Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

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CEOCambodiaNews
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Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

The Sihanoukville traffic police have gone off the deep end, extorting $500 from a foreigner for no driver's licence.

-Sophal, an employee at a Sihanoukville guesthouse, relates that one of their customers, Phillip Loannis, was pulled up by SHV police on a rented motorbike at Golden Lions roundabout. When he was unable to produce his driver's licence, the police asked him to pay a fine and he offered them $100. This was refused by the police who asked for $500 or he would go to jail. Loannis went to get the money from an ATM; he did not receive a receipt from the police.
The guesthouse employee wants to spread news about this latest foreigner shakedown by the Sihanoukville traffic cops. The police are asked to explain their actions.
http://news.amapapa.com/2017/02/blog-post_363.html
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taabarang
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by taabarang »

They're starting awfully early for Choul Chhnam
Khmer. Just another reason to avoid the Congo line for sushi.
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by cptrelentless »

Why, oh why, did he offer them $100?
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by bolueeleh »

sucker, at least this way he wont be dead by the end of the week from ODing, that cop saved his life IMO :beer3:
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by Anchor Moy »

cptrelentless wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:57 pm Why, oh why, did he offer them $100?
He didn't have the right change ?
"Can you break $100, officer" ?
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by Fourkinnel »

The traffic police do nothing for tourism in SHV!. No wonder the streets are quiet compared to 5 years ago. Would be tourists read the reports and blogs about crap like this and go straight to the islands, as soon as stepping the bus from PP.

Not saying drive without a license, and quite a few westerners with no road experience, but there is no clear ruling if westerners actually need one to ride under 125cc.
To offer $100 was stupid though. If you have the ambition to ride a moto around the roads in a foreign country, check from people what the rules and fines are.
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by jaynewcastle »

cptrelentless wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:57 pm Why, oh why, did he offer them $100?
Why was he riding a motor bike without a licence ?
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by Kuroneko »

If the motorbike was 125cc or under no licence is required. He could not have shown one as there is no A1 licence now.

Australian Embassy, Cambodia

Driving Permits
Foreigners wishing to drive in Cambodia must hold a Cambodian driver licence. A licence is not required to ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 125cc. For motorcycles with larger engine sizes, a licence can be applied for in person at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport using a valid motorcycle licence from Australia; otherwise you will be required to undergo testing. Even if local law does not require you to have a licence for smaller engine motorcycles, we recommend you check with your travel insurer if this will affect your coverage. https://cambodia.embassy.gov.au/penh/int ... river.html

Of course Sihanoukville police could have enacted some bylaw referring to tourists as was the case in Siem Reap a while back prohibiting tourists from renting motos. The police guy should be jailed for extortion.
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

after the new laws any foreigner who pays any fine is a fucking idiot,
just demand a ticket and tell them you will go to the station to pay,
refuse to pay any bribe,
there is no law to say they must pay a bribe,
grow some bollocks,
ive been pulled for lights on, running red lights, no passenger helmet and not paid any fines
"you must pay $$$"
"ok give me ticket"
"no how much you pay now"
"i pay nothing now, give me a ticket and i go pay"
"no but how much you pay now"
"i pay nothing now, give me a ticket"
a few minutes of stalemate and some chit chat
then they just let me go, no bribe/ticket

but yeah on a simpler note, as mentioned if you plan on renting bikes out in a foreign country at least do some research first
the SHV police like to use intimidation tactics in order to fleece money,
thats why they notoriously single out all the backpackers on rent-a-bikes who are likely clueless and scared to get into trouble in a foreign country

dressing appropriately i do notice makes a big difference,
having a proper helmet and not one of those one of those rent-a-bike bowl hats
wearing a shirt/jacket instead of a vest/singlet
trainers instead of flip flops
etc etc, you know normal clothes you would wear riding a moto anyway
will get you a lot less hassle from the police
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Re: Sihanoukville cops get greedy: $500 fine for foreigner.

Post by cptrelentless »

Or, as the chap I saw on Omui, do an abrupt power skid and ride the wrong way up the pavement to avoid them. His passenger had a helmet. Had a shared chuckle with the lollipop cop as I went past.
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