Heated Dispute Erupts at Phala Beach Rayong Over Parking Space

[webfact]

 

A heated confrontation at Phala Beach in Ban Chang, Rayong, has gone viral on social media. A local food vendor clashed with a female tourist who had parked her car in front of the vendor’s eatery.

 

The incident escalated rapidly, prompting police intervention, reported Siam Rath.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The conflict erupted when the tourist, driving a sedan, parked on the street by the beach, occupying a space typically used by customers of the nearby food stall operated by a woman identified as "Ms. Lek" (name changed).

 

An employee of Ms. Lek’s approached the tourist, leading to a heated exchange. The argument centered around the parking policy; Ms. Lek’s stall charges a fee, insisting that space is reserved for her customers, whereas the tourist argued the street parking was public and available to all.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

As the confrontation continued, police from Ban Chang Police Station arrived at the scene to mediate the situation. The tourist was asked to relocate her car to prevent further altercation. However, the incident didn’t end there; it was captured on video and shared on social media, sparking a widespread reaction from the online community.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Ms. Lek claimed she tried to address the situation amicably but was dismissed by the tourist. She admitted that her employee, Nai Wan, lost his temper and was disrespectful, for which he apologized. The incident shines a spotlight on the ongoing disputes and challenges associated with public parking spaces near popular tourist destinations like Phala Beach.

 

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[OccamsRazor]

"The police then asked the tourists to move their cars to another area to park"

What? The tourist(s) had every right to park in a public space.

[VocalNeal]

3 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

What? The tourist(s) had every right to park in a public space.

 

Yes but to defuse the situation the vehicle can be moved more easily than the food stall.🤔

 

 

[Enoon]

 

**** "defusing" the situation

 

**** "Ms Lek" and her petty extortion.

 

Presumably the employee is the muscle that is normally used to enforce her illegal parking charges.

 

Prosecute the thieving cow!

 

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Enoon

[richard_smith237]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

As the confrontation continued, police from Ban Chang Police Station arrived at the scene to mediate the situation. The tourist was asked to relocate her car to prevent further altercation.

 

So....  the police have not mediated on the situation at all...  They have enabled the street vendors sense of entitlement ensuring that the same issue repeats itself and the street vendor now believes that she is within her legal rights to claim public parking as private. 

 

Once again, the Police not doing their job at all, making things up as they go along and kicking the can down the road. 

 

Next time and altercation will involve weapons etc and escalate when both opposing parties firmly believe they are correct because they police failed to act professionally on previous occasions. 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

An employee of Ms. Lek’s approached the tourist, leading to a heated exchange. The argument centered around the parking policy; Ms. Lek’s stall charges a fee, insisting that space is reserved for her customers, whereas the tourist argued the street parking was public and available to all.

So is it a public parking slot or not?

 

[sherwood]

Stop the obvious scam by the local police and the problem will disappear.

Simple.

[billd766]

3 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Yes but to defuse the situation the vehicle can be moved more easily than the food stall.🤔

 

 

Does the vendor pay the government a rental fee to reserve the parking spot, plus get a receipt for the same?

 

If not, then tough. It is a PUBLIC parking space, free for anyone to park, as the police should very well know.

[FritsSikkink]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Yes but to defuse the situation the vehicle can be moved more easily than the food stall.🤔

 

 

Did the owner of the food stall had a license to sell? Did they have a VAT number?

[VocalNeal]

5 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Did the owner of the food stall had a license to sell? Did they have a VAT number?

 

This is Thailand I don't think they have licenses to sell. Any Thai is free to open any business they wish. Taxable income starts at 150,000 baht a year. Below that... 🤔

[FritsSikkink]

6 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

This is Thailand I don't think they have licenses to sell. Any Thai is free to open any business they wish. 

Nope, liquor license, amusement license, no gambling, fishing regulations, ......

[VocalNeal]

16 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Nope, liquor license, amusement license, no gambling, fishing regulations, ......

 

..and food sales🤔 Of the ones you quote only liquor is something they can sell the others are not related to selling. You also need a license to drive et al..

