petercool

There were always distinct boundaries for Pattaya Soi 9 police station jurisdiction and Banglamung station which handled all things East of Sukhumvit all the way up to the Rayong expressway through Pong. At present Banglamung station still covers past Naklua Soi 16 and North of Pattaya Nua. Now that Nongprue station (supervised by Banglamung originally) was upgraded to a fully independent station they handle most of the East of Sukhumvit but where they end their boundary and where Banglamug takes over is none too clear but that is thought to be North of Soi Siam Country Club. Highway Police are seldom off the highways but other distinct Municipal Police can be seen at various places. The separate Traffic Police can and do move around even though they may be attached to one specific station. Not sure if that helps ....

Not local, but the most politically incorrect name was the "Buddha Bar" I saw in Bangkok's Nana Plaza some time back.

There are very few legal ways to own 100% of business as a foreigner but there a few less legal ways to do it which are best talked through with a good lawyer as this is not the place to discuss breaking the business laws. Talk to a lawyer.

Sounds more like those tiny red ants that can get into damp towels and into clothes ?

The only bluegrass "boys" are those that play with Earl Sullivan ("Chief") but you have to be up to their standard to mix with them. Earl is on FaceBook if you want to message him there.

Since when did I ever deny there were scams ? Since when did I ever deny what others have witnessed ? Since when did I assist the scammers ? Since when did I deny that there was corruption ? I simply stated what I have myself witnessed in a specific jet ski related context within a specific location - the police station.

Get over it.

^^

Don't give up your day job. Comedian or writer won't suit you.

^^^

These would be my best guesses .... Of those that came into the police station, and of those that admitted to damaging the jet skis, I think a fair guess would be closer to 90% who felt that the damage claims were excessive or beyond their current cash means. Then of those, compromises would make up 80% and 20% would choose to go to court to settle any official complaint made by operators. Probably less than 30% of all cases at the station would say that they had not damaged the jet skis at all. In nearly all cases renters would admit that they had signed the paper before renting that stated they had inspected the jet ski prior to renting and which stated the consequences for any damage when they returned it.

I cannot comment on percentages of cases that were settled or otherwise on the beach itself because those are not recorded like the station cases are.

As I say, these would be my best guess after seeing hundreds of these cases within the police station over a period of years.

^^^

What others may post under whatever name is not connected to me even if they have similar views and seemingly have similar experiences. I am quite capable of answering anything without others' help and certainly have not registered here under any other name. I repeat, I have one and only one forum registration and under only one name. But keep sniping away if it amuses you.

It is unclear whether he actually checked in so Immigration files may not yet exist, but tracking his original booking and payments should have been easy enough if this was done by via computer. The suggestion to look at hotel listings to jog his memory seems sensible. How the problem could have existed for one month now is surprising ... but I have witnessed quite a few cases of people who have already checked into somewhere and then can't remember how to get back to there or where it is etc. No key, no hotel card and only remembered landmarks like "there was a 7 Eleven close by" ....

next Peter you'll be trying to tell us that lot you sit with in Soi 9 have stopped their extortion rackets (that are on an industrial scale) and returned to "good honest policing"

I have stopped working with the police and their foreign volunteers for reasons that do indeed include things I could not condone that went on around me so, no, I won't be saying that. There were other reasons too.

Paddy, you are seeing double when I can assure you I am singular with just one membership on Thai Visa. Not that you will read this any more carefully than you have read any other posts. At no time did I ever say scams are not happening. I was pointing out with some 5 years experience that many disputes involve real damage and that most of those are admitted to by the renters. Why everyone thinks I said more than that escapes me.

I sit the southside of Royal Garden everyday, from 4pm onwards get ready for the extortion.

They use the same damage below the waterline over & over again.

Peter your post is the most ridiculous suggestion I have ever read on TV.

Seems 1) you never read my posts or 2) you did you not read them in their entirety or 3) didn't understand them.

There is one main scam group opposite Mike Shopping Mall with most of the other groups rarely causing issues if no damage is done. I know all that. My point was that many ( I never said all) of the general disputes are about real damage and of those the majority are admitted to by the people renting but they cannot agree on what is fair compensation and I was specifically recounting in station cases that were witnessed. But enough, I have said all that I wished to on this.

Peter cool , if you worked as a police volunteer you must have been sleeping . Sent from my SM-P601 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

And - specifically - just what did you witness inside a police station that contradicts my own observations on these jet ski cases ?

Nice tries by some to discredit the key point. You obviously have never sat in the police station and seen any of these cases come in and how the police deal simply as explainers of the legal options if damage is actually seen on the skis. They are considered as civil cases and in five years I never witnessed any policeman take sides with anyone within the station. No one is denying that scams are occurring but real damage cases do exist and those make up the bulk of all those disputes I ever saw.

During high festive seasons those drivers are probably looking in vain for a place to park ....

Most motor bike taxi groups are in deep with police and they scratch each others backs but when it all gets too blatant and the right people complain, then a stop is put to it - at least publicly.

Absolute rubbish.

Just look at the "Jet-Ski Scamming"

This is nothing to do with jet skis and was specific to unrelated bike taxi groups.

The application of laws governing this is that the bigger the vehicle the more responsible you have to be and the more at fault you will normally be. When it comes to pedestrians any vehicle is considered at fault in collisions. With a vehicle registration a complaint can be made at the nearest station (and only at that one) and a hospital check asked for if injured so that an eventual claim can be made. If witnesses were around their evidence would be very useful too.

Most motor bike taxi groups are in deep with police and they scratch each others backs but when it all gets too blatant and the right people complain, then a stop is put to it - at least publicly.

Within Walking Street there are some shops selling leather jackets, boots, shoes etc. and if they don't have a ready made vest I am sure they can make one. There may be similar leather ware shops elsewhere but I dont recall any off hand.

The assumption that there exists a typical or "ordinary" Thai and any such opposing "ordinary" Westerner is false and thus most of the comments here are wrongly based. Two Thais will react differently to any one foreigner depending on their own mid set as well as the foreigner's demeanor just as two foreigners might react differently to any one Thai depending on the same factors.

Because many diamonds are cut and polished locally the price is cheaper here than in New York or Amsterdam so most of the personal trade is from here to there and not the other way around. I have bought diamonds here that I sold in Australia for 2-300% of the price I paid here for example. Not sure about wholesaler prices but I am talking retail. Larger higher quality diamonds are not that much in demand here but I am not sure what your friend has to sell.

It depends a lot on whether you have Thai relatives or family and how long term you have been - or want to be - here, I guess.

That we should refrain from direct involvement is a wise choice.