Automobile Licenses Plates

Note the Red Tag

I have noted, that there are various colored licenses plates used here in Thailand. The most common is white. This you normally see on most passenger trucks, cars and vans. Then there is yellow, which you see on taxis, buses, school vans, etc things dealing with passenger transportation. There are also green which are on rental cars like you get from a rental agency. And then there are red plates which you see on all new vehicles. This you normally display for about 45 days until you permanent tags arrive.

When this red tag is issued, there is also a little book (all in Thai) that goes along with it. I assumed it was sort of like a temporary title/registration certificate as we were told to keep in the the glove box. Wrong.

Yesterday, I loaded up the family in our new truck with my brother-in-law driving and we drove 150 kilometers for the purpose of having a steak dinner and loading up on some western food items. The town we were going to visit was Nakhon Ratchasima which is two Providences away.

As soon as we left our home providence we were stopped at a police check point and they wanted to see our little book. All discussions were in Thai and I had no idea as to what was going on, but I noted that the policeman was given a 100 baht note and we drove on. As soon as we entered the next Provence, we were again pulled over at a police check point. Again we paid 100 baht to the policeman and were again on our way.

I now started asking questions. It seems that when you have a new vehicle, you can drive it around your providence with no questions asked. However, if you are going to leave your providence you must go to the local Motor Vehicle Office. You write in your little book that goes with the red plates all sorts of information about your vehicle, where you are going, what time you are going, when you are coming back. Anyway, lots of stuff. The people at the DMV must approve you trip and sign your little book.

Of course we didn't do any of this, the dealer didn't explain any of this and of course we didn't read the instructions contained in the front of the book which the policeman was kind enough to point out. Neither does anyone else as only cars with red tags were being pulled over. Our salemans only instructions were to keep it in the glove compartment.

So the scam runs like this. You enter a new providence and are pulled over as they see the red tags. He notes that your book is not signed. The fine is 400 baht but you have to turn back and go to the police station, wait sdveral hours, then pay you fine. However, for a mere 100 baht the policeman will not write a paper ticket and you can be on your merry way. No wonder policemen who's salary is relatively low have big cars, own businesses, send their kids to the better schools and live in nice homes.

Live and learn. No more out of providence trips for a while. I'm sure I'll run into some more scams though which I will duly report.