 

But Thailand is still freer than most. Kids can't simply set up a lemonade stand outside their houses in many jurisdictions.

Edited October 24, 2023 by VocalNeal

[spidermike007]

This is not news. This is not even close to being news. People lose their minds everyday, all over the world for tiny things. 

 

This is NOT news. 

[richard_smith237]

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is not news. This is not even close to being news. People lose their minds everyday, all over the world for tiny things. 

 

This is NOT news. 

 

I disagree....   the reason why so many insignificant issues in Thailand blow-up out of proportion and become 'news' is that the police do so little to enforce existing laws.

 

This apathy enables the entitlement of people who either know they are in the wrong and don't care, or, who don't know the laws; Either way, people in the wrong are getting away with lots of issues...

 

... Such issues as neighbours playing loud music, police do nothing so the neighbour takes actions into their own hands etc... (how many times have we read this story).... Or its drivers jumping lights, riding or driving while drunk etc....   they've been doing the same for years and the police haven;'t stopped them, so why stop now ????

 

 

Things like this become news every single day because those who are tasked with preventing these issues from ever getting out of hand to become news fail in their duty.

 

That in itself is newsworthy and should be repeated until authorities and decision makers are sufficiently embarrassed to influence change. 

 

 

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I disagree....   the reason why so many insignificant issues in Thailand blow-up out of proportion and become 'news' is that the police do so little to enforce existing laws.

 

This apathy enables the entitlement of people who either know they are in the wrong and don't care, or, who don't know the laws; Either way, people in the wrong are getting away with lots of issues...

 

... Such issues as neighbours playing loud music, police do nothing so the neighbour takes actions into their own hands etc... (how many times have we read this story).... Or its drivers jumping lights, riding or driving while drunk etc....   they've been doing the same for years and the police haven;'t stopped them, so why stop now ????

 

 

Things like this become news every single day because those who are tasked with preventing these issues from ever getting out of hand to become news fail in their duty.

 

That in itself is newsworthy and should be repeated until authorities and decision makers are sufficiently embarrassed to influence change. 

 

 

 

 

 

While I certainly agree with most of what you just said, when and how do you think the authorities are going to all of a sudden start acting responsibly, caring, shedding themselves of extreme apathy and extreme disregard for the general public, and performing their tasks with the level of pride that one might expect?

 

When do you think the police are going to actually engage in law enforcement rather than behave as personal franchisees? 

 

When do you think the highway patrol is actually going to start patrolling the highway and pulling over people who are driving recklessly and showing total disregard on the road before a tragedy actually happens? 

 

In this lifetime? By the year 2100?

Edited October 24, 2023 by spidermike007

[Grumpy one]

Next week Ms Lek will complain her fine dining restaurant, was burnt to the ground by unknow trouble makers wanting to park legally 

[NanLaew]

23 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

**** "defusing" the situation

 

**** "Ms Lek" and her petty extortion.

 

Presumably the employee is the muscle that is normally used to enforce her illegal parking charges.

 

Prosecute the thieving cow!

 

 

 

To be prosecuted, she would first need to be arrested, no? Since the cops are probably being paid by Mrs Lek and other food shops to mediate and manage this ad-hoc 'customer parking' arrangement, who's going to arrest anyone here?

[FritsSikkink]

17 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

 

..and food sales🤔 Of the ones you quote only liquor is something they can sell the others are not related to selling. You also need a license to drive et al..

 

But Thailand is still freer than most. Kids can't simply set up a lemonade stand outside their houses in many jurisdictions.

You said Thais could open any business. There are a lot of licenses to be considered depending what business they want.

[jacko45k]

On 10/24/2023 at 1:12 PM, richard_smith237 said:

So....  the police have not mediated on the situation at all...  They have enabled the street vendors sense of entitlement ensuring that the same issue repeats itself and the street vendor now believes that she is within her legal rights to claim public parking as private. 

Or they supported the person paying he kickbacks like any good mafioso would!