I am confused:
Speeding along at the speed limit of 80km/h or usually more, how does the traffic policeman standing in the middle of the road know it is a Thai or Farang driver from about 1km away ???
And in all honesty, if and when stopped I usually find being a Farang is an advantage rather than a disadvantage - not only because of the language problem but out of sheer courtesy. A cursory check of the driving licence and a glance to make sure your seat belt is on usually gets an "ok - thank-you, go/pai"
The infamous Udon/Nong Khai/ Korat road is well known for the amount of traffic police - so if you keep to the left, keep to the speed limit and wear your seat belt - are you really saying you get pulled over anyway? (just in case its a farang driving)
I have been pulled over numerous times all over Thailand - I have to drive about 100km a day.
In the last four years I have paid twice - both were justified.
Do I complain ? no !
I was wrong - I got caught, I paid 100/200 baht and was on my way
In Western countries - how many points would you have on your licence by now if you drove the same way as you do here? and how many times would you have made a court appearance ?
(Not targetted to anyone - just a general audience)
Farang Policeman
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wazza
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Im interested in seeing if these Volunteers are breaching the immigration law.
When i was lecturing at KK Trauma Hospital, Sirindorn Public Health College, and KK Nursing College , i was granted an " EX " Expert visa and used this , i wasnt paid for these lectures, just received hotel expenses and some meals etc, it was a pro bono .
I asked all the admin Departments to check on my status with immigration etc and they said it was ok.
Even the letter of invitation that went to the Thai embassy in Australia for the visa application, stated that i wouldnt be paid and im doing it as a community service etc. The invitation letter clearly stated that no one in Thailand can provide the lectures that i did etc...
But it seems according to my interpretation, that my actions still breach the letter of the law ??
When i was lecturing at KK Trauma Hospital, Sirindorn Public Health College, and KK Nursing College , i was granted an " EX " Expert visa and used this , i wasnt paid for these lectures, just received hotel expenses and some meals etc, it was a pro bono .
I asked all the admin Departments to check on my status with immigration etc and they said it was ok.
Even the letter of invitation that went to the Thai embassy in Australia for the visa application, stated that i wouldnt be paid and im doing it as a community service etc. The invitation letter clearly stated that no one in Thailand can provide the lectures that i did etc...
But it seems according to my interpretation, that my actions still breach the letter of the law ??
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saint
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i have no problems with the local police, i have no problems with the tourist police, i do have problems with the highway police , many times Ive been stopped for no apparent reason, when questioned by my wife why i was stopped the answer has always been,.because farang. this has happened from Chang Mai to phuket so not just a local thing. when i show a Thai license im sent on my way. now the question i have regarding farang police ,is why volunteer, im a cynic i know but Ive been around long enough to know that nobody does something for nothing . there's gotta be a motive for these guys to be pretend policemen, help your fellow man, bulls~it . maybe they think its cool to stroll around with a policeman pretending to be important, yet still i think its more. i have seen tourist police go to a bar and get free drinks, Ive also heard rumours they get backhanders from some establishments and are resented by the owners because of it. rumour i know but from people that have allegedly paid these sweeteners. 
Well Saint here is an eye opener for you and othres who appear to be a cynical bunch of whingers, Some people do really want to help their fellow man, no matter what anyone else says. No no money to my knowledge has ever been paid to any farang police volunteers, it itr is then lket the head of Udon Thani Tourist police know.
Two, No immigration laws are breached as no money or even anything in kind is given except maybe a toursit police volunteer MAY be treated a touch differently if he was in trouble, ( if trouble was not of his making).
Unlike American police who owe their jobs to the local politicans or even a mayor, many european police including the UK the police are NOT political pawns and most view it as a vocation not a job.
Mnay of the volunteers do give up theri time and spend their money to attend venues freely with no compwnsation, if all the members of udon map did the same for their fellow man this would be a far better place to live than say pattaya, with bike gangs and abag snatchers running rampant. but one can only hope that people will be people, complain about the police if you like BUT until they
1 get paid enough
2, The senior brass stop being politiical pawns
3, they learn to impose the law without fear or favour only then will it change.
NOT IN MY LIFETIME I FEAR.
Two, No immigration laws are breached as no money or even anything in kind is given except maybe a toursit police volunteer MAY be treated a touch differently if he was in trouble, ( if trouble was not of his making).
Unlike American police who owe their jobs to the local politicans or even a mayor, many european police including the UK the police are NOT political pawns and most view it as a vocation not a job.
