richard_smith237

You failed to read the part where it says the Frenchmen later found in a bar when they were tested for Alcohol, so it cannot be proven that they had been drinking at the time - the driver was not charged with drink driving.

Open and shut case ...... There is one certainty which is an ‘open and shut case’.... given your comments its obvious that you are definitely not educated to a level anywhere close to a ‘lawyer’ to know anything about whether a case could be classified as open or shut !!!!

Doesn't matter now. Better hope the guy doesn't die. It matters if the Thai guy instigated the confrontation..... I too hope the Thai guy fully recovers.... It would be good for all of us to learn the unadulterated story. Did the French guys attack for no or an insignificant reason ? Or... Did the Thai guy stop in the road etc.... do something to the car etc causing them to retaliate ? There is no information on the build up other than the Wife’s story which has already been proven a fabrication by the video in which at the start we see the French Guy on the floor and the Thai guy attempting to kick him.

I do agree with you... So should the wife of the Thai guy also be in trouble for failing to de-escalate ?? No such ‘good samaritan’ laws exist in Thailand.

I’m so sure that is correct.... Immigration officers do not have the powers of discretion you suggest, they cannot just send someone home because they acted inappropriately. Immigration are pretty much powerless unless a foreigner has broken the conditions of their stay, i.e. committed a serious crime. In this case - I don’t think Immigration have the power to send one of the Frenchman home (the car owner) as he hasn’t committed any serious crime. The second Frenchman ‘could’ be sent home, by the time this has gone to court his ‘visa exempt entry’ will have expired and he can easily be deported on the technicality of being on over-stay.

Then answer a second please - in your understanding of the rules, can motorcycles pass or go around an obstacle in the left most lane by using the second lane on a multi-lane road ?

Answer one question please - in your understanding of the rules, can motorcycles overtake a slower vehicle using the second lane on a multi-lane road ?

Why ??? If one of your friends gets into a fight, should you be banned from Thailand ?

Agreed.... he put together a couple of punches and a kick.... Yet, at the start of the video he’s on the floor... so perhaps the Thai guy initially got the better of the Frenchman..... Perhaps they both had some form of training which is why neither of them wanted to be the one to walk away....

I was unaware there was a legal requirement to wear a mask at all any more... Particularly since the the Emergency Decree was dropped.

Agreed.... it makes shopping online a headache.... We have to be so very careful and pay attention to the most minute of details.... the customer has protection, but its still a proper PITA having to deal with the issue that shouldn’t exist in the first place. I’ve purchased items, an obvious scam - forced the vendor (Amazon and Lazada) to refund for a fake items, but still see the shops online selling to more people. I guess there are just so many scammers out there its just too difficult to deal with them all. For things like razors etc I get directly from Boots / Watsons etc.

Well... we still need to know what started the incident. Did the Thai guy damage the car and try and escape, hence the chase down by the French guys ? Did the French guys simply get angry at the Thai guy for something innocuous ? There is still a lot missing from the story.

No... because you have narrowed it down to ‘one single punch’.... Both participants were fighting, both swung punches and kicks, both were aggressive, both could have walked away.... one person has paid with injury and another will pay legally. The extent of legal accountability may be limited by the actions of the Thai as a willing participant in the violent interaction. IF the Thai guy simply tried to run away and avoid conflict you would have everyone on side.... but this is clearly not the case here.

Your implication has been that the Thai guy its not complicit at all - this is clearly wrong. There was a fight in which both participants willingly fought. This is not an unprovoked attack as stated by the media. It seems you have refused to accept that the Thai man was also complicit for his behaviour in this incident. Both the Frenchman and Thai mans aggression and willingness to fight presents the legal grounds for mitigating circumstances of the other.

WRONG - you have blindly ignored section 34 of the land traffic act and continue to focus only on section 35.... this is why you are wrong. You are implying it is illegal for a motorcycle to pass another vehicle on a multi-lane road - you are wrong. Section 34 and 35 of the land traffic act is there for anyone to read (links posted in earlier posts).... Land Traffic Act: http://web.krisdika.go.th/data/outsitedata/outsite21/file/Road_Traffic_Act_BE_2522_(1979).pdf

Don’t want square. Don’t want Garmin. Don’t want to receive calls. Xiaomi Watch S1 Active (https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-watch-s1-active/) (note - I use apple so can’t offer first hand experiences of the Xiaomi watch - but have other Xiaomi products and have been happy with them). Other options: Suunto (various watches / prices). Google Pixel (maybe too expensive) That should get you started.

Thats a huge discount... what car is it that makes such a difference ? For our Car - Mazda - the cost is about 22,000 per year. Having named drivers only makes 2-3000 baht difference so not really worth it. The Dashcam lowers the premium by 5%.

