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Finchy
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I tried to do a search for similar topics but when I do it just takes me back to the log in screen. I did a quick check and could not find anything. If the topic already exists, apologies.
Last night I went to Soi 33 and had a few beers. Around 11pm I walked up to Soi 23 to get some food. As I walked past Cowboy (away from Suk) two police officers on a bike stopped me. They asked me if I speak Thai, in Thai, and without the Krup. While my Thai is not up to the standard of LY, Dr L or Sorapong I know enough to get by. I said I speak a little bit. I was then told to empty my pockets and he patted me down. He checked inside my cig packet and then asked if he could look inside my wallet. I had about Bt5k and though uh-uh, i'm about to make a donation to the Help the Local MIB fund. Fair play to the guy, he had a good root through my wallet but didnt take anything.
All the time he was asking me questions - are you drunk, where do you come from, are you a tourist, where have you been etc. I answered all questions politely, in Thai and kept a smile on my face.
When he'd finished he apologised and and I said mai pen rai. He then started hinting that I should buy him and his mate a beer but I played dumb and said no I'm not drunk, I'm going home.
Whilst I think they were out of order stopping and searching me, as I hardly look like a dodgy character and I was walking home with some food minding my own business, I have to say that they were courteous and polite (apart from never using krup) and didn't try to solicit a bribe for some made up offence. Maybe I fitted the description of some farang who had been up to something. Thats two run-ins with the MIB that I have had and both times I was treated pretty well. Mind you, both times I had done nothing.
Just wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar experience.
Also does anyone know if there are any restrictions on the Stop and Search powers here, as there are in England. I know TIT and they can pretty much do as they like, but I wondered if there was any particular rules governing it.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:05 pm on Mar. 10, 2005
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Triyclops
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I don't know how far the MIB can go in a "Stop and Search" but its a bloody good question  and I will consult my Thai Lawyer and get back with the info.
This only strengthens a point I was trying to make not so long ago while I was in a the Country Road Bar in soi 19, upstairs playing pool with another Brit (tourist) and he asked me (after just 2 games) if I knew where to get some shit!
I told him in no uncertain terms to f*** Right Off!!!
To even consider the use of any kind of drugs in LOS is a big No No!
I drink alcholhol and that's it. 
TC =
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 12:25 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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ftumch
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Exactly the same thing happaned to a mate of mine in exactly the same place about 3 months ago. He was on his way home from Soi 33 to his apartment on Asoke in a taxi at 1 am. They stopped the taxi and strip searched him even down to taking off his socks and shoes and trying to open the heel. Went through his cigarette packet. Took out all the cloret mints from the container.
He was afraid they wanted to plant something on him and he made sure the taxi driver stuck around. But again he says they were very polite but brusque. The same cops?
As I have said elsewhere, the law is what a Thai cop says it is. Don't look for any Human Rights issues.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:08 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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Finchy
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Tricyclops
Thanks for that. I would be very interested to know my rights in this respect.
ftumch
Although I want to know the score I also realise putting them into practice is a different matter. I knew I was clean and so the easiest, quickest and safest way to deal with this was smile, be polite and dont mouth off. I think speaking some Thai (as long as its not god awful bar girl Thai) and letting them know you are not a tourist helps a little. They specifically asked me if I was a tourist. Maybe they are looking to scam, maybe I fitted the description of someone they wanted. Maybe we are being a little bit racist by automatically assuming that Thai cops are all out to scam us. I dont know.
I also told them I used to be a police officer in England which def helped. When I said that they def became more friendly. Maybe try that if it ever happens to you.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 1:32 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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ftumch
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Sure. If you are clean then best to smile and be co-operative. Why they seem to be targetting farangs travelling between 33 and 23 is anybody's guess. They must have some tip off. It seems unlikely that it is a scam given the way they are behaving.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 1:37 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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Baquawn
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A few weeks ago I got stopped in a taxi leaving Mystique (Soi 31) with two TGs. They looked around a bit in the girls pocket books, patted me down, but that was about it. The girls were doing all the smooth talking and joking with the cops. I about 2 minutes we were on our way. The MIB guys were pretty friendly.
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Posted on: 1:51 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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Abrak
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Quote: from Finchy on 1:26 pm on Mar. 11, 2005
I think speaking some Thai (as long as its not god awful bar girl Thai) and letting them know you are not a tourist helps a little. They specifically asked me if I was a tourist.
Speaking some thai helps? In what way?
And letting them know you are not a tourist. How does that help?
I mean I would assume that the average cop has no interest in the average tourist. But a farang who speaks Thai and lives in Thailand? Maybe he is involved in drugs, prostitution or scams?
I speak reasonable Thai but I dont use it with the police unless I have a very specific reason to.
My guess is that if you had simply said 'I dont understand' when they asked you if you speak Thai, they wouldnt have bothered you at all.
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Posted on: 2:13 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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MarkC
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Quote: from Triyclops on 12:19 pm on Mar. 11, 2005
I don't know how far the MIB can go in a "Stop and Search" but its a bloody good question and I will consult my Thai Lawyer and get back with the info.
Can you ask him which parts of the 'war on drugs' were legal too...
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Posted on: 5:10 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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mrniceguy70
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A Thai police officer can stop you for any reason, with or without cause.
You are required by law to carry with you a Thai identity card or your passport if you are a tourist. If you fail to have either, the police can take you to the station and charge you.
In general, the police won't cause problems. To be stopped in the open is rare. The biggest problems that arise occur when you are in a locale that has been sealed to be searched by the police (type in 'Q bar police' in the search engine and see what turns up).
In short, I wouldn't worry about the police while in the LOS, unless you are doing something illegal.
MRNG70
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 5:48 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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Finchy
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Abrak
I disagree. The officer was already off his bike before I had said anything. I believe he would have searched me whatever I had said to him.
I believe that a tourist or someone who doesnt speak any Thai (or Thai that they had clearly learnt from bar girls and not very polite) may be easier to shakedown and there will be less of a chance of any complaints etc. Someone who lives here may have friends who could make waves by making complaints etc (not me unfortunately). Speaking some polite Thai could help in that it gives the impression that you are more respectable. JMHO
Either way, as I stated earlier I smiled, was polite and spoke with them and they were fine with me. They only checked my pockets, they did not make me take off my shoes and socks like they did with the friend of ftumch and I was on my way within a couple of minutes. The officers were smiling and nodding at me when they left and they even said thank you and the one who searched me patted me on the shoulder in a friendly gesture type way.
However you have to do what is comfortable for you. If I was stopped in a car and could see that I was going to be hit with a "fine" for some alleged traffic offence then I probably would play dumb in the hope that he couldnt speak English and would get frustrated and just send me on my way.
Either way the most important thing is your attitude. They are the guys with the power and showing some respect can only be helpful. Being arsey will only bring you grief. This would be the same in UK, USA or anywhere.
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Posted on: 5:50 am on Mar. 11, 2005
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