Foreign & Thai Patrons checked during raid of South Pattaya

[Neal]

Mkae sure you are carrying around a copy of your passport!

Just before 1.30am on Thursday, District Officials and civil defence volunteers led by the Chief of Banglamung District, Khun Sapchai, conducted a raid of the Mixx Discotheque at the Bali Hai Plaza in South Pattaya.

On this occasion both Thai and Foreign Patrons were targeted. Passports and Visa checks were made on the foreign patrons and urine tests were conducted on the Thai Patrons, of which 8 failed the test and were arrested by Pattaya Police who were also in attendance.

At the time over 300 patrons were inside the disco. The District Officials also checked licenses and the age of patrons to ensure they were over 20. No irregularities were found.

The 8 arrestees were later sent to Hospital to undertake an evidential drugs test and we understand this raid is expected to be the first of many which will take place over the coming days and weeks as ordered by the Ministry of the Interior.

[egel]

this raid is expected to be the first of many which will take place over the coming days and weeks as ordered by the Ministry of the Interior.

Yep, its low season again...never let anything interefere with money making in high season! TiT.

[RatThai]

Been reading this story on PattayaOne appears the Ministry of the Interior has ordered the police to come down hard on the bars, especially underage staff and patrons, drugs and closing times. Seems the orders are from Bangkok rather than local police.

[arsenal]

Being carted off to immigration for a couple of hours is alwys top of my "must do" list when I go on holiday. However it is nothing compared to the inconvenience (and cost) suffered if you actually lose your passport because you"re carrying it around when it would be better left in the hotel

[Marsilius]

I have always understood that a photocopy - as the OP specified - is acceptable in such circumstances.

[timmberty]

why is it not possible for ex-pats mainly, and hoilday makers to carry an i.d. card same as the thai's do ?
here in england we have hundreds of thousands of polish workers, their i.d. card is all they need to travel within europe, tho i dont know if this is also good for them for worldwide travel. i's suspect they would need a passport for that.
but a small credit sized card would be some much easier to carry, and a good money maker for the thai government..
its not like them to pass up the chance to make a buck or two.

[anonone]

I used to carry my passport all the time when in Thailand, for the first 4 or 5 visits anyway. Being in the pant pocket while in the bars and discos all night is not good.
It now looks like hell and the immigration folks have trouble trying to scan it on occasion.

I will be back in Thailand in a couple weeks and I am not really sure which way I will go. If more of the same is reported, I guess I will carry it with me. If nothing else comes out shortly, I will assume it is a "short-time" (LOL) thing and just leave it in the hotel room.

On a different note, BF and I have been to MIXX disco on several occasions, and took note of nothing obvious that would indicate a raid was needed. Seemed to be well run, tight security, no "shows/gogo dancers"....actually pretty lame. Many free-lance Thai girls in attendance, but nothing major.

BF liked to people watch the straights there and we would dance a bit...(and we got a couple of "looks and smiles", though nothing we followed up on). I would almost think a tea money or warning visit. No passport/visa issues for all the falangs reported, no underage in attendance (no one under 20 in the place !) and only 8 Thai that did not pass the initial pee pee test. Not exactly a den of sin there....and it must have been a slow night. The times we were went, there were more like 3000 than 300 customers.

[newalaan2]

Being carted off to immigration for a couple of hours is alwys top of my "must do" list when I go on holiday. However it is nothing compared to the inconvenience (and cost) suffered if you actually lose your passport because you"re carrying it around when it would be better left in the hotel
Yep, its definitely the choice between the worse of two evils given the minute million-to-one chance of being asked to produce a passort or losing your passpost. I think i'll still take my chances like Arsenal and leave the passport in the room safe. I carry a copy of my UK passport page with photo and details, I also have contact numbers for my bf in Thailand, a relative in UK and my medical insurance provider, policy number and tel number at the bottom. There is plenty of room to put this extra info at the foot of the copied passport page, I laminate it it and fold it in two to credit card size and it's easy to carry around. When I get to Thailand I just get a photocopy of the Thai Immigration slip at the hotel i'm staying or internet cafe and have it in the folded passport copy.....Relevance of this ID information has yet to be tested as I've never had an accident where medical assistance was required or caught in a raid.

I have minimal stuff with me when I go out at night, big money denominations Bt1000's/Bt500's in one pocket, small money Bt100's/ 50/ 20 in the other and a very compact mobile phone. When you take into consideration the thousands of bars, pubs, discos ,clubs etc... the chances of a raid on the venue at the exact moment you are there is millions-to-one. In more than a dozen years/40+ trips I have never been asked to produce my passport other than when driving once.


I have always understood that a photocopy - as the OP specified - is acceptable in such circumstances.
I have heard this countless times over the years too, but never once has anyone stated that their copy HAS been accepted, never. 'Understood' does not count for very much if a photocopy in reality is not acceptable. So has anyone ever produced a copy which has been accepted in place of an original passport?

