Scooter Towed

[gaprau25 0]

Buyer beware!

 

On my last trip, I got my scooter towed for illegal parking. Luckily, the police station on Soi 9/Beach Road have two Western volunteer staff who were totally helpful and explained the ropes. The fine was 500B, and they told me to take a motorcycle taxi to the place they wrote for me on the back of the ticket.

 

I went to the cycle-taxi stand on the corner of soi 9 where they told me it would cost 700B to go there. I was under the impression (from a buddy) that it was way the hell out past Naklua, so I was prepared to pay up to 400, but 700?? Not a fuckin' chance. They came down to 600, but wouldn't budge past that. In fact, they started really getting aggressive and in my face about how much money we foreigners have and how little they have, yadda yadda yadda. (No, I was not being aggressive. I was bartering the whole time with a smile and joking around -- usually works fine).

 

Anyway, I guess they have enough stupid newbies who will pay that price, so they can sit on their ass all afternoon and only work 2 times a day to make enough to get by on. OK, so it's a seller's market there. So be it. Their loss. So I just said thank you and walked up to Second Road (thinking it would be on the way to N. Pattaya anyway). There was a meter taxi parked at the top of the soi. "Can you take me here?" I asked, showing him the address. "Sorry, but I can't take you." WTF? He explained he was a Bangkok taxi driver. "The Pattaya motorcycle mafia is very strong," he tells me. "Go talk to them," he says, pointing to the usual group of half-wit motorcycle taxi drivers lounging around their bikes.

 

With these guys, I stupidly started at 400B (still stunned from the last 2 encounters, I guess). The guy says 500, and I jump on. Interestingly, the helmet he gave me was broken. "No problem," he says. "No need helmet." I guess the irony of going to pick up a bike towed for illegal parking, driving illegally with no helmet escaped him. I showed him that the problem was that the strap was broken. "No problem, no need strap." I didn't even try to mime the old TV commercial about how your head explodes like a pumpkin smashing against a tree when you go ballistic in an accident...I just grabbed a helmet off his buddy's bike.

 

Now here's the rub: The impound center is not in Naklua. It's just off South Pattaya Road, between 3rd Road and Sukhumvit (Corrected from previous edit -- sorry). From S.Pattaya Road it takes about 3 minutes by scooter. So for anybody getting towed, first confirm with the cops the location of the impound center, then walk up beach road till you find a taxi to take you for 100B.

Edited January 13, 2008 by gaprau25

[Guest anto1]

Buyer beware!

 

On my last trip, I got my scooter towed for illegal parking. Luckily, the police station on Soi 9/Beach Road have two Western volunteer staff who were totally helpful and explained the ropes. The fine was 500B, and they told me to take a motorcycle taxi to the place they wrote for me on the back of the ticket.

 

I went to the cycle-taxi stand on the corner of soi 9 where they told me it would cost 700B to go there. I was under the impression (from a buddy) that it was way the hell out past Naklua, so I was prepared to pay up to 400, but 700?? Not a fuckin' chance. They came down to 600, but wouldn't budge past that. In fact, they started really getting aggressive and in my face about how much money we foreigners have and how little they have, yadda yadda yadda. (No, I was not being aggressive. I was bartering the whole time with a smile and joking around -- usually works fine).

 

Anyway, I guess they have enough stupid newbies who will pay that price, so they can sit on their ass all afternoon and only work 2 times a day to make enough to get by on. OK, so it's a seller's market there. So be it. Their loss. So I just said thank you and walked up to Second Road (thinking it would be on the way to N. Pattaya anyway). There was a meter taxi parked at the top of the soi. "Can you take me here?" I asked, showing him the address. "Sorry, but I can't take you." WTF? He explained he was a Bangkok taxi driver. "The Pattaya motorcycle mafia is very strong," he tells me. "Go talk to them," he says, pointing to the usual group of half-wit motorcycle taxi drivers lounging around their bikes.

 

With these guys, I stupidly started at 400B (still stunned from the last 2 encounters, I guess). The guy says 500, and I jump on. Interestingly, the helmet he gave me was broken. "No problem," he says. "No need helmet." I guess the irony of going to pick up a bike towed for illegal parking, driving illegally with no helmet escaped him. I showed him that the problem was that the strap was broken. "No problem, no need strap." I didn't even try to mime the old TV commercial about how your head explodes like a pumpkin smashing against a tree when you go ballistic in an accident...I just grabbed a helmet off his buddy's bike.

 

Now here's the rub: The impound center is not in Naklua. It's just off South Pattaya Road, between 2nd and 3rd Road. From S.Pattaya Road it takes about 3 minutes by scooter. So for anybody getting towed, first confirm with the cops the location of the impound center, then walk up beach road till you find a taxi to take you for 100B.

 

 

Your not a very good negotiator .You offer 400 baht to the motorcycle taxi ,when the fare should be about 30 baht .

[short 215]

A friend of mine got a ticket here in the states for basically nothing, but he decided to dispute it right or wrong. He ended up having to make three trips to the court house and the case was eventually thrown out because the policeman had no desire to appear in court when he was working night shift. The lost work time probably cost the the guy $1000.