The need for an IDP is heavily debated, usually quoting various conventions and thai laws etc.. All a moot point if you have an IDP anyway.... The bigger point is your Visa... if you are on a Tourist Visa or visa exempt you are fine with your home licence and IDP. IF you are on a resident visa (i.e. Non-Immigrant type O etc)... then you should have a Thai Licence. Regarding insurance: Most policies cover the vehicle for any driver, but some may have named driver policies to cut the premium - best to check the specific policy.

The one married with kids (the driver) didn’t seem to commit any serious crimes.... ..... other than drive a car on red plates, stop blocking the road, driving away making himself an accessory to a crime ( the accessory is a stretch - a decent lawyer could argued that he simply escaped trying to avoid further fighting ). Is that sufficient to deport him separating him from his family ???.... it was the other Frenchman who was involved in the fight... and of course, he should the the one facing penalties.

I've seen this before... in other articles... However, I’ve never seen an official document (or translation of) which states these laws.. i.e. Land Traffic Act etc... Good point.... he helped his passenger who participated in the fight to flee the scene and thus made himself an accessory.

That is still an edited version.... There is another version which starts a few seconds earlier than this clip you have linked.... It shows the Frenchman on the floor and the Thai man attempting to kick him while he’s on the flaw (other Thai’s drag him off preventing him from landing his kick). 51mins 28 seconds - into the the news video below.

Agreed...... There could be a very strong case for the Frenchmen to file a defamation lawsuit a the media outlet which first reported this incident with such extreme bias.... Silly, I know, but this is Thailand after all and we have seen people sued for defamation for far less. I’m still trying to work out exactly what illegal behaviour the driver committed.... - Drinking ??? - he was found drinking after the incident (not before - so no proof of DUI) - There is no evidence he participated in the fight. - Why arrest him at all ??? - Why refuse bail to someone with a family in Thailand when it seems there is no evidence against him? - Is there any documented law about driving on red places out of province?? - its often discussed, but seems to be one of those ‘myths’ - there is nothing in the land traffic act about this. - Why was the Porsche confiscated ? - was there some evidence on it ? indications of an impact with the motorcycle ? It seems the Police are acting however they ‘want’ just because a foreigner was involved. Certainly the Frenchman involved in the fight needs to be dealt with harshly, just as any Thai would need to be dealt with harshly in the same situation - is he going to receive fair and equal treatment as a Thai would in similar circumstances ??? I’m not defending the Frenchman at all - but questioning the potential for ‘unequal or more extreme treatment’ based on nationality here.

Your bias was on the wrong side of this situation.... (it was late, I didn’t word the sentence correctly) and you’ve clung on that as your only escape from a stupid stance which is one of flawed bias. You are arguing with the bias that the Thai guy did nothing wrong and is not complicit in his injuries because you feel you need to ‘balance the scales’ - that is a dumb perspective to hold. You have argued that anyone who suggests the Thai guy was also complicit is a ’Thai-basher’ who also defends foreigners in any situation - that is also a dumb perspective to hold. You have admitted to ’tipping the scales’ with an out of balance argument - that is trolling, you are a troll. The Thai guy was clearly willing to fight - only you cannot see this. The Thai guy is also willing participant in a fight. He is also responsible for whatever happens in that fight, as is the French guy... You are struggling to understand the very simple concept that when two parties are willing participants in a fight, both are responsible for the outcome which in a fight can go either way. You somehow see this perspective presented by many forum members as ’anti-Thai’ sentiment - its is not, it is simply stating the facts. Did you see the Thai guy try and kick the Frenchman while the Frenchman was still on the floor ? (towards the beginning of the incident) ???? You are clinging on to this ‘wrong side / right side of Bias’..... Bias is Bias... You are wrong in YOUR bias because you are refusing to accept facts instead wishing to argue that the Thai man is not responsible for his part in the incident. You are wrong - the Thai man is also complicit in the outcome (his injuries) as if the Frenchman. They were both willing participants in the fight which could have ended up with various or no consequences... none of them knew how the fight would turn out when it started.

You prefer the nakhon-no-where hole in the floor and bucket option ???? First time I saw one of those Japanese Toilets (about 20+ years ago) I thought... hmmm... what does that button do?... horrific mistake, I was stood up taking a leak at the time !!!...

Yawn...... motorcycles are not permitted to overtake then? Not allowed to get in the right hand lane to turn right ? Not allowed to pass a stationary vehicle in front of them? Not allowed to pass a slower vehicle ? Not allowed to get into the right hand lane to avoid an obstacle ? You’re on the wrong end of this one and making an utter t!t of yourself.... In accusing me of ‘freaking out’ you seem to be getting getting desperate because you can’t accept you made such a flawed interpretation of the regulations.... They’re pretty clear, motorcycles can be in a lane other than the left most lane under conditions highlighted in section 34..... You’ve clearly stuffed up but like a child lack the emotional tools to simply accept that.