Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the TM30. For those who are unaware, the TM30 is an address reporting function. We have discussed this at length over the years going back, can't believe it now but it is about 5 years ago we first started talking about this. It kind of popped up, it was in total disuse for years and then it came up with "Big Joke" was the Head of Thai Immigration and basically the enforcement of the rules associated with TM30 were leading to some fines and consequences that people weren't really used to. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent comment from our channel, quoting directly: "Can Hotels do a TM30 registration if you check in with your driving license. I have checked into several hotels only using my license and often wonder if they do the TM30 or not." That video we were discussing Thai driving licenses and how they have passport numbers on them so one's passport number will actually be on the Thai driving license. I guess in theory yeah, a Thai driving license can be used as ID to check into a hotel and I think it could probably, especially because it has the passport number on it, it could probably be used to go ahead and check into the TM30 system. Now I can't say that every hotel is going to go ahead and do that. In fact some of the smaller hotels and guest houses and things that was an issue with TM30 a few years back that some of those places weren't actually checking their people in. And then there was the other thing which was the TM28 which was the required form you filed when you changed addresses even if it was only for 24 hours. That has been phased out, TM28 is gone. As we discussed some time ago that was regulatorily, they kind of found a way to kind of make that fade into the background, that issue fade into the background at least. 

Long story short, yeah as far as it goes it looks to me like it is possible to affect the TM30 simply by providing a driving license if you are a foreigner here in Thailand, so yeah it could be possible the hotels and guest houses are registering the TM30 simply using once driver's license as a check in.