These raids are a gross waste of time and money, what is the point of searching 300 people out of half a million or so people in and around Pattaya? They are not tea money raids..they are official campaigns. They dont even serve as a warning/deterent....a day after the raid they are forgotton. Anyway how many foreign holiday makers bother to read loacal press or tune into local TV to find out about them?

[Neal]

I have been here since 2001 and I have never been asked to produce my passport. The only time as with Newallan above was when I was driving and someone hit my car. My Internation license was at the house as I had taken it out of the car for some reason and had not put it back. While that looked a bit iffy for me the car papers were also not in the car. The policeman near the Watchai was himming and hawing and shaking his head but he did allow me the time to call my b/f who was in the house to rush the International License to me and I called the car rental agency to run down with the papers and insurance details. The other driver was cited and off I went no problems. I have heard and seen when police kinda shake their head and laugh cause it is a stupid falang and give it a few minutes to sort it out rather than ccarting someone off. Now I am definitely not saying it should never be aa concern but most situations are workable for a few minutes til you can get a b/f or roomate to assist and get your stuff. I don't think there ever woud be a probem with photocopy of your passport and your arrival card.

[Khor tose]

I don't think there ever woud be a probem with photocopy of your passport and your arrival card.

I've been coming to Thailand since 2002 and living here permanently for nearly 4 years and a copy of these two items plus, since I am on a retirement visa, I also carry a ciopy of my "Receipt of Notification" which also has my 90 day report date on it. One piece of paper two sided. If I am flying domestically I just show my Thai drivers License. Only if I am leaving country do I carry my passport.

[colmx]

I used to carry my passport all the time when in Thailand, for the first 4 or 5 visits anyway. Being in the pant pocket while in the bars and discos all night is not good..

Around this time 5 years ago there was another round of similar raids in BKK

Following on advice on this board that i would have "no chance" of getting into any of the discos in Bkk without my Passport... I took my passport out with me...

This was despite the insistence of my BF that there was no need

Of course in 2 nights in Rachada/Lamsari i was never asked once for any form of ID...
And on the 3rd night... I managed to lose my passport!

Of course typically the next day i was due to fly home and coupled with that it was a Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland... so the consulate was closed for the next 2 days.

The bonus was that i got to sepend 6 extra days in Thailand :-)
The bad part was that i had no money left to live it up.. and the hassle of getting the replacement flights, police reports, temporary passport and replacement immigration card were simply not worth it.

Coupled with that getting the replacement passport back home was also a nightmare (notarised/translated police reports) and a warning fro the police that i would not receive a 2nd replacement passport for a period of 10 yeras if i lost the new one!

So my passport is 100% staying in my room!

[Up2U]

I carry a copy of my passport and my original Thai drivers license. When checking in to a hotel I am asked for my passport but I show reception my Thai drivers license which is happily accepted. If I make credit card purchase either my Thai drivers license or copy of passport is accepted. I was cited once when driving a rental car in Phuket and the officer did not accept a copy of my passport. Fortunately, I had my original with me. A Thai policeman or government worker is under no obligation to accept a passport copy or should they. In regards to the mentioned bar raid, it sounds similar to the Mic My raid in Sunee. There, copies of passports were not accepted and the farangs without passports were taken to Immigration at Soi 5 where their immigration status was checked and then they were released.

[francois]

why is it not possible for ex-pats mainly, and hoilday makers to carry an i.d. card same as the thai's do ?
.

For Americans that is a possibility;it is called a USA Passport Card. It is intended for travel to Mexico and Canada for Americans but might serve the purpose in Thailand if one also carried a copy of their actual passport and visa.

[timmberty]

yes francois thats what i mean ... how hard would it be for any and every country to make these things and be able to use them instead of having to worry about carrying a passport around ... ive never carried my passport and ive never yet been stopped .. but you never know.

[bucknaway]

That is what I carried. I locked my passport in my safe but kept the passport card with me. I also used the card when I visited exchange booths or when ID was asked for when I used my credit card.

Yeah but are you confusing what the bank wants for ID and what the police want? I thought they want to see that you are in Thailand legally so they want that paper thing they staple in your passport that shows when you have to leave. One of my friends who has a Thai wife says his Thai driver's licence is usually ok because you can't get one of those unless your on some sort of long term visa and of course its a Thai document so it must be better than anything any other government would produce.

[timmberty]

Yeah but are you confusing what the bank wants for ID and what the police want?
this is 100% true of course ... what the police want is called baht

[bucknaway]

I think it all depends. In some situations with the police you can get by with a smile and kind words of respect and in other situations a smile and kind words will get you nowhere.

I think it all depends. In some situations with the police you can get by with a smile and kind words of respect and in other situations a smile and kind words will get you nowhere.What has that to do with what the police want to see as ID?

[Geezer]

On message boards one regularly sees hand wringing about losing a passport while carrying it. It's difficult to understand how one who travels has failed to devise some way to prevent that.

For example it is a simple matter to have zippered pockets sewn inside shirts. Short of being rendered unconscious in an accident (in which case losing your passport will be the least of your problems) it is unlikely your passport will disappear. As has been mentioned here, a drugstore will give you a plastic bag which fits your passport exactly. After 10 years it will still look new.