 

The policeman obviously never intended to show for court. He knew the inconvienance would be punishment enough for the offense.

[Eneukman 1]

A friend of mine got a ticket here in the states for basically nothing, but he decided to dispute it right or wrong. He ended up having to make three trips to the court house and the case was eventually thrown out because the policeman had no desire to appear in court when he was working night shift. The lost work time probably cost the the guy $1000.

 

The policeman obviously never intended to show for court. He knew the inconvienance would be punishment enough for the offense.

 

If I was a judge and anyone failed to turn up in court without good reason, I would issue a warrant for their immiedaite arrest for contempt of court and send them to prison for 7 days - policeman or not.

 

Alan

[Hub 203]

Your not a very good negotiator .You offer 400 baht to the motorcycle taxi ,when the fare should be about 30 baht .

I think that was the point of the post - that he got burned because they used his misfortune against him.

 

I am glad he didn't pay those assholes the 700.

 

The motobike taxis have a nice little scam with the cops on confiscated motorbikes - like the ones left of walking street after dark.

[Guest anto1]

OP ,i agree its not fare ,but you have got to know the prices of things here or people will scam you .For example never give a baht bus 20 baht ( they mostly will not give change ).Just have a 10 baht coin ready to give .

 

.

Edited January 5, 2008 by anto1

[bigmick 840]

i once got my bike taken away and had to pay the 500 at the station, my motorbike taxi cost me 40 baht, just goes to show theres always someone trying to rip you off were ever or what ever happens

[Hub 203]

OP ,i agree its not fare ,but you have got to know the prices of things here or people will scam you .For example never give a baht bus 20 baht ( they mostly will not give change ).Just have a 10 baht coin ready to give .

 

.

I think the point was that he didn't know where the impound was and he states it should have been only 100.

 

Also, 30 baht seems pretty low for a MB taxi, I thought they were getting abit more for even short trips, but may be wrong.

[Guest anto1]

>>Also, 30 baht seems pretty low for a MB taxi, I thought they were getting abit more for even short trips, but may be wrong.<<

 

As i understand it ,he wanted to go from the police station on soi 9 to south pattaya road between 2 nd and 3 rd roads .I dont know the exact fare but would be very surprised if it was over 50 baht narmal fare .If the compound was in Nakula ,i would be thinking 70-80 baht .

[Hub 203]

>>Also, 30 baht seems pretty low for a MB taxi, I thought they were getting abit more for even short trips, but may be wrong.

 

As i understand it ,he wanted to go from the police station on soi 9 to south pattaya road between 2 nd and 3 rd roads .I dont know the exact fare but would be very surprised if it was over 50 baht narmal fare .If the compound was in Nakula ,i would be thinking 70-80 baht .

Anto:

 

That sounds correct.

 

Either way, his was a good warning that once anyone knew where he needed to go (the impound) they were going to try and overcharge or not take him at all.

 

He admits to being shook up and agreeing on the 500, but who wouldn't be after all that?

[vidman 2]

Where exactly is this impound area ????

[gaprau25 0]

Yes, I definitely over paid that guy. But the main reason was that my US buddy had told me it was waaaaaay on the North Side. He said it took well over half an hour to get there. And given that the motorcycle taxis in town -- particularly on beach road -- won't budge for less that 60 baht, and since I was at an obvious disadvantage not knowing the exact destination, I knew it was going to be on the expensive side.

 

Anyway, the reason for this post is to tell others that the impound is NOT so far away. Confirm it with the cops, and get a map if you have to. Then you should be able to keep the taxi fare to a minimum. Happy bartering!

 

Oh, and Vidman, sorry, but I can't say exactly where it is, as I was too lazy to draw a map down before I forgot. But it's not so far off South Pattaya Road.

[lv2play 0]

In fact, they started really getting aggressive and in my face about how much money we foreigners have and how little they have, yadda yadda yadda.

 

This will become a mayor Farang/Thai problem in near future,it shows up everywhere.

[stevoman 2]

Sounds to me like their reps have been attending the Angeles trikes school of "Friendly Persuasion and charm"

[Emil 0]

This is hindsight, but you should have gotten away from those guys and then asked for a ride or if you had gotten a general direction from the police then take a baht bus in that direction for 10 baht. Then show a motorbike driver the address. If you can get a taxi in Pattaya for 800 baht to go all the way to the airport then anything close should be around 100 baht.

[explorer2190 0]

I had a bike towed in November. Arrived at Police station and Fines are shown clearly in English at counter. I took advice of forum by just smiling and paying. Saw plenty of people arguing pointlessly. The result was the police were helpful in giving directions to site where bike was. I spoke to the two falang police volounteers who also helped with directions. They did not however give me a guide price for bike taxi(Seemed an obvious question, but maybe they are under pressure not to help in this regard).

 

I took bike taxi outside without asking for fare price. Arrived at bike pound, which is a bit off the main track. I thought fair price was 50bht. Rider wanted 100bht. Smiled and joked with rider who accepted it.

