot and send you on your way back down the road?

[Arlo]

I was stopped. They asked if had drank. I said 2 beers with dinner. They said you can pay 10000 now or blow in the breathalyzer, which they had on site and if I failed I would have to go to court and it would cost 20,000. I said I didn't want to blow because I didn't trust the machine. I wasn't drunk, I knew that much but who knows who calibrates the breathalyzer. Anyway he said for me to leave my wife at the police stop and drive off to the ATM to get the cash. That doesn't sound like a safe idea for someone they considered to have had to much to drink. My wife did some talking for about 30 mins and I was let off with a warning and nothing was paid.

[usual suspect]

And while the Farang is being harrassed for a suspected D/D offence..the local youths fly by, no helmet, licence, insurance, no rear light or number-plate on their bike, Sangsom & yabba tabs under the m/cycle seat & pissed as farts..oh but their 3rd cousin is a MIB..ho-hum eh?