Smoking, littering etc.

[ciobha]

Following on from some posts in Icebergs trip reports, ( didn't want the all new and improved politically correct Bumpa slapping my wrists for going ) so I thought I would follow up with a seperate thread.

I too was recently pulled up by the BIB, over the smoking thing. Now I know, I was in the wrong throwing my stub in the street, but as some have mentioned before, almost all litter bins have been removed from sukhumvit, and ashtrays don't appear in thin air.
What actually truly got me, was the fact that this eagle eyed copper spotted me from 100 yards, through a large crowd of people, disposing a butt, yet half an hour later he couldn't see 25 yards clear in front of him where a farang was getting a booting!!!TIT.
On my trip to the famous booth, ( near soi2) I got away with 500baht fine, as I declared that was all I had on me at the time. Strangely the Sergeant in the booth was more than willing to accept this, rather than have me fill in the official forms! Hmmm, I wonder why.
I was shown the "official sheet" stating the litter law, which of course was news to me, 2000 baht fine first time etc.

Are there sny other 'hidden laws' in LOS that BM's should know about, obviously aimed solely at relieving farang of their hard earned?
Our beloved residents, it's over to you.

[Road Runner]

Good idea for a thread Ciobha.

Drinking laws are a possible one for scams but as yet I have not heard of anyone being caught.

The age to drink in Thailand is actually 20 and has been since 2006.
In my experience clubs seem to exclude underage Thais but let underage falangs in.
As I have never been in a police raid in Thailand I don't know what they do if they find underage falangs in a club.

RR.

[Bumpa STIKKA]

(ciobha @ Nov. 24 2010,02:09) Are there any other 'hidden laws' in LOS that BM's should know about...

Ask anyone who has ever rented a motorcycle!

As in most countries these days - motorists are hammered as a form of indirect taxation whether its above or below the counter.

I don't think it matters what the law is in Thailand as the enforcement of any law depends on the finance package railing against it!

I think every smoker on this forum has been done for flicking a butt into the street on Sukhumvit road.

[kahuna]

Take care if you take the bus from Pattaya to BKK...There are usually a couple of the boys
hanging out at the Ekamai station waiting for suspects/victims...Don't loiter or litter...Grab
your luggage and move out fast...I don't know if they are real cops but they do have real guns...

I was with a friend and he wanted to have a cig before moving on...Sure enough they called
us over and went through our luggage and found a very small amount of funny tobacco in his
bag and it ended up costing him 20,000 baht...An expensive lesson to be sure...

Later I heard from others that will will demand a fine/payment/bribe if they find kamagra or other
like drugs...Which are illegal in Thailand without a Dr's prescription...

[daveduke007]

I did get gripped once by a member of the BIB ( who appeared from nowhere   )  on Nana Soi 4 after dispersing a cigarette butt down a grid.

I pleaded my "innocence" as I explained I put it down a grid and did not flick it on the Soi itself, but alas to no avail   and  I was ushered to the Police Box ( just past Bully's Pub) on Sukhumvit  

As the Policeman in the box wrote out my Charge sheet I asked him how much it was going to cost me

He replied "2000 Baht Sir"

"2000 Baht" I said in a completely surprised tone of voice

He looked at me and then said "OK 1000 Baht"

Done Deal, TIT  

I was "guilty" and its THEIR law's so I was more than happy with the result  

It has also made me very conscience if I "light up" in the streets of Bangkok or anywhere else in Thailand for that matter
I have learnt my lesson and I always disperse of my butt in the correct manner nowadays 

[kahuna]

As far as motorbikes go...In Pattaya the cops seem to be unbiased on who they stop to impose their fines...Actually I see a lot more Thais stopped than falangs...
That could be, of course, that there are a lot more Thais on bikes than falangs...A financial necessity...

I was sitting recently outside at the Starbucks at TukCom enjoying my coffee and treat...For those who don't know, there is a pedestrian crosswalk right there...
Not that any vehicles ever pay any attention if someone is in the crosswalk but the curb at the crosswalk is clearly marked NO PARKING...Which to a Thai means
RESERVED PARKING...

On this day the thinnest of ladyboys couldn't have squeezed her tiny ass between the bikes to cross at the crosswalk if she wanted to...The boys recognizing the
potential profits, pulled a pickup truck up and loaded all the bikes in back and drove away...You can imagine the comedy that unfolded when folks came back to
retrieve their motorbikes...

