New Twist to the Police scam?

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KB_Texas

New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by KB_Texas » October 11, 2012, 1:24 pm

Driving home on the ring road today, the police were working every major intersection. When we got to Rt. 2, going west on the ring road, we entered the intersection with approximately 4-5 seconds left on the green light. The police had set up a single lane only, and stopped a truck who stopped in the middle of the road. Of course, all the Thai drivers panicked and also stopped, leaving 4 cars in the intersection when the light turned yellow/red. Those 4 cars (including us) were all ticketed for 'running a red light'. :( So 800 baht for a problem THEY created...and they can create the problem at will. Nice scam in my opinion, and a sure fire way to increase revenue.

Sigh, TiT.

KB

PS...Before I get a lot of hate mail about 'TiT...if it bothers you, go home'...yes, I am usually QUITE happy in Thailand, and it is only 200 baht, chump change. It is the principle of charging someone when the problem was one that they create. To me, that is flat out wrong and is why I am letting others know about it.



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chigger
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by chigger » October 11, 2012, 3:42 pm

Unfortunate for you KB, can understand why you're upset.

But I think they are just trying to do something about the problem we all know about, bad or no dicipline at intersections.

Bad planning, communication and execution yes I agree. If enough thais get caught as well, they will shure as hell complain, forcing the police to use a different m.o.

Personally I would rather pay 200 baht now and then if it can save me and my loved ones from getting sideswiped by a ten wheeler

Peace

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by Stevo » October 11, 2012, 4:04 pm

Good heads-up there KB... thanks.

On a similar note, I was sat in the back of a taxi the other night (well, actually it was more like 2am... I had drank at least 6 or 7 Jim Beams during my pool match, so I left the bike at a friends place in town and got a taxi home), listening to the radio in the taxi (I must've been bored :lol: ), I heard something about the police have doubled the fine (Read: Bribe) from 200 Baht to 400 Baht for many offenses, including the crash helmet law.
Perhaps that's why the plod are out in force... double earnings :roll:

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redwolf
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by redwolf » October 11, 2012, 4:23 pm

thanks for the heads up KB, I'd just heard about it from a visitor at the house that indeed they're everywhere and out for the dough.

odd as it's the 11th so there must be some holiday or lottery coming up. weather's not been too bad so maybe that's it. got to stock up for winter. if they do it too much the locals will burn down the police station once more and that'll be that LOL.
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by pompui » October 11, 2012, 4:33 pm

redwolf wrote:.

odd as it's the 11th so there must be some holiday or lottery coming up.
Not sure :-k maybe new police chief starting his job in Udon,collection monies due for mia nois,Police day sat 13th,kids on holiday until 24th so more bikes/cars/pickups on the roads to catch out....always thought though that they tend to only come out certain times of day ie 11am-midday,afternoon shift so could adjust driving around town accordingly but thanks to the OP for posting 8)

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jackspratt
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by jackspratt » October 11, 2012, 4:41 pm

Not to be too pedantic, but is it not the case that you should not enter an intersection unless it is safe to proceed through?

Technically, I think the BiB may be correct (although I would be pissed off if it happened to me). :D

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maaka
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by maaka » October 11, 2012, 5:02 pm

sounds like the new boss in town is trying to clean house abit..

KB_Texas

New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by KB_Texas » October 11, 2012, 5:23 pm

jackspratt wrote:Not to be too pedantic, but is it not the case that you should not enter an intersection unless it is safe to proceed through?

Technically, I think the BiB may be correct (although I would be pissed off if it happened to me). :D
Exactly right jack...however, when we entered the intersection, traffic WAS moving, albeit slowly. It was then that the police decided to stop a big truck, and all the Thai's stopped where they were, including the truck blocking the right lane that would have allowed everyone to clear the intersection. No choice...we had to stop and wait for them to inch forward. That is what I meant by the police causing the issue...the stop was too close to the intersection for traffic to clear, and they should have waved the big truck to the left instead of stopping it in place. The police caused the issue, and then fined people for it. THAT is my point. They could pretty much reproduce this every time the light changed if they so desired. ;)

KB

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WBU ALUM
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by WBU ALUM » October 11, 2012, 5:29 pm

It's not a scam. You just got caught under the light.

It's happened to me, too. Pay the fine and move on.

If it was a scam, you and everyone would get caught all the time. :D That said, could the police use better judgment as to where they set up their check points? Probably, but I'm not counting on them. I'm counting on myself never to get caught out there again; and so far, I haven't been.

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by Mosquito » October 11, 2012, 5:34 pm

It's never a losing proposition for the cops, they look good cracking down on the public...........while of course lining their pockets.

Have to generalize, isn't there a new law about defaming the police??

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pompui
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by pompui » October 11, 2012, 5:42 pm

Mosquito wrote: Have to generalize, isn't there a new law about defaming the police??
Ouch another money earning idea :-"

On a sidenote,as it is National Police day this Saturday 13th,can I take it that they will all be having a jolly fine party somewhere,not concerned about working :-" or could this be classified as defamation :-k
Might be the best day to be out and about :-k

When the police do come out in force with the stops,are they also controlling the lights at the junctions :-k

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by Khun Paul » October 11, 2012, 9:58 pm

KB you have the option of refusing to pay and go to the police station to explain it to the duty insp, they seem to be a tad more tolerant than the BIB on the stop check. I did it not that long ago, paid nothing and got the BIB a telling off, i know as he came back to the polcie station while i was there. it does work but not every time.

