Pattaya police scamming foreigners? Nonsense

I worked in a Pattaya police station for nearly four years, some of that time as a team leader for the Foreign Police Volunteers. During my time there, motorists stopped by the police were required to produce an international driving licence if they didn’t have a Thai licence. Letter-writer North Country Man is totally wrong to contend that this is a recent innovation. Furthermore, his contention that an international licence “is just a piece of paper” should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. These licences are issued by responsible organisations such as the Automobile Association that ensure your local driving licence is valid and current and has not been borrowed from your neighbour. 

In addition, North Country Man’s claim that requests by police to see an international licence are nothing but a moneymaking racket is also incorrect. After I moved to the highway police as a volunteer, we were instructed by the chief in Pattaya not to issue any fines to foreigners, but instead to educate them on the licence requirements in Thailand. This process lasted many months, giving foreigners ample warning regarding the requirements. The perception that the police are out to harass drivers is nonsense. If you are driving legally, nobody bothers you. 

The experiences I have gleaned during many roadside checks with the highway police would be enough to fill a novel – likely a best-seller. North Country Man should visit one of these roadblocks and see for himself what the police really have to contend with. He would soon be singing a totally different tune.

Alf Haupt 

Chon Buri