тАж and about being rendered unconscious owing to an accident or what ever. Your wallet, and any identification in it, will likely be the first thing to disappear. It is a good idea to have one or two things of no value, such as a calling card case or small notepad with a contact number on it. I saw a Swedish diplomat with a military style dog tag which was obviously of no value, and unlikely to be taken in a mugging. They can be ordered online.

[danny99]

Seems the orders are from Bangkok rather than local police.

This seem to be a Pattaya special...I have been a regular visitor to Bangkok for past 20 years and have never been asked for ID at gay or go-go bars, but then I do not go to late night discos [already cuddled up with something cute by then].

[anonone]

As has been mentioned here, a drugstore will give you a plastic bag which fits your passport exactly. After 10 years it will still look new.


Sorry Geezer, I think that depends on what you are up to when you are "out". I had my passport well protected by plastic, but being up all night in the bars and discos and the various hole-in-the-wall places, dancing and cavorting about....passport looks like hell after a couple of weeks. Bent up, fraying on the corners, wrinkled...you name it.

If I was having a leisurely dinner then sitting at a beer bar all night, I believe you are correct, the passport will hold up pretty well.

Oh, and I was never really concerned about losing the passport. It just became a pain to have around all the time. After several trips where it was never needed, I just leave it at the hotel now.

[Neal]

I do "think" that leaving your passport in your safe in your room or in a safe place is the wisest thing you can do and if you are paranoid a copy of the passport including that arrival card. I really doubt any policeman will not give you time to get the original if they are very demanding. In an emergency I am sure you can call the hotel, give a manager the security code, he can retrieve it and rush it to you.

[francois]

Sorry Geezer, I think that depends on what you are up to when you are "out".

You don't know Geezer! He has at least 10 secret pockets sewn in his shirt and an equal number is his safari pants. His passport is safe from anything other than a nuclear blast.

[Up2U]

I do "think" that leaving your passport in your safe in your room or in a safe place is the wisest thing you can do and if you are paranoid a copy of the passport including that arrival card. I really doubt any policeman will not give you time to get the original if they are very demanding. In an emergency I am sure you can call the hotel, give a manager the security code, he can retrieve it and rush it to you.

Well, I "think" just like you and make this my practice, but our "thinking" wouldn't have worked in the Mic My raid as foreigners without their original passports paid a late night visit to the Soi 5 Immigration Bureau escorted by Immigration Officers.

[Neal]

That's true but I do believe that raid on Mic My was an exception. We know why it was raided and that reason is why it is sil closed. It was in the report that the falang that was taken away had been under police surveilance and that there was a warrant issued for his arrest due to actions within the bar and afterwards. If you play in a place where there is illegal stuff going on, you deserve to be scrutinized and nothing in this thread applies to you. You reap what you sew.

[Beachlover]

I used to carry my passport all the time when in Thailand, for the first 4 or 5 visits anyway. Being in the pant pocket while in the bars and discos all night is not good.
It now looks like hell and the immigration folks have trouble trying to scan it on occasion.
Same thing used to happen to me... Get yourself a nice leather passport cover. :happy7:

I don't get how you're going to lose your passport by carrying it around in your pocket (unless you pick pocketed). It's not like your phone or your wallet which would be taking out (and forget to put it back in your pocket) regularly.

I carry my passport around as it's no inconvenience... slips perfectly into my jeans pocket behind my wallet and is no bulkier than a slim smart phone. Plus, I do get asked for it as ID every now and then and I don't know if photocopy would be accepted.

[cdnmatt]

I don't know. After getting a stern talking to from an immigration officer and his supervisor in Canada when renewing my passport, I never carry it around anymore. People have said it's against the law for Canada to refuse me a passport, but that's not what the immigration officers told me, so I'll trust them. My passport doesn't get packed around like it's an ATM card, and instead stays in mint condition.

And while we're on the topic of passports, for any Canadians I guess you can now do the simplified renewal outside of Canada. Not sure when they started that, but before simplified renewal was only allowed if applying inside of Canada. Plus starting July of this year they'll be offering 10 year passports, so that'll be nice! I have to renew around Oct, so good timing. Quick two page form, no guarantor or any of that stuff, can do it in Bangkok, and a week or two later you have a 10 year passport. Beautiful! Price is going up considerably though. Will be about $260 for a new passport, plus whatever extra fee for 48 pages instead of 24.

[TravellerDave]

I always have a copy of my passport main page plus one of the visa waiver form with me whilst I'm out and about. I wouldn't generally carry my passport due to the deterioration involved. It can get bent damp and there is the risk of loosing it. A friend,s passport was in such poor condition that he was denied checking in for a flight a couple of years ago.
I don't think there would have seen a major problem if I have been in the Mic My without my PP the night of the raid ( I was there two nights before). A visit to immigration would have been interesting.

[stkyricesf]

I would have no problem carrying my passport around any other time of the year, but during Songran, I simply refuse. Even wrapped in plastic, my passport got damp and smudged the arrival card. Thai immigration almost didn't allow me out due to the smudging. :dontknow: