Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog

SIHANOUKVILLE (Khmer Times) – Chuon Narin, the newly appointed police chief of Preah Sihanouk, says he is cracking down on corrupt traffic cops.

“Since I arrived, people are constantly asking me about the traffic police in Sihanoukville,” Brigadier General Narin said last week. “There is clearly a problem here.”

He said he reprimanded “disappointing” traffic police and would not tolerate officers who demand bribes from drivers.

General Narin indicated that there would be zero-tolerance for corruption within his force. He gave business owners his personal phone number so that they could report errant officers directly to him.

He stressed that all traffic police must have a justifiable reason for stopping a vehicle – arbitrary checking of foreigners’ driving licenses is not acceptable.

Big Challenge

Fines for minor driving offenses are low, ranging from $1 to $5. But foreign drivers, especially tourists, often are harassed into paying between $10 and $20 per offense.

Sometimes police try to extort as much as $50 for a minor infraction, according to credible reports from residents.

“If you’re stopped for an actual offence, such as jumping a red light or not wearing a helmet, then you will have to pay a fine,” the new police chief said.

But demands to pay more than the actual legal fine and not being given a receipt are not acceptable, he added.

Police Still Shakedown Foreigners

Tourists get badly stung by Sihanoukville’s traffic police as scooters are marketed as a decent alternative to the city’s overpriced tuk-tuks.

“It’s unethical, short-sighted and just plain greedy for these officers to supplement their pay with bribes,” said Richard Pleasant, a tourist from London. “It made me not want to come back.”

Another visitor from London said she was stopped twice a day during her three week stay. Her vacation in Sihanoukville cost her nearly $75 in bribes, she said.

Last week, this Khmer Times reporter was stopped six times in 45 minutes and was asked to pay bribes ranging from $5 to $10.

While monitoring a police checkpoint one morning, Khmer Times saw numerous Khmer drivers violate a host of traffic laws without being stopped.

Police seem to target law-abiding foreigners.

Argo Raudsepp, general manager of Beach Club Resort, said he had been stopped so often he long ago lost count of how much he has paid in bribes and fines.

He asked: “Imagine what tourists must think when they leave Sihanoukville after experiencing this?”

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/11972/ ... ice-chief/

I like this Narin guy more and more every day. I'm afraid of the !aw of unintended consequences in this case though. If the scumbags don't get their money from the tourists, where will they ? Most are pulled over for no reason, but 90% have no Int. DL. I see a couple dozen everyday with no helmet too. They just need to improve their bargaining skills. The scoot renters should school them, instead of pretending that it doesn't happen. Hell, give them a paper with the going rate. There's no reason to pay > 10K for most things.

If those sort of things happened you wouldn't be living in Cambodia. People will be asking the mom and pop stores to have a price list next. When hell freezes over.

Good news, let's see how long it gets implemented for.

I hope they charge the Australian ship $40mn for double-parking in a refugee parking space.

wackyjacky wrote:If the scumbags don't get their money from the tourists, where will they ?

Oh, I dunno, maybe they could start actually policing traffic laws for all drivers... traffic lights, correct side of the road, helmets, maximum two adults to a moto, SUVs that don't bully, that sort of thing. Of course, it requires a little more effort, almost like doing a real job...

^^^^ It certainly doesn't hurt to dream......... meanwhile back here in Cambodia.

StroppyChops wrote:

wackyjacky wrote:If the scumbags don't get their money from the tourists, where will they ?

Oh, I dunno, maybe they could start actually policing traffic laws for all drivers... traffic lights, correct side of the road, helmets, maximum two adults to a moto, SUVs that don't bully, that sort of thing. Of course, it requires a little more effort, almost like doing a real job...

They would also have to be paid like they are doing a real job, instead of relying on bribes to supplement their income.

But yeah, bring it on. I like this guy's attitude. No more corruption and clean up Sihanoukville.

Anchor Moy wrote:

StroppyChops wrote:

wackyjacky wrote:If the scumbags don't get their money from the tourists, where will they ?

Oh, I dunno, maybe they could start actually policing traffic laws for all drivers... traffic lights, correct side of the road, helmets, maximum two adults to a moto, SUVs that don't bully, that sort of thing. Of course, it requires a little more effort, almost like doing a real job...

They would also have to be paid like they are doing a real job, instead of relying on bribes to supplement their income.

But yeah, bring it on. I like this guy's attitude. No more corruption and clean up Sihanoukville.

What if they kept on the spot fines from locals and actually stung 10 bad drivers 5000r rather than trying to hit an innocent tourist once for $10? I know, I know, I'm being naive...

Too much work. They'll probably go directly to planting drugs, getting underage girls with fake IDs jobs in the bars - stuff like that.

wackyjacky wrote:I like this Narin guy more and more every day. I'm afraid of the !aw of unintended consequences in this case though. If the scumbags don't get their money from the tourists, where will they ? Most are pulled over for no reason, but 90% have no Int. DL. I see a couple dozen everyday with no helmet too. They just need to improve their bargaining skills. The scoot renters should school them, instead of pretending that it doesn't happen. Hell, give them a paper with the going rate. There's no reason to pay > 10K for most things.

Good points, but it's worth knowing that an international driving licence isn't valid here, only Cambodian licenses are.