Mnay of the volunteers do give up theri time and spend their money to attend venues freely with no compwnsation, if all the members of udon map did the same for their fellow man this would be a far better place to live than say pattaya, with bike gangs and abag snatchers running rampant. but one can only hope that people will be people, complain about the police if you like BUT until they
1 get paid enough
2, The senior brass stop being politiical pawns
3, they learn to impose the law without fear or favour only then will it change.
NOT IN MY LIFETIME I FEAR.
Guns
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laphanphon
don't know where the negative is coming from, but i read most think udon police are quite honest bunch, and the tourist police are quite appreciated.
it's the other parts of the country that we travel where we notice things aren't so friendly, not just to foriegners, but locals also. but i know from experience, i've been stopped simply because a non local. no doubt in my mind, and no major complaint, with one exception in bkk, which i will no longer give them that opportunity.
it's the other parts of the country that we travel where we notice things aren't so friendly, not just to foriegners, but locals also. but i know from experience, i've been stopped simply because a non local. no doubt in my mind, and no major complaint, with one exception in bkk, which i will no longer give them that opportunity.
I am very happy for the falangs that are not targeted by the highway police!As I am thinking about it and relating to Pauls post about how they determine that you are falang from distance,I think they don't!I think they are looking for any excuse to stop anybody in order to collect money!
My time living in BK and being ''targeted'' many times,especially the pullovers from the toll booths has just soured me to money stop pullovers and I have lumped them together as targeting falangs,which I admit is probably a mistake!
Thank you ,Paul!
Saint;
Your post is truly laughable
Why do people volunteer ? Why indeed ?
Why do people volunteer to be a rescue worker and recover dead bodies at accidents? Is it because they might get a free Heiniken at a close by bar ???
Why do people volunteer to rescue people in trouble when swimming in the sea - perhaps they are looking for a back-hander - well thats the rumour I heard anyway !!!!
Why do people Volunteer to give blood - maybe they like free tea and biscuits afterwards _ or perhaps thats just 'the sweetner' ???
Why do people volunteer to visit people in prison who are scared and don't have anyone to talk to - is it because they like feeling 'important'?
Why even, do people volunteer to be moderators on this very forum - it surely isn't to feel important or to get a backhander. I will tell you why shall I - its to help out a friend who has given up a great deal of time providing a free forum and needs some help to organise postings, move to approriate headings, delete spamming and advertisers, prevent squables and bad language - and you know what the reward is - absolutely nothing, apart from helping a mate. And the reward from many users of this forum has in the past been insults, allegations and downright rudeness, when - without the moderators, the forum would fall into chaos with advertisers and spammers and the like taking over, is that what you want ?
Please tell me and all the other readers what opportunities for volunteering there are in Udonthani? and consider that a great many of the residents have a lot of time on their hands. The Tourist Police wanted to help farangs more and decided to recruit a few farangs to help them acheive this, hence their open advertising.
If you (wrongly) assume that the volunteer police walk around trying to look impressive and scrounge free drinks and back-handers from local businesses as you have heard 'rumoured' - then you have a shallow outlook.
Read back to my previous post. read about visiting people in prison, read about going to the poor villages in the Loei mountains to give blankets and warm clothing, I could tell you more about the dozens of farangs who turn up to the police station asking for help as they have no-one else to turn to - or don't know how to do it, about visiting the unfortunate accident victim in hospital as he had no family and no-one else to see him.
Maybe you could read my post from about 2 years ago where I organised a local school appeal and raised over 70,000 baht to turn into much needed equipment for that school - I wasn't a volunteer as such, I got off my fat ass and decided to help in the community I live in - and what backhanders did I receive, what 'rewards' came my way ?? absolutely zero except the look on those kids faces when presented with toys, sports equipment, tables, chairs, musical instruments, books, uniforms, and even paint so they paint their own classrooms.
The reason I did it - because I was in a position to do so, and they were not.!
Why volunteer to help you asked ?? Please ask yourself the question and look inside yourself for the answer. Maybe, just maybe there will be a bit of positivity amongst all your prejudice and 'hearsay'
Your post is truly laughable
Why do people volunteer ? Why indeed ?
Why do people volunteer to be a rescue worker and recover dead bodies at accidents? Is it because they might get a free Heiniken at a close by bar ???
Why do people volunteer to rescue people in trouble when swimming in the sea - perhaps they are looking for a back-hander - well thats the rumour I heard anyway !!!!
Why do people Volunteer to give blood - maybe they like free tea and biscuits afterwards _ or perhaps thats just 'the sweetner' ???
Why do people volunteer to visit people in prison who are scared and don't have anyone to talk to - is it because they like feeling 'important'?
