Thai Police

Thai Police

The Thai police set up check-points from time to time around a city or town. Sometimes in the rural areas this will be done by the highway police. If you are a foreigner they may try and fine you for an indiscretion or breach of the law such as failing to wear a helmet , they may simply to want a bribe from you. The fine will usually amount to no more than 200 - 500 baht. You can choose to pay the fine either there and then (in which case it is a bribe or tea money) or you can try (gently) arguing your way out of it or refuse entirely. If you speak thai this may help the situation. Officially fines have to be paid at the local police station (Sattani Tam Ruat is thai for police station) and this may be something worth raising to the police if they are demanding money there and then. If you've actually broken the law and the police are demanding a bribe the bribe, then it often makes sense to pay it. As it often works out cheaper this way than going to the police station where the fine is dearer and having to queue up to pay at the desk!