126 Thais arrested for tourist harassment

[webfact]

126 arrested for tourist harassment

By The Nation

 

 

Troops, tourist police and officials from several agencies rounded up 126 Thais for allegedly taking advantage of foreign tourists around the Grand Palace, the tourist police chief said on Thursday.

 

 

The suspects were arrested in a joint operation on Wednesday, said Lt Gen Thirapol Kupatanon.

 

Those arrested included taxi drivers who refused to use their meters or who rejected passengers.

 

They also included street vendors who overcharged tourists, Thirapol added.

 

He said the officials also took record of 28 tuk-tuk and taxi drivers around Sanam Luang and Grand Palace to warn them not to take advantage of tourists.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30364973

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-28

[colinneil]

Well done, about time i might add.

[robblok]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:06 AM, colinneil said:

Well done, about time i might add.

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Yes, too bad the story does not say what happened with them after they were rounded up. If they were punished somehow (especially the taxi drivers that refused to turn on the meter). The story does not tell us much about htis.

[BritManToo]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:26 AM, robblok said:

the story does not say what happened with them after they were rounded up.

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They were all given jobs with immigration.

[bluesofa]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:26 AM, robblok said:

Yes, too bad the story does not say what happened with them after they were rounded up.

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They managed to persuade the Tourist Police to visit their brother's jewellery shop to buy some gold at a special price.

[MichaelJohn]

Just a few thousand more to catch then they can move on to the other locations where it happens just as much!

[notasmartassknowitallfarag]

A load of nonsense really. Face saving exercise from the authorities.

 

The offenders will give a deep wai and promise to behave. 

 

They’ll be back to their old tricks as soon as the cops leave. 

[Justgrazing]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:37 AM, bluesofa said:

They managed to persuade the Tourist Police to visit their brother's jewellery shop to buy some gold at a special price.

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Where they were also invited to buy into " investment " schemes offering a zillion % return ..

[Vacuum]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:26 AM, robblok said:

Yes, too bad the story does not say what happened with them after they were rounded up. If they were punished somehow (especially the taxi drivers that refused to turn on the meter). The story does not tell us much about htis.

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500 baht fine and a wai.

[Youlike]

And those ones who liked to say that the palace was closed but can give you discount on a boattour to kill the time??

[RotBenz8888]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:01 AM, webfact said:

126 arrested for tourist harassment

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tip of an iceberg, but it's a start. I hope.

[NCC1701A]

wait a minute! are you saying the palace wasn't closed?

[bluesofa]

  On 2/28/2019 at 10:29 AM, RotBenz8888 said:

tip of an iceberg, but it's a start. I hope.

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Lettuce hope so.

[Henrik Andersen]

And tomorrow they will still be there and still overcharged tourists and ofcores taxi no meter will be there too don't worry everything will be the same 

Pr media stunt of government 

Nothing will change if nobody get serious fine 

[RotBenz8888]

So why now? This has been going on since the first tourist sat foot on thai soil.

 

Was there any speedboat sunk yesterday?

[RotBenz8888]

  On 2/28/2019 at 10:34 AM, bluesofa said:

Lettuce hope so.

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It'll probably be rotten tomatoes.

[Nyezhov]

  On 2/28/2019 at 10:29 AM, RotBenz8888 said:

tip of an iceberg, but it's a start. I hope.

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The only way its going to stop is if tourists make it stop. Dont be a victim.

[soalbundy]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:37 AM, bluesofa said:

They managed to persuade the Tourist Police to visit their brother's jewellery shop to buy some gold at a special price.

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They tried that one on me as well, ''Grand palace is closed today but I can show you some nice gold shops with bargains"

"Take me to a police station first and I can ask if the Grand palace is open"

"OK we go to the Grand palace, may it's closed tomorrow, I think I made a mistake"

[Mitkof Island]

Just avoid the place ! End of problem.

[SweetStickyRice]

That's good news!

[Spidey]

  On 2/28/2019 at 11:32 AM, Nyezhov said:

The only way its going to stop is if tourists make it stop. Dont be a victim.

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The first time that I ever visited Bangkok, I wanted to visit Chinatown as it was the vegetable festival.

 

I caught the MRT to the nearest station and went over to a line of Tuk Tuks to ask them to take me to Chinatown. Immediately, I was intercepted by the gang boss, a middle aged and slightly smarter dressed gentleman.

 

"Chinatown closed today", he helpfully informed me. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, the penny dropped. I'd watched a documentary about Thailand on UK TV, 2 weeks earlier, which featured the gem shop scam. It was the same guy featured in the documentary. I immediately replied, "Oh well, can you take me to a gem shop instead?" His little face beamed until I started roaring with laughter and explained to him that he was a celebrity in England.

 

He wasn't amused and started ranting. I turned away and walked to Chinatown.

[balo]

That was about time ! But I suspect they will be back next week. After all, this is the Land of Scams.

[bluesofa]

  On 2/28/2019 at 1:23 PM, balo said:

That was about time ! But I suspect they will be back next week. After all, this is the Land of Scams.

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A bit like a carry on film:

Carry On Regardless (1961) or perhaps Carry On Cowboy (1965)

[rkidlad]

  On 2/28/2019 at 11:32 AM, Nyezhov said:

The only way its going to stop is if tourists make it stop. Dont be a victim.

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That’s it. If people don’t wanna be ripped off, they shouldn’t come at all. 

[Nyezhov]

  On 2/28/2019 at 2:22 PM, rkidlad said:

If people don’t wanna be ripped off, they shouldn’t come at all.

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Flock dude, we shouldnt even leave our homes! Its dangerous out there. Bet the Lemonade girl is packing an Uzi. 

[FarangDoingHisThing69]

One time, I was walking home from Bali hai to Jomtien hill in the middle of the day. Completely sober.

 

The taxi drivers closest to WS, Bike drivers, were asking for 200. I told them no, and walked to the corner near Bali hai, to the next group of moto-taxis. Usually, telling them no makes them beg you to come back and offer something reasonable. These particular ones didn't. I know the cost should be around 60-80, but I usually settle for 80 just to make them happy.

 

On the way, was a tuk-tuk taximan in front of Family Mart. Figured I'd ask him. He told me "Uhh.. 500 baht" I laughed in his face, hysterically. Didn't even give him a chance to save face. Told him he's insane and should never operate a taxi again, "This isn't Bangkok, friend".

 

Walked 20m down the road to the corner, asked a moto-taxi to take me home. 80 baht.

 

Some of these taxi drivers are outright criminals in orange uniforms.

[monkeycu]

Looking at how the taxi's are parked, it seemed a waste of money to paint the white lines

[KevinCorr]

Does this mean that they will end dual pricing such as at the Grand Palace?

(Rhetorical)

[Prairieboy]

  On 2/28/2019 at 9:26 AM, robblok said:

Yes, too bad the story does not say what happened with them after they were rounded up. If they were punished somehow (especially the taxi drivers that refused to turn on the meter). The story does not tell us much about htis.

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Perhaps they were given a reward and a few pointers on how to get more from the tourists and perhaps a few pointers on where to put the X on the upcoming ballot.

[thhMan]

They can Jail someone for 10 years for Vaping

So what do these people who scam or harass Tourists get as punishment?