I arrived at the border crossing about 10 km from Anlong Venh to see that it was a very small one consisting of several small shacks on opposite sides of the road for the Thai and Cambodian immigration and customs officials, all of which was within easy eyesight. I went to the Cambodian officers and asked for them to review my documents before I crossed the next day. They did so rather thoroughly and said they would stamp me the next day. I could see only about six officers consisting of two police, one immigration and two customs agents.
Sadly NOT an event free border crossing this time either - I had had great difficulties upon entry to Cambodia four months earlier at Poipet where Cambodian Customs officials quarantined my motorbike for several days based on their interpretation of a December 2012 directive saying a vehicle import acceptance letter had to be issued by the Cambodian Department of Tourism. Now, even though it was the same officers at Cambodian side that prechecked my documents for me and my bike the day before, it took me an hour in the blazing sun to clear. They reminded me I could not come back in there - only at Poipet. They could not tell me why.
Then the Thai side hit the fan for almost three hours. They claimed, and my paperwork bore them out, that my motorbike was only allowed out of Thailand 31 days! Who would think that such a clause existed. I explained I had a visa extension and had a Cambodian multiple entry Commerce Visa so how could I have possibly had my bike's allowed absence until date extended and where, even if I had noticed there was such a requirement in the Thai exit papers from four months earlier. They did not know. Then they said it was a 10,000 baht fine. They showed me customs law change in January upped the fine from 100 baht/day to 1,000 with a maximum 10,000. I kept pleading my case, doubting I had the money on me and at least get the fine reduced to that amount in force at the time my motorbike exited Thailand. After numerous calls their superiors ruled I had to enter Thailand at Poipet and they were turning me back. I told them Cambodian customs/immigration would not let me back in at this crossing! More phone calls with the net net being I paid them 10,000 baht (which left me one 10 baht coin!). Hot and steaming under the collar I left with an official receipt. I also politely told them that I would send a complaint to the customs chief in BKK. So they knew what I was going to do, they said good luck getting my money back, said they are very sorry but they must follow policy as they showed me in the directive.
Why does the Thai government consider it their business how long my motorbike is out of the country? I own it, Thai motorbike plate and tax and insurance are all paid by me. What if I had changed registration and got a new plate in Kampucha (Cambodia)? What if I did not happen to have 10,000 baht cash in hand? How would Thailand have punished me then?
The Thai government do not like farang - but they sure want their money at every turn! I see examples of this many times and most often, I consider it just another tax, but not this time. It makes me very sad because I have made Thailand my home but the landlord does not show a good heart at any turn it seems.
I was going to attach an image file of the Customs form on which the "must return by date" is found and a copy of the fine receipt but see no way of doing that on the forum posting?
Sadly NOT an event free border crossing this time either - I had had great difficulties upon entry to Cambodia four months earlier at Poipet where Cambodian Customs officials quarantined my motorbike for several days based on their interpretation of a December 2012 directive saying a vehicle import acceptance letter had to be issued by the Cambodian Department of Tourism. Now, even though it was the same officers at Cambodian side that prechecked my documents for me and my bike the day before, it took me an hour in the blazing sun to clear. They reminded me I could not come back in there - only at Poipet. They could not tell me why.
Then the Thai side hit the fan for almost three hours. They claimed, and my paperwork bore them out, that my motorbike was only allowed out of Thailand 31 days! Who would think that such a clause existed. I explained I had a visa extension and had a Cambodian multiple entry Commerce Visa so how could I have possibly had my bike's allowed absence until date extended and where, even if I had noticed there was such a requirement in the Thai exit papers from four months earlier. They did not know. Then they said it was a 10,000 baht fine. They showed me customs law change in January upped the fine from 100 baht/day to 1,000 with a maximum 10,000. I kept pleading my case, doubting I had the money on me and at least get the fine reduced to that amount in force at the time my motorbike exited Thailand. After numerous calls their superiors ruled I had to enter Thailand at Poipet and they were turning me back. I told them Cambodian customs/immigration would not let me back in at this crossing! More phone calls with the net net being I paid them 10,000 baht (which left me one 10 baht coin!). Hot and steaming under the collar I left with an official receipt. I also politely told them that I would send a complaint to the customs chief in BKK. So they knew what I was going to do, they said good luck getting my money back, said they are very sorry but they must follow policy as they showed me in the directive.
Why does the Thai government consider it their business how long my motorbike is out of the country? I own it, Thai motorbike plate and tax and insurance are all paid by me. What if I had changed registration and got a new plate in Kampucha (Cambodia)? What if I did not happen to have 10,000 baht cash in hand? How would Thailand have punished me then?
The Thai government do not like farang - but they sure want their money at every turn! I see examples of this many times and most often, I consider it just another tax, but not this time. It makes me very sad because I have made Thailand my home but the landlord does not show a good heart at any turn it seems.
I was going to attach an image file of the Customs form on which the "must return by date" is found and a copy of the fine receipt but see no way of doing that on the forum posting?