Why even, do people volunteer to be moderators on this very forum - it surely isn't to feel important or to get a backhander. I will tell you why shall I - its to help out a friend who has given up a great deal of time providing a free forum and needs some help to organise postings, move to approriate headings, delete spamming and advertisers, prevent squables and bad language - and you know what the reward is - absolutely nothing, apart from helping a mate. And the reward from many users of this forum has in the past been insults, allegations and downright rudeness, when - without the moderators, the forum would fall into chaos with advertisers and spammers and the like taking over, is that what you want ?
Please tell me and all the other readers what opportunities for volunteering there are in Udonthani? and consider that a great many of the residents have a lot of time on their hands. The Tourist Police wanted to help farangs more and decided to recruit a few farangs to help them acheive this, hence their open advertising.
If you (wrongly) assume that the volunteer police walk around trying to look impressive and scrounge free drinks and back-handers from local businesses as you have heard 'rumoured' - then you have a shallow outlook.
Read back to my previous post. read about visiting people in prison, read about going to the poor villages in the Loei mountains to give blankets and warm clothing, I could tell you more about the dozens of farangs who turn up to the police station asking for help as they have no-one else to turn to - or don't know how to do it, about visiting the unfortunate accident victim in hospital as he had no family and no-one else to see him.
Maybe you could read my post from about 2 years ago where I organised a local school appeal and raised over 70,000 baht to turn into much needed equipment for that school - I wasn't a volunteer as such, I got off my fat ass and decided to help in the community I live in - and what backhanders did I receive, what 'rewards' came my way ?? absolutely zero except the look on those kids faces when presented with toys, sports equipment, tables, chairs, musical instruments, books, uniforms, and even paint so they paint their own classrooms.
The reason I did it - because I was in a position to do so, and they were not.!
Why volunteer to help you asked ?? Please ask yourself the question and look inside yourself for the answer. Maybe, just maybe there will be a bit of positivity amongst all your prejudice and 'hearsay'
Last edited by Paul on July 10, 2008, 11:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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beer monkey
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Prenders88
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Irish Alan
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After I retired I was roped into a variety of voluntary things… One involved me going into the city centre paying steep parking charges but I just did it. I had time on my hands so I gave some if it to a variety of good causes. What was my payment? All the coffee/tea I could drink and maybe a chocolate digestive. A lot of people really do give their time to volunteer for something that they believe in and expect and indeed get nothing in return.
I used to give blood too… The mobile clinic would call to my company. They gave (if I remember correctly) 2 bottles of Guinness when you donated. I was a Tea-Totaller then so I wasn’t that much in need of a cup of tea and a couple of Jammy Dodgers. I felt I have loads of the stuff so why not give it to somebody that needs it. Yes I got the free pen but I got them free in work anyway. Maybe it was the catholic in me that drove me to give and expect nothing in return.
The Spinners said it was good to give blood so I did.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4THaCZmzMQk&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4THaCZmzMQk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I used to give blood too… The mobile clinic would call to my company. They gave (if I remember correctly) 2 bottles of Guinness when you donated. I was a Tea-Totaller then so I wasn’t that much in need of a cup of tea and a couple of Jammy Dodgers. I felt I have loads of the stuff so why not give it to somebody that needs it. Yes I got the free pen but I got them free in work anyway. Maybe it was the catholic in me that drove me to give and expect nothing in return.
The Spinners said it was good to give blood so I did.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4THaCZmzMQk&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4THaCZmzMQk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
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wazza
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In Australia , communities though out rural areas would be stuffed without the Volunteer system, Fire, Ambulance State Emergency Service, hospital auxillaries etc....
The Australian Government acknowledges this and says its worth millions $$$$
I volunteered as an ambulance officer for 2 years, was offerd a job out of the blue and spent the next 28 years working in a profession that i love and know has benefited many.
I still volunteer my time to the training system here in Thailand, because i know people will benefit from it.
The Australian Government acknowledges this and says its worth millions $$$$
I volunteered as an ambulance officer for 2 years, was offerd a job out of the blue and spent the next 28 years working in a profession that i love and know has benefited many.
I still volunteer my time to the training system here in Thailand, because i know people will benefit from it.
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saint
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paul, i have read your post more than once, i have looked inside myself, and yes i am a very shallow person i guess. now you have explained to me all the good work that you do , i realise the reason you do it. it makes you feel good about yourself, right , and so it should . if i ever find myself needing that same self gratification i will eat humble pie and volunteer myself. in the mean time i hope you continue with your good deeds, and thank you for answering my questions as to why .
Why am I a moderator?
