Pattaya police continue to crack down on “social” gatherings, mask-wearing, and public drinking

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

Pattaya, Thailand-Multiple local residents of Pattaya have sent reports, copies of tickets, and concerns over being allegedly detained for Covid-19 related violations such as drinking in public, gatherings (even with as few as two people), and similar occurrences.

 

The Pattaya Police have not released an official recent statement, however, previously canceled drink driving checkpoints temporarily and under a National police order is ensuring that the Emergency Decree around stopping social gatherings taking place is a top priority.

 

The Pattaya News has been sent and informed of what appears to be multiple copies of tickets and fines from people over the past few days including:

 

-6000 baht for having a beer near Jomtien Beach alone

 

-4000 baht for sitting with one person outside of their condo, one person had an alcoholic drink

 

-5000 baht for walking on Soi Buakhao with a beer from 7-11 alone

 

-20,000 baht for a group drinking on the beach who all live together

 

-6000 baht for not wearing a mask while bicycling.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/05/12/pattaya-police-continue-to-crack-down-on-social-gatherings-mask-wearing-and-public-drinking/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-05-13

 

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[Excel]

With the massive turndown, bar closures, small number of foreigners on motorbikes, no jet skies etc etc the Pattaya RTP must be getting desperate now in extorting sufficient money to keep their mia nois. So no wonder they are active in policing mask non wearers etc etc.  Social shaming of those not complying with health advice I suspect would have a much better effect than publicity of what the police are doing because as we know their motives for enforcement are nationally distrusted

[scammed]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

-5000 baht for walking on Soi Buakhao with a beer from 7-11 alone

 

 

 

-6000 baht for not wearing a mask while bicycling.

<deleted> ? i get fined 5000 baht if i buy a beer from 7/11 ?

 

and do i get a 6000 baht fine if i drive a scooter without mask ?

[ChipButty]

I think walking along the street drinking a beer is uncouthed so yes 5000 baht fine and also you wouldn't be wearing your mask if drinking a beer

[OneMoreFarang]

22 minutes ago, Excel said:

With the massive turndown, bar closures, small number of foreigners on motorbikes, no jet skies etc etc the Pattaya RTP must be getting desperate now in extorting sufficient money to keep their mia nois. So no wonder they are active in policing mask non wearers etc etc.  Social shaming of those not complying with health advice I suspect would have a much better effect than publicity of what the police are doing because as we know their motives for enforcement are nationally distrusted

That was also my first thought about them. 

[jacko45k]

25 minutes ago, scammed said:

i get fined 5000 baht if i buy a beer from 7/11 ?

That is not what it says, I suspect the beer was opened. Although I do not know what rule that breaks. Is there a ban on alcohol consumption in public?

Some of the infractions and fines are justified by new, current rules, but too many sound like a campaign against drinking  alcohol in all forms. The authorities need to be reined in here. 

 

 

[jacko45k]

20 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I think walking along the street drinking a beer is uncouthed so yes 5000 baht fine and also you wouldn't be wearing your mask if drinking a beer

Good point....

[ChipButty]

Come on guys reel your neck in, It is possible they could bring in again a complete alcohol ban like last time, drink sensibly take it home

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, ChipButty said:

Come on guys reel your neck in, It is possible they could bring in again a complete alcohol ban like last time, drink sensibly take it home

I have a little sympathy with the guy who has a small condo, and sitting in there alone, looking at the walls, sipping on a beer is pretty depressing. 

But yes, another complete alcohol sale ban is also unattractive. 

[ChipButty]

14 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I have a little sympathy with the guy who has a small condo, and sitting in there alone, looking at the walls, sipping on a beer is pretty depressing. 

But yes, another complete alcohol sale ban is also unattractive. 

I get that but get yourself sorted a bit better, many others are doing it, 

[Amdesign]

Most of these 'fines' are illegal, even from Thia law. In developed countries the people will just refuse to pay 'fines' on site and ask police officers to file the cases to court...

[jacko45k]

6 minutes ago, Amdesign said:

Most of these 'fines' are illegal, even from Thia law. In developed countries the people will just refuse to pay 'fines' on site and ask police officers to file the cases to court...

Generally I don't think the police are heavy handed here, although they are of course corrupt and after money. But to deliberately cause them to lose face here is a risky game.  

[Danderman123]

8 minutes ago, Amdesign said:

Most of these 'fines' are illegal, even from Thia law. In developed countries the people will just refuse to pay 'fines' on site and ask police officers to file the cases to court...