[Steff]

Kahuna, are you saying if the police inspect my luggage and discover unpackaged cialis I am vulnerable to be charged? I never take the original packaging with me. I break out the pills and re package in a more compact vile. Furthermore how does one prove prescription from a foreign land? Goodness, please tell me I do not need to smuggle my cranker artillery into LOS.

[Bumblebee]

I read elsewhere about a guy that was stopped by the BiB for disposing of his cigarette in a grid on Sukhumvit Rd. When he pleaded that he was actually disposing of it from public view, the cop explained that blocking the sewer system of Bangkok carries a bigger fine than littering the streets. So he either payed up for the "minor" offense or get screwed for the more serious one..

[Steff]

You know what guys? I think there is only ONE message here. Quit smoking! At least in public. Fuck it. My walk from my hotel to a bar at Nana is what? 3 minutes? Lots of ashtrays there.

[kahuna]

(Steff @ Nov. 24 2010,04:53)  

Kahuna, are you saying if the police inspect my luggage and discover unpackaged cialis I am vulnerable to be charged? I never take the original packaging with me. I break out the pills and re package in a more compact vile. Furthermore how does one prove prescription from a foreign land? Goodness, please tell me I do not need to smuggle my cranker artillery into LOS.

I surely ain't no expert but first, you gotta place yourself in a vulnerable position...Such as hanging outside Ekamai Bus Station smoking a cig instead of hopping in a taxi or running up to BTS...

Second, if they are legal and you got them from a pharmacy in Canada, keep them in the container the pharmacy put them in.  I don't know what they do in Canada, but in the USA the container has your name, the Dr.'s name, the prescription, etc., etc...If you don't have a legal prescription, get one...Keep the bottle...And just keep filling it up with your less than legal supply...In fact, use any old bottle you have...The boys won't know the fucking difference...EDIT:  You do carry a copy of your passport with you to prove your identity...Right?

If you're still worried, stick them in your pocket...They ain't gonna, to use the popular phrase going around the USA these past few days, touch your junk...Unless you just happen to run into a ladyboy cop...

When you arrive or leave the country, no one gives a rat's ass...

[rossco]

There are, as in all countries, many laws.

The difference is in how they are implemented or enforced.
Motor Cycle helmets - population were indifferent until the police started fining them. But in my village I see 10 year olds driving the bike and no helmet.

Smoking ban in bars/restaurants - not much sign of enforcement.

No shirt in a bar or public place - I was only told of this recently.

Driving on one side of the road - yeah!

Turning on motor lights after 6.00pm - yeah!

And of course the big one:

What age is sex legal with an LB?
Legally a male so is it 15. For a Girl 15 with parental/guardian consent.

[Bumpa STIKKA]

This is scary stuff for sure but it's easy to get the 'possibility' of being screwed over out of proportion.

I've been here a while now and have never had a run in with the cops... even when (back in the early days) I probably could have.

[Torurot]

It's illegal to have three on a M/C if the third person is sitting in FRONT of the driver. 1000Bt fine. Ok to have three so long as the DRIVER is wearing a M/C helmet.

[pacman]

If the BiB in LOS want to shake you down for cash, they can always come up with something. What they charge you with will depend on how much they need money & you can be singled out for any number of reasons. You might be behaving like a dickhead by being loud & drunk or you just may look affluent & are alone. It's the luck of the draw & you can make it far worse by screaming for justice or any of those other ridiculous western concepts that carry little weight in Thailand.

Most of the time the police are fine & show little interest in tourists quietly going about their business. But when their superiors give the order to crack down (a euphemism for raising some cash) then they only have to pull you over, give you a quick frisk & lo & behold, what have we here, a small bag of amphetamines. Or lollies, it doesn't matter, once they get you to the station & start talking about jail, you will be happy to pay the 5,000 or 10,000 baht to forget the whole thing.

I haven't heard any stories about this scam for a long time but it was alive & well many years ago & I can see no reason why it wouldn't be just as effective today.

[Road Runner]

(kahuna @ Nov. 24 2010,01:58) the container has your name, the Dr.'s name, the prescription, etc., etc...
...In fact, use any old bottle you have...The boys won't know the fucking difference...

I find an old bottle that once held pain killers is very useful for keeping other tablets in.....      

RR.