first run-in with the law..

I tend to keep the words to a minimum on the blog, and let the images (still or moving) tell the stories. But this event has no image to share, except the one I shall paint now.

After a wonderful long weekend spent in the city, Dave and I went to the night bazaar area to indulge in a pizza. We parked our bikes in the nearest free area we saw, as one does when parking a motorcycle in this land. After our meal, I went to buy some bootleg DVD's and Dave headed home. A few minutes later I get a call that went something like this:

"Yo, you've got a boot on your back wheel."
"Geez. What about you?"
"I got on my bike and just dashed before the cop could put it on. He did yours first."
"Geez. Alright thanks. Peace."

So I walk to my bike and see the cop writing up my ticket. I speak to him in Thai to earn a little respect and not be treated like a stupid farang (foriegner), he points to a sign down the street written IN THAI that read "no parking". I laugh. He continues filling out the ticket.

"You have license?"
"Nah."
"No license plate?"
"Nah."
"Ok. You come with me to police traffic station to pay ticket."

As I turn around to put away my ATM card and money, it continues,

"Ok, but I only have 200Baht (6 bucks)."
"Ok let's go, I take you." he replies.

So now the cop is doubling me on my bike. He's making small talk with the usual "Where are you from? What do you do?" talk. Nice enough guy.

We get there, I sign some paper as "Alan" and he asks me to fork over 200Baht.

Illegally parked, no driver's license, no plates. 200 Baht.

The cop rides me back to where my bike was parked, says sorry, shakes me hand, and off he goes.



Only in Asia.



Related Sidenote: DVD's purchased include LOST-Season 4, The Simpsons-Season 19, The Happening and Doomsday.