Patong police detain Australian over road skateboarding

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

But 'they' don't rent them for use on the road which is illegal, they're just available for rent from private enterprises and tolerated in most circumstances but remain illegal on, either, roads or pavements.

But they are unattended on the main roadside.

You just get on and drive after unlocking with the phone app.

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This makes sense. Pull a foreigner in for riding a skateboard but do everything in your power to make sure that the highway patrol never patrols the highway, and is never able to pull anyone over for reckless driving, because they are not there.

If Thailand cared one iota about safety something like this would actually make sense, but since they don't this doesn't have any logical conclusion.

Therefore it is nothing but harassment and just another way to make tourists feel unwelcome.

The theory behind it is, the stupid foreigner is involved in a road accident. He's uninsured, or insurance does not cover his actions. It makes the news back in Australia with photos of him on life support. A Go Fund Me page is set up. It all adds up to "tarnishing" Thailand's tourism image, so best grab this guy before he hurts himself.

The BiB did him a favor. It was only a matter of time before came undone.

I haven't even touched on unpaid hospital bills.

13 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

Two threads worth pulling here.

First, the obvious: the Australian was reckless. Skateboarding on Patong’s roads, already chaotic with tuk‑tuks, motorbikes, and tourists, is asking for trouble. Police were right to intervene; it’s not a playground.

Second, the subtler issue: the tone of enforcement increasingly carries a nationalist edge. What could have been a routine safety warning instead becomes another reminder that foreigners are under sharper scrutiny.

Thailand’s economy leans heavily on tourism, yet the mood is shifting towards suspicion of outsiders.

Alienating the “golden goose” risks long‑term damage far greater than one skateboarder’s antics.

The incident is less about one man’s stupidity than about the climate it reveals, a country balancing safety enforcement with a rising hostility that could undermine its own interests.

VERY well thought out comment. Bravo. Two days ago here in the US, next street over, a man was killed while riding an electric scooter, no doubt like many riding across traffic oblivious to the risk. I've seen them riding right toward me on the wrong side expecting me to give THEM right of way. And swerving to avoid such a person can cause accidents as well. These people are 100% exposed with no protection and are riding in the middle of a potential meat grinder. Cheers and keep thinking and writing!

Well! It's about danged time they enforced some traffic laws. The holiday death toll will be in steep decline now. Not to mention th beer fund from fining that criminal.

Skateboarding is not a crime except in Thailand?? :-)

Great way to get maimed while on holiday. Truck/bus driver will take that guy out and not look back. BIB will give it the som nam naa........

16 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

yet the mood is shifting towards suspicion of outsiders.

I think the mood is turning towards an intolerance of foreigners with their destructive tendencies and disregard of Thai customs and ways.

He looks like a teenager, so young to not know the rules. Good luck Thailand! Thailand is becoming like any other Western sh*t hole filled with those drug addicts in their skateboards and E bikes. Another day I was driving and I saw one of those clows in his skateboard all over the road. No respect or care for others. Probably high on drugs.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by GoodieAfterDark

This is certainly a huge case not sure local can handle this one🤣

21 hours ago, digger70 said:

What a Drama, they just should've told him to stop using the skate board and send him on his way.

Using the Thai Law Now that's a Big Joke.

If they were serious about the Thai law than the cops would be on the road 24/7 and do their job .

Exactly. Actually they are on the roads 24/7 but enforcing laws isn't a priority. If they were serious they would be pulling people over 24/7 for obvious infractions like no helmet use, 3-6 on a scooter and weaving in traffic.

Something like this stands out so should be nipped in the bud. Take your skateboard and use it on side roads away from traffic. They do rent electric "skateboards" in Thailand that are tolerated on side roads but open to fines in traffic areas, and there isn't much difference besides being human instead or electric powered. The same thing. Warning first, then if they're seen again a fine.

13 hours ago, GoodieAfterDark said:

He looks like a teenager, so young to not know the rules

I think he looks a lot older than a teenager, Certainly too old to be playing on a skateboard, something's not right , possibly using his skateboard to hang around with teenagers, the police should have checked his phone and his hard drive

On 7/18/2026 at 11:27 AM, KhunHeineken said:

Those was my first thoughts.

"Look at me, look at me, I'm different" then complains when he comes under the notice of police.

Anyway, he got the 10 seconds of fame he was craving so much. He can now go and do a "rant" youtube video for his channel. 😂

No hissy fit is reported.

Neither is there any report that he complained when he came to the notice of the police.

Nor is there any indication that he has a YouTube video channel.

I’m also unsure what facts you have to support that he was craving attention?

You are just making stuff up to fit the narrative in your head. Fun to do, but totally unrelated to reported facts.

Edited July 19Jul 19 by wensiensheng

Many years ago on Rama I in Bangkok I saw a (farang) man roller-blading along with/in the heavy traffic. I didn't think this to be a very good idea at all!

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

No hissy fit is reported.

Neither is there any report that he complained when he came to the notice of the police.

I'm sure he was happy about. 😂

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Nor is there any indication that he has a YouTube video channel.

Which does not mean he does not have one, either. Does it?

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I’m also unsure what facts you have to support that he was craving attention?

His actions indicate such.

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

You are just making stuff up to fit the narrative in your head.

I like to think outside the square, and read between the lines.

You should try it sometime. You may get closer to the truth.

On 7/18/2026 at 12:47 AM, jacko45k said:

'Man', sounds more like a big kid!

I worked with a middle aged big kid who rode a longboard to work sometimes. It's a legitimate form of transportation especially when combined with using other modes like buses and motorbike taxis.

4 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

I worked with a middle aged big kid who rode a longboard to work sometimes. It's a legitimate form of transportation especially when combined with using other modes like buses and motorbike taxis.

Appears to be an illegitimate form of transportation here in Thailand.

15 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I'm sure he was happy about. 😂

Which does not mean he does not have one, either. Does it?

His actions indicate such.

I like to think outside the square, and read between the lines.

You should try it sometime. You may get closer to the truth.

15 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I'm sure he was happy about. 😂

Which does not mean he does not have one, either. Does it?

His actions indicate such.

I like to think outside the square, and read between the lines.

You should try it sometime. You may get closer to the truth.

15 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I'm sure he was happy about. 😂

Which does not mean he does not have one, either. Does it?

His actions indicate such.

I like to think outside the square, and read between the lines.

You should try it sometime. You may get closer to the truth.

Making up imaginary scenarios not based on facts rarely leads to becoming closer to the truth.

10 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Making up imaginary scenarios not based on facts rarely leads to becoming closer to the truth.

There's a big difference between forming a hypothesis and imaginary scenarios.

19 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Appears to be an illegitimate form of transportation here in Thailand.

Have to make room for the 12 year olds on Waves and the cars with no plates or insurance. As a general rule I despise skater behaviour on roads but this guy was just trucking along.

On 7/20/2026 at 8:19 PM, KhunHeineken said:

There's a big difference between forming a hypothesis and imaginary scenarios.

On 7/20/2026 at 8:19 PM, KhunHeineken said:

There's a big difference between forming a hypothesis and imaginary scenarios.

On 7/20/2026 at 8:19 PM, KhunHeineken said:

There's a big difference between forming a hypothesis and imaginary scenarios.

Forming an hypothesis is usually based on known facts. Imaginary scenarios is just making stuff up and that’s what you did.

For instance, if that farang resisted or talked back, do you seriously think that the press would not have led with that in the story?