 

I think the main point is try to stay smiling even if upset.

Find out as much as you can (directions, location) before getting taxi.

Try to make judgment of taxi. If aggressive, move on. In the main I found the taxi riders ok but there are always aggressive and arrogant ones, just move on.

 

I can`t remember the exact location but it was in a turning before a major store like Big C at Suckhumvit and down a couple of windy lanes (About 2 miles from police station).

 

Hope this helps

[sinbinjack 243]

I have been fascinated by the topic from the beginning but, my interest was not with the fine or the fare to the pound ,I was more interested in where the fuck did the OP leave his bike so that it got Towed as most of the time the Thais and us Falangs seem to just park it next to another bike and leave it at that.Please let me know as I would be very interested, and it could stop me from getting towed .

[gaprau25 0]

where the fuck didthe OP leave his bike so that it got Towed

I had parked just in front of that Russian BBQ restaurant between Pattaya Glang and Soi 7 on Beach Road. There were bikes there, so I just did the park and dash to the beach. But when I got back, it was empty, and I could see the white cross lines and no parking sign. My bad.

 

From that point, I either went to a side soi, where I don't think anybody ever gets towed, or I looked for the mini parking space lines, like the ones in front of the new shopping complex on Second Road, or in front of Royal Garden --- assuming the fucking motorcycle taxi guys don't tell you that only they're allowed to park there, as they often do, using up 1/4 of the available spaces. Pricks.

 

:

[Sa-teef 44]

Good information and glad to know approximately where the impound lot is just in case it ever happens.

 

But aren't you guys overpaying the motocy?

 

I was taking one from Third Road/Soi Xzyte to Walking Street a few times this last year when I didn't want to take the moto and always paid 30 baht. Sometimes in the early hours they would ask for 40 baht on the return trip but I always told them my price when I got on and most times they were fine with that.

 

Strangely enough, the teelack went from Pattayaland Two to the apartment on Soi 17/ Third Road on two occasions and they charged her 50 baht once and 60 baht the other time.

 

Half the price if you know where you're going (she didn't; that was the reason she wouldn't take the moto home herself).

 

~Sa-teef

[vidman 2]

Rising Gasoline prices have pushed the moto boys prices up somewhat! They're not the cheap mode of transport that they used to be.

 

Well at least we are narrowing the location of the police pound down a bit. The first bloke said between 2nd rd and 3rd rd......last poster said between 3rd and sukumvit (which seems more likely as more spare land).

 

The one favourite police tow area is on the right hand side just past the bamboo bar on south pat rd. There is legit parking bays but as you get closer to the lights (and police sunshade) this area turns to red/no parking. Every night the cops wait til about 10bikes park then they run a big chain around all the wheels til the pickup boy comes and takes them away.

 

Also watch out on the thappraya rd (end soi diamond etc) as they alternate the parking side from right side to left side (depending on the direction of the wind).

[marleyboy 140]

Ive been stopped and fined about 5 or 6 times over the years. Most I paid was 400 baht. Every time I had to pay the fine (bar 1) it had to be paid at Jomtiem nick . So I left the bike where it was (normally at a junction by a police box), got a taxi-bike to Police station and returned to police box, showed them the reciept and picked up bike! Guess it must be a new thing, them moving the bikes then? .As for motobike taxis, I ask them how much to wherever Im going, and barter them down!. eg. soi khaotalo (wrong side off sukhumvitt!) into say soi diana was about 70 baht in March. Although geting a taxi back to Soi khaotalo costs more! maybe 100 baht.

I do get pissed off getting fined.............. but to put things into perspective, I drive without a license anyway etc etc! I wouldnt dream of doing that in good?? old blighty!

[RibaldRay 2]

For example never give a baht bus 20 baht ( they mostly will not give change ).Just have a 10 baht coin ready to give

 

Hmm, you may be in too much of a rush. If you only have a 20, hand it in and leave your arm and hand in the window.

 

They few times I have had the driver pretend it was the correct amount, they feinted the no-change thing, but I have never had them try to drive off with my arm and hand still in the window.

 

They reluctantly make a big deal to search the ash-tray or glove compartment for 10B change but my arm is still right in there and hand held out.

 

I see it as a game. I know it is only 30-cents but I like to make them work so maybe they won't try to scam the next guy.

 

Dave

[gaprau25 0]

Well at least we are narrowing the location of the police pound down a bit. The first bloke said between 2nd rd and 3rd rd......last poster said between 3rd and sukumvit (which seems more likely as more spare land).

 

Whoops! My bad! Sorry about that. Yes, it's off South Pattaya road between 3rd Rd and Sukhumvit, on a soi that heads in the Jomtien direction. I just corrected my original post.

 

Sorry!

[Firepole 181]

Yes, I definitely over paid that guy. But the main reason was that my US buddy had told me it was waaaaaay on the North Side. He said it took well over half an hour to get there.

GODDAMNED AMERICANS! Always fucking something up!

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2008 by Firepole

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The thing that stands out for me is the two farang police volunteers. Why didn't they tell the guy where the compound was? Doesn't sound very helpful at all.