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.
), 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.
Not sureredwolf wrote:.
odd as it's the 11th so there must be some holiday or lottery coming up.
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 
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.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).
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.Ouch another money earning idea :-"Mosquito wrote: Have to generalize, isn't there a new law about defaming the police??
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.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.
Information regarding police corruption specifically in the state of Udon Thani could not be foundamong 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).
From this article/report: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).
You wouldn't have to worry Danny - they don't stop Mercs or Beemers.urban legend wrote:nescafe jar in the glove box at all times udonites!!
