Aug
20
An Honest Cop
August 20, 2007 |
I had a quite pleasant flight across the bay to Thailand this time, and everything was on schedule. Nan was waiting for me at the airport and finding the rental guy for the truck was easy.
Excellent service from Thairentacar. And I would recommend them for later. The only mishap from their side was giving us a bigger and better car than I had actually booked, but no extra charge was made.
So off we went in our Toyota Vigo 3.0L. We motored down to Chon Buri town, where we checked into the first hotel we saw, then had something to eat together. It was wonderful just to be together again.
The next morning we set off for Putthaisong. And had driven about 50 meters from the hotel when we had to make a U-turn.
“Can make to turn here teerak.”
“You sure, this don’t look like a U-turn”
“Yes sure, can to turn”
So I did, and about 5 seconds later I was waved to the curb by a stern looking policeman. Who pointed back, and sure, there was the no u-turn sign. The cop took my Norwegian drivers licence, and after some explaining we agreed that yes, it did indeed indicate that I was allowed to operate a motor vehicle. I never had to show him my international licence.
But he kept it, and wrote us a ticket, and told us to go to the police station to pay. My first encounter with an honest cop in Thailand. We found the police station and did not have to wait long. Officials where working full tilt collecting money from an assorted number of motocy taxi dudes and all sorts of other people that had infringed on Thai traffic laws that morning.
I was given a double ticket. 250 baht for making an illegal u-turn, and another for driving without a seat belt. As soon as the I had forked over those 500 baht, they called the cop who showed up 5 minutes later with my drivers licence, handed it back to me and wished us a happy stay in Thailand with a smile.
Nan was not happy about the money, but she was nagging me about wearing seat belts the rest of my time in Thailand. Me on the other hand, ribbed her about u-turns and reading signs for 2 weeks. Anyway, we were only delayed about 30 minutes, so we motored on towards Korat, where we planned to do some shopping. It was a nice drive up there.
And soon we where parked outside Tesco Lotus…
More later. Got to do some work.
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Comments
3 Comments so far
Hey Rune.
In the bigger places out of Isaan the police are everywhere. They get you like this all the time.
Bangkok is a really big trap for farangs as there are so many obscure rules and the police are everywhere.
I haven’t been fined once in Thailand touch wood but agai I do obey the law to a tee usually. When we go anywhere in a car it is always seat belts on and Noot hates this idea as well. She now wears a motorcycle helmet everywhere now and so does her younger sister thankfully.
Hell, Thai people hate sitting in the car they want to sit in the fresh air in the back of the truck and helmets mess their hair up.
Look forward to more stories and pictures of the shack and what the bloody clour is. That’s whats killing me. Nans surprise in colour.
Brunty
Yea them U turns ell get ya. Im of the understandi ng that Thailand accepts drivers licenses from various countries, no need for an international.
Good to see ya back, 26 more daze for me!!! Whoopie!!!
Man what are we going to do when you move there full time? Your blog wont be up and running much!!!
PS: NO SUCH ANIMAL AS AN HONEST COP, THEY ARE A MYTH