Red tape rage

Re: “Licence to wonder,” (PostBag, May 4).

When buying a motorbike seven months ago that had previously been registered in Khon Kaen, I first had to get a certificate of residence from Chiang Mai Immigration located some 190 kilometres from my home in Tha Ton.

On delivery by post to my home I went to Fang DLT to register my bike but was told I needed to go to Chiang Mai for this important undertaking. Having completed 40km of the journey, I carried on to the city and spent a full two days enjoying the sight of a Smart Q sign that informed me my number was many hours distant.

Last week on a trip back to Chiang Mai this number plate sheared from its fixing and was forever lost. As it had been supplied by the city office, I assumed they would deal with the replacement. I only got to the first desk where I was told I must have my registration book, as copies and photos would not do, and that was the end of my enquiry.

When it arrived in the post two days later, I returned to the official, who now took one look at my distant address and told me I must do this in Fang. When passing through Fang on my way home, I tried once more to apply and was told I needed a certificate of residence and my wife’s house paper.

On my fourth visit to the DLT, I explained that my address was in the registration book, on both my driving licences that they had issued in this office and in my wife’s tabien baan. To get a new certificate would mean a return journey to Chiang Mai (380km) and a two-week wait.

After discussions with the big chief, it was decided they would go ahead and I was finally told to drop by in a month’s time and maybe the number plate would be there. But they said I may have to return a few times — they couldn’t be sure because the plate is being made in Chiang Mai. All this in the same province in the era of computers. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

LUNGSTIB