MiB activities spotted today

[usual suspect]

Yes folks I've been out driving again!
Also noted some MiB activity on the roadside..
#1..Coming thru' Samut Something-or-other this side of BKK I noticed on 3 occasions a large m/bike
just parked up on the side of the main drag..near the grass.
What was actually happening here (yes on all 3 cases) was the MiB had a camera running & was using the bike as a stable rest for his video/gun.

#2..Just North of Pet'buri the MiB were setting out their roadside stall..
...usual stuff, cones, sign with red light on top, etc,etc..BUT..they were carefully laying out what
looked to me like 'weigh-mats'.. 2 mats with wires running from them, not designed for trucks I don't think (unless checking axle weights), but looked more for pick-ups.

#3..I got waved over on the road leaving Issan this morning..checkpoint..MiB, & Army. It was the army personel who asked me to lift the bed-lid so they could check the contents, with the MiB standing nearby.
2 privates poked around the sacks of rice, the OK was given, lid down & snapped shut...BUT..
all the time the lid was up another army private was videoing the proceedure..?
Afterwards when the MiB had checked my licence, my wife asked the Army officer in charge why the need for video evidence..?
(Wait for it).."Just in case Policeman put 'something' in your car when you here"..WHAT!
It seems the MiB have been slipping drugs etc in your pick up at checkpoints, then stopping you again for a search later down the road!..now that's a new one on me, but there ya go.
The Army officer then shook my hand, & wished me a safe trip..MiB were most deffo 2nd-in-command today.
My wife also noticed that South of BKK the MiB were setting up their own checkpoints without any Army with them.

On a final note..I also noticed..(sorry no photo) a new tractor-unit pulling a supermarket's trailer..now how many of you have seen those damn noisy tipper-trucks that have fitted a triple,slash-cut end-pipe facing upwards at about 45-60' (3 2-foot long pipes together)..?
So this new truck had this set-up directly behind his cab/front wheel..& facing upwards straight at the ends of his 6 or 8 gas tanks..!!.. WTF fitted them & gave them the nod of approval eh..?
OK tune in next time for more wonderful observations..

[Terry]

This reminds me of a a scam that Mrs.T told me about, some time ago, as reported on Thai TV.

Beware when you are filling up with fuel at a gas station.

Guy filling car inserts a small bag of drugs next to your filler cap and closes the cover.
He then radios his accomplice in a uniform who is strategically placed a few hundred metres further down the road.
You get pulled over and then busted for hauling drugs.

Clever.

I've always watched like a hawk ever since........................

[ste860]

the MIB have been planting things in cars at road blocks for a while now .the last one was in issan and she was married to a farang and got took for 75.000 baht ,

it happens when one asks for driving licience and his pal puts the drugs in the truck bed , then radios ahead to the next road block and bingo they find the stash

[dtaai-maai]

Seems to me that the focus should not be so much on the fact that the MIB have been ripping off drivers (of all nationalities) for years (no surprise there), but that the army appear to be doing something about it!

Of course, it does make a decent whinge a bit more difficult...

[Terry]

ME WHINGE NEVER

[STEVE G]

Motorists violating road laws face harsher action
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 37122.html

MOTORISTS ARE to face tougher enforcement of traffic laws including traffic-fine collection, with the planned introduction of an e-ticket system and driving licence suspension for repeat offences.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Adul Narongsak yesterday said tough measures would be taken against those who ignored tickets issued for traffic offences.

"We will introduce the e-ticket system," he said. "Information at the Land Transport Department's computer system will then be updated constantly. This means the department won't accept car-tax payment from drivers who do not pay traffic fines."

Without such payments, drivers risk arrest for driving untaxed vehicles.

Continuing, Adul said that from now on motorists would need to take offences very seriously indeed. "Traffic laws have their sanctity," he said.

According to him, the relevant authorities have already agreed on the e-ticket system idea. Now legal amendments will be proposed in order to implement it.

"We will soon present this proposal to the National Council for Peace and Order," Adul said.

The Land Transport Department's deputy director-general Wattana Patcharachon said his department would introduce driving-licence suspension as a punishment against repeat offenders in September.

"If you jump the red light for the first time, you will be fined," he said. But if you do it for a second time within one year, your driving licence will be suspended for 30 days."

He said the suspension could last for 60 to 90 days for third-time offenders.

"If you do it for the fourth time, your driving licence will be revoked," Wattana added.

[Pleng]

"If you jump the red light for the first time, you will be fined," he said. But if you do it for a second time within one year, your driving licence will be suspended for 30 days."

He said the suspension could last for 60 to 90 days for third-time offenders.

"If you do it for the fourth time, your driving licence will be revoked," Wattana added.

This seems like a win-win situation, as it makes no mention of reforms to how to deal with people driving without a licence. Ergo, a way of introducing more official fines, without upsetting the collectors of unofficial fines. In fact it will most likely provide an increase in the amount of unlicensed drivers on the road, thus creating even more unofficial fine revenue.