They have little or no training in running stop checks and I did explain that, and they listened perhaps new broom etc, I noticed tonight 2100 hrs they are on Route two going into town stopping just about everything moving.

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by douglas » October 12, 2012, 8:38 am

Hi.
KP you are spot on there. I did the same thing when i was stopped for speeding, i had not gone over 95, he stated i was clocked at 120 and asked for 100B, which sent red lights flashing. I said i had no money and if he give me a ticket i wouuld take it to the nearest police station and sort it out. He waved me on and said watch your speed TIT. Might be better to fit a tachograph.
I go through that junction nearly every day. Each time the BIB had a check point, which is often, there were two lanes open, the left hand and the middle one. They only had the right lane blocked. The people they wanted to check they waved them into the left lane, the others they waved through the center lane.

KB_Texas

New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by KB_Texas » October 12, 2012, 9:31 am

douglas wrote:Hi.
I go through that junction nearly every day. Each time the BIB had a check point, which is often, there were two lanes open, the left hand and the middle one. They only had the right lane blocked. The people they wanted to check they waved them into the left lane, the others they waved through the center lane.
I go through there quite often myself, and the usual way is as you have stated. However, yesterday there were so many vehicles stopped that it effectively became a one middle lane open, as the vehicles could not pull all the way left. Then when they stopped the truck, it just stopped in the middle lane, and the right lane was blocked by another truck trying to pull left, so nowhere to go. As I said...IF we had run a red light, I would have paid the 200 baht and been done with it...no biggie. However, their lack of understanding of the traffic flow created the issue, and I felt it was quite unfair to give a ticket for it.

Next time I will ask for the ticket and sort it out at the station. I did not know that was possible, so I appreciate the information.

KB

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by douglas » October 12, 2012, 3:57 pm

Hi,
JS says that you should only enter a junction if your exit is clear. This applies, in most countries, to a junction which has a yellow box with cross dia. yellow lines in it, if there is a vec. in it, that has stopped to turn R or L. this is O.K. but you must not enter until your exit is clear. i.e. the said vec. has moved off the yellow lines, In this case, no yellow box and the J was controlled by Taffic Lights. A completely different case. When the green light is on, as with any T.L. con. J, without a yellow box, you proceed with caution. At least this is the rule in most countries in the world. And is in their H.W. Codes.
As to the police controlling the T.L. man. I have only seen this in LOS when some big nobs are coming. TIT.
IMHO i dont think the OP was at fault and should not have been fined. If you were driving through a TL con J and the car if front of you stopped/stalled etc. it is not your fault and you should not be fined. IMHO.

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by harmonyudon » October 12, 2012, 4:17 pm

Information regarding police corruption specifically in the state of Udon Thani could not be found :shock: among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate; however, the following information addresses police corruption in Thailand.
Several sources report that two bills intended to restructure the Thai police force are being drafted (The Nation 10 July 2007; ibid. 4 July 2007; AHRC 10 July 2007). These bills provide for an increase in salary, suggest a merit-based system and propose mechanisms that will essentially reduce "political interference" (The Nation 10 July 2007). They are also supposed to address the patronage system that has been seen as a root cause of police corruption, and one of the bills also proposes the establishment of independent police complaint boards (ibid.; see also ibid. 4 July 2007 and AHRC 10 July 2007). The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) criticizes such reforms and alleges that they will ultimately fail for three reasons: there is no public support for such police reforms, there is currently no rule of law established, and the reforms propose generic solutions which do not address the "real problems" of the Thai police force (10 July 2007). For example, the bills suggest decentralisation when the AHRC is of the opinion that command responsibility would be the solution to deal with corruption (10 July 2007).
The Nation indicates that investigations have been started following complaints from motorists of illegal tolls set up by traffic police (17 Feb. 2006). Fourteen places have been identified where such illegal tolls are set up by police officers including Vibhavadi-Rangsit, Rama IV, Kanchanapisek, Phaholyothin, Rachapreuk, Soi Charan Sanitwong 13, Tripetch, Ngarmwongwan, Sathorn Nua and Phetburi roads as well as the Surawong and Urupong intersections (The Nation 17 Feb. 2006).
From this article/report:
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,456 ... ,,THA.html
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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by bigsnake » October 14, 2012, 8:28 am

On a side note at this very same intersection, I have notice on three occasions they also stop/fine people for no Helmets, then one the very same POLICEMEN (looks like the shift supervisor), will get on his Motorcycle and ride off Service Cap ONLY! ABOVE the LAW??

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by FrazeeDK » October 14, 2012, 11:53 am

to quote Judge Dredd.. I'm sure that Thai Police supervisor would tell you, "I am the law!!!!"
Dave

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by urban legend » October 14, 2012, 3:11 pm

nescafe jar in the glove box at all times udonites!!

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New Twist to the Police scam?

Post by jackspratt » October 14, 2012, 3:32 pm

urban legend wrote:nescafe jar in the glove box at all times udonites!!
You wouldn't have to worry Danny - they don't stop Mercs or Beemers. :D

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