Rough treatment by traffic police

Another example of disrespect,generally speaking,well earned IMO!Combined with a desire to not pay or be ''inconvenienced'' by perceived inconsistent,hypocritical or fair enforcement for legit reasons!
I think most of the people realize that the intent or motive for the police action,is to create income,not correct unlawful acts!In a sense,it is like a game for many, and they take evasive action,if possible.

It damn sure doesn't warrant officers pulling people off of moving vehicles!But the human psychic doesn't always react properly on both side of the coin

In Canada if you tried to run from the police they would run you off the road and if they thought you were a serious threat you could be shot. It happens. Whether the police in Thailand are stopping people for cash or to uphold the law if no one stops and no price is paid it just creates more bad drivers and danger for everyone. Personally when I see the way a lot of people drive here and run from the police and consequences I have little compassion for them.

Firstly there must have been a (or more) breach(es) of regulations, not necessarily crimes. Although Jack is mentioning not wearing a helmet I cannot find that in the OP, so it might be something else, or more than one thing.

Secondly a major breach of regulations is disobeying a stop order by a police officer. As stated in many western countries one would be in severe trouble, not rarely ending in injuries or worse.

Now this moto lady took all the risks for herself and her passenger and cannot complain about the result of fleeing for the police. Lack of respect for an official service like the police is wrong and bad for any democracy.

The fact that police officers take tea money is a general issue in poor countries where they are not paid very well.
It doesn't harm the offender as it is a cheaper and faster "punishment" than the official version, it doesn't bother me at all when it happens, I always think how much the same offense would have cost me in my country of origin.
Very large sums of tea money were collected in a US state where officers ceased money they found in several offender's cars and never returned it but instead transferred it to officer bank accounts.... how you mean TIT?

Not wearing a helmet is a crime IMO, I agree with Texpat, I once passed an accident site near Nong Han, two people (a couple) lost control of the MB and fell on the road (this is the highway Udon-Sakhon), they were ran over by a pick up and their brains were displayed on the pavement as both didn't wear a helmet! Of course one could say they punished themselves but what about the guy who ran them over with his pick up? He was in shock and totally innocent to the accident.

Joe

SanukJoe wrote:... they were ran over by a pick up and their brains were displayed on the pavement as both didn't wear a helmet! ...
Joe

I agree with you, but I do wonder if a helmet would have saved them in this case.

today i sat behind the wife as she was again pulled up for a document check . have any of you ever seen the police do a stop and check in the same manner but this time it is only the motorists who get stopped. ??

I've been stopped twice by the Police. Both times were for no helmet. Paid the 200.00Tbh. But also the cops were very polite the whole time. I have never had any problems with the Police.

I have been stopped numerous times, for licence checks breath test etc, the police have always been polite and courteous without exception. Carried out their checks and sent me on my way, they have never asked for or extracted any cash from me.
I wear a helmet, have a Thai licence and am equally courteous to them. I also have a decent helmet not the plastic ones issued when you purchase or bike or can be bought for 100B

I read so many posts on here regarding the dangerous way Thais drive then see so many Farangs drive motorbikes without helmets, apart from the fact it is breaking the law (albeit for an affordable fine) doesnt anyone think, a helmet may just save your life (when there are so many idiots driving on the road) or is it just 'cool' to cruise around without one and take a chance??

Tafia wrote:I have been stopped numerous times, for licence checks breath test etc, the police have always been polite and courteous without exception. Carried out their checks and sent me on my way, they have never asked for or extracted any cash from me.
I wear a helmet, have a Thai licence and am equally courteous to them. I also have a decent helmet not the plastic ones issued when you purchase or bike or can be bought for 100B

Ditto.

Never a problem. In fact, they are happy to see that I have a Thai license and wave me on my way without hesitation.

Driven 300,000+km in the years we've lived here. Fined once in Pattaya for driving the wrong way on a one way....legit fine and paid it at the police station. Warned a number of times for driving too long in the passing lane, but never fined. Stopped a number of times for document checks, but always waved through after seeing my documents were in order.

As for renegades on motorcycles doing a rapid 180 in the street to avoid a traffic cop......it's senseless, dangerous (for them and for oncoming drivers), and illegal. It has nothing to do with bad cops taking bribes, IMO. Try that stunt in the US and see what happens.

for many the "small fine" maybe all they have for a few days
so this may not just be just a flippant/dangerous/illegal action