So I am able to remover the ridiculous pictures that somebody decided to replace those I had posted of the kids at the school when I took all the equipment over to them.
To whoever did it:
Yes your computer knowledge is far superior than mine - as you have proved, but those were special photographs of a moment captured forever and posted for all to share. Your superior knowledge has taken all that away now.
Well done.
Saint: You do not or have never known me and of those that do know me on here, how many know what I do in my spare time? - apart from the school appeal which was publicised on here, I just get on and do what I do without the need to tell one and all - theres the secret. Does it make me feel good - you bet it does.
Self gratification - well you decide that, ok ?
So I am able to remover the ridiculous pictures that somebody decided to replace those I had posted of the kids at the school when I took all the equipment over to them.
To whoever did it:
Yes your computer knowledge is far superior than mine - as you have proved, but those were special photographs of a moment captured forever and posted for all to share. Your superior knowledge has taken all that away now.
Well done.
Saint: You do not or have never known me and of those that do know me on here, how many know what I do in my spare time? - apart from the school appeal which was publicised on here, I just get on and do what I do without the need to tell one and all - theres the secret. Does it make me feel good - you bet it does.
Self gratification - well you decide that, ok ?
Incidentally I personally know of one farang who works with one of the volunteer rescue foundations and yes he does pull bodies from accidents, and yes he is a volunteer. I have no need to ask him why he does it.
I hope sincerely that he is around if ever I am unfortunate enough to have an accident.
Now please may we get back to the topic in hand (again) - Farang policemen in Udonthani?
I hope sincerely that he is around if ever I am unfortunate enough to have an accident.
Now please may we get back to the topic in hand (again) - Farang policemen in Udonthani?
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saint
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O K let me try and explain myself, the voluteer rescue guy,yes i applaude him, its something i could never do, and yes i would be happy to see him in an accident. voluteers like mountain rescue, i understand, its in their blood and its a brotherhood with fellow climbers, lifeguards again similar to mountain climbers, R N L I, again the sea is in thier blood , people like yourself helping the less fortunate, good for them, we all need these people, and yes i agree having farang volunteers in the tourist police to help genuine cases or farangs in distress is in principal a very good idea. to have them parading around the night spots in uniform with their trousers tucked in their boots para military style ????????????. like you said ,most people do good deeds without the need to flaunt it, and they feel good about what they do , rightly so . but i see these guys with their thai counterparts strutting around and i honestly think, muppet.
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bigwavedave
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This is BULLSH1T........ Saint made an opinion that we either believe or dont... Men do this!!!! Its just conversation... maybe Saint believes what he said, maybe its true... We dont know... but we are adults and can make our own opinion... this is a Forum for us adults to have a laugh, exchange info, and yes unfortunately in this world people say things we dont agree with!!! thats life... saint and a few others are on here everyday chatting and having a laugh.......
To have a go at what saint said i dont believe is what this forum is about.... You are acting like a headmaster talking to a naughty school boy!!!!! We are adults!!!! We dont need this type of moderation (public).... As a moderator would it not have been less humiliating to PM saint or remove his post???
You can "Big up" volunteering all day long, but its true what saint says people do have different motives, you cant deny that just because you volunteer for the right motives....
Take the thousands of Catholic priests who volunteer... ask the pope about them..
Take the thousands of Scout masters and people who volunteer themselves into a position of being in charge of children.....
The world is not a beautiful, happy place just because you volunteer!!!!!
I dont want to offend anyone here but i also dont want to be treated like a naughty school boy if i say something you dont agree with, or are personally involved with, making that subject taboo....
To have a go at what saint said i dont believe is what this forum is about.... You are acting like a headmaster talking to a naughty school boy!!!!! We are adults!!!! We dont need this type of moderation (public).... As a moderator would it not have been less humiliating to PM saint or remove his post???
You can "Big up" volunteering all day long, but its true what saint says people do have different motives, you cant deny that just because you volunteer for the right motives....
Take the thousands of Catholic priests who volunteer... ask the pope about them..
Take the thousands of Scout masters and people who volunteer themselves into a position of being in charge of children.....
The world is not a beautiful, happy place just because you volunteer!!!!!
I dont want to offend anyone here but i also dont want to be treated like a naughty school boy if i say something you dont agree with, or are personally involved with, making that subject taboo....
I couldn't agree with you more !saint wrote: to have them parading around the night spots in uniform with their trousers tucked in their boots para military style ????????????. like you said ,most people do good deeds without the need to flaunt it, and they feel good about what they do , rightly so . but i see these guys with their thai counterparts strutting around and i honestly think, muppet.
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marshallb66
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