Guest jones Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 Hi guys just thought i would give you the heads up that the police are on the look out for e-cig vapers. I was arrested yesterday not knowing it was illegal to vape (i knew it was illegal to sell them). Police officer seen it in my hand he was sitting in a motorbike taxi rank near McDonald's when i was grabbed around my wrist and sat down and told i was going to prison for 2 days until my court date! I actually laughed maybe out of shock and he said it is not funny and that i will be fined 30'000 bht! I said i can not pay that and he said how much can i pay. I said 10'000 again was still kind of shocked (should of said 5k) he said ok and had a taxi motorbike take me to my hotel to get the money. The police man got out his phone to take a picture of me and so i asked "shall i point at it" in which he replied "yes". I paid him and asked what about my e-cig which he gave me back. As i walked away, the police man was smiling while rubbing his hands together. The same day i spoke with my thai friends who told me that it is not illegal (while smoking an e-cig himself) and only illegal to sell it (which is what i thought) also visited thepprasit market where they are openly selling e-cigs. I'm sure the Thais are not going to be paying 30k bht if caught selling them! I have also entered and left Thailand on many recent occasions with no issues through security. My Thai friend said it was because the police like money! I said i know but in this situation what else could i do but pay? I didn't want to risk going to the station and going to prison! Just a warning for you guys. And anyone who says i should respect Thai law etc etc, i am very respectful when in Thailand and i read that it was illegal to SELL e-cigs only but ok to bring your own! And just to add, even the Thai people i asked about this didn't know the law themselves only that it was illegal to sell one of them said! Quote
NIrishGuy Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 I wonder did your Thai friends know what date it was when you were(n't) telling them this particular story at the start of April :-) Quote
Guest samebb Posted April 3, 2017 Posted April 3, 2017 There is a law prohibiting the sale of vaping good, yes. But there is not a law legalising vaping. It's a total black hole in the law. The police wont bother stopping Thai's for bribes but be sure they will stop you! They love their tea money. My advice? Don't vape. If you do, make sure you can speak some Thai. Did you ask for paperwork for the fine? A lot of the time this stops police in their tracks, but it's a thin line to walk on. This is a standard police trick. Threaten prison, even thought it will never happen just to scare a tourist into paying a fine. Be sure all that money went in his pocket. It didn't go to the police.Just be happy you got away with only loosing 10000 baht. Put your device away till you get home mate. Stay safe and enjoy Thailand. Quote
Alexx Posted April 3, 2017 Posted April 3, 2017 I'd be most worried about customs/excise at the airport if you bring them in yourself. In the unlikely event that you get caught, that will definitely get expensive. I would expect an on the spot fine, no jail time and no court appearance. There's no doubt whatsoever that smuggling e-cigarettes into Thailand is a punishable offense. As for that lone, corrupt (or even totally fake - take your pick) "police officer", I think the OP has already figured out that it was a money grab pure and simple. That kind of petty extortion works well with tourists, and I can see why. Difficult to give advice other than to refrain from vaping in public, really. Quote
NIrishGuy Posted April 3, 2017 Posted April 3, 2017 What you mean that WASN'T an April Fool's Joke !? :-) Quote
Guest jones Posted April 4, 2017 Posted April 4, 2017 Someone faced with 2 options. Pay on the spot or go to jail immediately Quote