This begs the question as to whether you are supposed to pay a fine on the spot, or whether you are issued a ticket, but pay later, in court, or at the station.

[Phuketshrew]

There are plenty more charges that the BIB can bring:

 

 

[Amdesign]

35 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Generally I don't think the police are heavy handed here, although they are of course corrupt and after money. But to deliberately cause them to lose face here is a risky game.  

I think this is because Thais are taught to stand on the knees in front of any small boss. Not argue, not defend the rights, not offer better solution -  just accept what they say. This is cultural thing; thus police acts accordingly knowing there will be no objections.

[pattjock]

Maybe if they made the current rules public it would be easier to follow them. I have looked everywhere for first hand information but have not found much and pretty much nothing in English.

 

How can you penalize people if you don't make the exact regulations public?

[RobMuir]

2 hours ago, Excel said:

So no wonder they are active in policing mask non wearers etc etc

I think you might find that it is the result of a pandemic that is killing millions of people and now worse than ever in Thailand with the UK variant.

 

This OP also destroys the often repeated myth from many members that " the police only get money from farangs and not the Thais".

 

There is a serious pandemic occuring currently, please follow the guidelines and stop complaining.

 

[Amdesign]

2 minutes ago, pattjock said:

Maybe if they made the current rules public it would be easier to follow them. I have looked everywhere for first hand information but have not found much and pretty much nothing in English.

 

How can you penalize people if you don't make the exact regulations public?

Every governor can make the 'laws' now, from his sick mind. Wear mask in private car. Don't drink with Your wife. Walk on hands. Wear yellow trousers and pink hat... ????

[tlandtday]

Absolutley ridiculous abuse of power.

[Olmate]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I think walking along the street drinking a beer is uncouthed so yes 5000 baht fine and also you wouldn't be wearing your mask if drinking a beer

Drinking  water is ok by you? 

[yeahbutif]

The way I see it  .read the news and keep up with the laws/rule's. Don't mix with the wrong people stay on the right side of the law .then what Have you got to morn about..as it has been said many times ..if you dont Like the rule's Go back to your own country...

[smedly]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

That is not what it says, I suspect the beer was opened. Although I do not know what rule that breaks. Is there a ban on alcohol consumption in public?

Some of the infractions and fines are justified by new, current rules, but too many sound like a campaign against drinking  alcohol in all forms. The authorities need to be reined in here. 

 

 

totally agree, I have been unable to find any such rule except concerning beaches.

 

I suspect a challenge in court would see such a fine thrown in the bin

[Deli]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Come on guys reel your neck in, It is possible they could bring in again a complete alcohol ban like last time, drink sensibly take it home

 

Good ole brown bag does the job again

[Deli]

3 hours ago, RobMuir said:

follow the guidelines

 

As long as they make sense, maybe.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, tlandtday said:

Absolutley ridiculous abuse of power.

Faced with the absolutely ridiculous scorn being shown by foreigners for Emergency measures?

[jacko45k]

9 minutes ago, Deli said:

 

As long as they make sense, maybe.

To whom? Some seem to have no problem with the restrictions, others deride them. We don't get to cherry pick.

(Just wish they were clear).

[Thaijack2014]

So, how much would the fine be: riding on a bicycle, not wearing the mask, drinking a beer and with more than two people? 

[Katipo]

I was beginning to worry about the police. So happy to read they have found a way to claw back some of the money they will have lost due to Covid from their other forms of racketeering 

[ChrisKC]

4 hours ago, pattjock said:

Maybe if they made the current rules public it would be easier to follow them. I have looked everywhere for first hand information but have not found much and pretty much nothing in English.

 

How can you penalize people if you don't make the exact regulations public?

This sounds fair to me. Unfortunately, the judgment will be that, "ignorance of the law is no defence"

[Guderian]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

-5000 baht for walking on Soi Buakhao with a beer from 7-11 alone

 

There was a time when we might have blamed Russian tourists for bringing us into disrepute, but we don't have that option any more, lol.

 

Really though, people do not seem to be acting in their own best interests. The neighbours renting the house opposite me are part-owners of a Pattaya Gogo bar. obviously, they want the restrictions lifted ASAP so they can get back to earning a living, yet almost every day they have friends around for a few beers. The authorities in Chonburi have stated that most cases are now related to small social gatherings of just 2 or 3 people, so my neighbours really are acting against their own interests in hosting these small gatherings. The sooner new cases are down in single figures, the sooner we're likely to see restrictions lifted again, so for goodness sake don;t do anything that might make matters worse.