Kiwi Arrested for Illegal Use of Fireworks on Thai Beach

[webfact]

 

A 39-year-old New Zealander, named only as Mr. Stephen, has been arrested for illegally setting off fireworks on Thailand's Patong Beach. The arrest occurred on Thursday, May 2nd, after midnight local time. 

 

Mr. Stephen was apprehended by the Patong Police near Taweewong Road. Two sets of eight fireworks were found in his possession.

 

He was subsequently taken to Patong Police Station, where he was charged with using fireworks without the necessary legal permit and causing noise pollution.

 

As reported by the Phuket Express, the offense carries stiff penalties in Thailand. Violators can potentially serve up to three years in jail and may be subject to fines of up to 60,000 baht or both.

 

Picture courtesy of The Phuket Express

 

-- 2024-05-03

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[sungod]

Must be sh!t being a farang on Phuket at the moment.

[EVENKEEL]

Oh, C'mon. Between the Ruskies and the cops, think I'll stay away from Phuket.

[IvorBiggun2]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

causing noise pollution.

They must be havin a larf. Noise pollution in Thailand????    

[ukrules]

19 minutes ago, sungod said:

Must be sh!t being a farang on Phuket at the moment.

I've been saying this for years.

They hate us, only now are we seeing highly publicised evidence of this, it was more subtle before.

 

 

[NE1]

21 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

They must be havin a larf. Noise pollution in Thailand????    

My first thought.

[Korat Kiwi]

I think it was only yesterday that it was reported that authorities were starting to clamp down on excessive noise and use of fireworks in Phuket. 

 

My my they certainly moved quickly on this.  What about the sellers of fireworks?  Remove the source then you automatically remove the problem. 

 

I've never been to Phuket,  seems like I'm not missing much. 

[sungod]

7 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I think it was only yesterday that it was reported that authorities were starting to clamp down on excessive noise and use of fireworks in Phuket. 

 

My my they certainly moved quickly on this.  What about the sellers of fireworks?  Remove the source then you automatically remove the problem. 

 

I've never been to Phuket,  seems like I'm not missing much. 

 

Been a few times. Last time I was there was over 15 years ago. There are some beautiful areas but found the place expensive (comparable to Bangkok) and the taxis have always been a rip off. Just found other areas of Thailand equally as scenic but without the hassle and cost.

[ChaiyaTH]

WTF is this now again, until I read it was Phuket.. I knew enough.. I don't know better than that fireworks is for sale anywhere, and anywhere can light it. I have actually met quite a few Australian couples who seemed to like doing this on the beach, and no, not boxes and boxes of fireworks, just 1 small box and 2  sticks.

They really don't know what they want, what they are doing, or what can be done at all, Thais I mean. They start to look more and more pathetic.

[freeworld]

Why does a foreigner even need to be in possession of fireworks.

[freeworld]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

I've been saying this for years.

They hate us, only now are we seeing highly publicised evidence of this, it was more subtle before.

 

 

I do not think so. In years past before the internet there were far fewer foreigners visiting Thailand. Now visitors have literally tripled and all sorts are arriving and amongst them are troublemakers.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

I've been saying this for years.

They hate us, only now are we seeing highly publicised evidence of this, it was more subtle before.

 

 

No, they don´t hate us. At least not the ones that bother to be both polite and to read up on the rules and laws of the country they visit. To do that, is especially important regarding Asian countries, that have a very different view of life . What has happened is not that it was more subtle before as that is only what you think you saw. What you saw, was the no enforcement from lazy police and authorities. Now they have more pressure on them to deal with things. 

1 hour ago, sungod said:

Must be sh!t being a farang on Phuket at the moment.

No, not if you only see to living by the rules and laws. That is an easy thing to do for all. However, if you look at the Russian influx. Then it´s at least a no go for me. Looks like same as buying a ticket to Putin-land.

[brianthainess]

Have they arrested the Firework seller yet for selling to someone without a license ? Is there a sign at the shop must have license to buy.

Whatever next they will be renting motorbikes to people without a driving license...............    ..... 

[Tropicalevo]

18 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, they don´t hate us. At least not the ones that bother to be both polite and to read up on the rules and laws of the country they visit. To do that, is especially important regarding Asian countries, that have a very different view of life . What has happened is not that it was more subtle before as that is only what you think you saw. What you saw, was the no enforcement from lazy police and authorities. Now they have more pressure on them to deal with things. 

Totally agree. 

[stevenl]

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Must be sh!t being a farang on Phuket at the moment.

 

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

I've been saying this for years.

They hate us, only now are we seeing highly publicised evidence of this, it was more subtle before.

 

 

Not at all, thanks for your concern.

[Dcheech]

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Must be sh!t being a farang on Phuket at the moment.

 

Been that way for two months now. What I do not get is how these prats down in Phuket do not seem to understand this. You do anything questionable, not lawful, you are a farang, you are going to be arrested or video-ed & get smacked.  Does not matter if Thais do it everyday, you are going to get singled out and splatted. 

 

Still the blockheads in Phuket line up to get kicked. Two months going on three and they have not figured it out yet. How dumb is dumb? 

[mstevens]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

.....charged with using fireworks without the necessary legal permit and causing noise pollution.

 

Charged with causing noise pollution in Thailand? What a hoot!

[milesinnz]

Please do TAT a favour.. tell all your western mates, don't come to Thailand... if you must come to SE Asia go to Vietnam or The Philippines.. that should make the Thai's much happier...

[Stevemercer]

Is it illegal to set off fireworks in Thailand, or is it just illegal to get caught? Or is it just a Phuket/farang thing?

 

We always have kids throwing bungers from their motorbikes or shooting off rockets. I'd always assumed you can buy fireworks everywhere and let them off to your hearts content.

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A 39-year-old New Zealander, named only as Mr. Stephen, has been arrested for illegally setting off fireworks on Thailand's Patong Beach. The arrest occurred on Thursday, May 2nd, after midnight local time. 

 

Mr. Stephen was apprehended by the Patong Police near Taweewong Road. Two sets of eight fireworks were found in his possession.

 

He was subsequently taken to Patong Police Station, where he was charged with using fireworks without the necessary legal permit and causing noise pollution.

 

As reported by the Phuket Express, the offense carries stiff penalties in Thailand. Violators can potentially serve up to three years in jail and may be subject to fines of up to 60,000 baht or both.

 

Picture courtesy of The Phuket Express

 

-- 2024-05-03

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

He'll be very famous when his story is published in Auckland. A laughingstock by itself. Congrats🙏

[wensiensheng]

3 hours ago, Dcheech said:

 

Been that way for two months now. What I do not get is how these prats down in Phuket do not seem to understand this. You do anything questionable, not lawful, you are a farang, you are going to be arrested or video-ed & get smacked.  Does not matter if Thais do it everyday, you are going to get singled out and splatted. 

 

Still the blockheads in Phuket line up to get kicked. Two months going on three and they have not figured it out yet. How dumb is dumb? 

Phuket has its issues, traffic congestion being one of the main ones.

 

but in what universe is being punished for breaking the law an issue? 
 

I spend quite a bit of time in Phuket and Udon Thani. Quite different places in many respects. I don’t feel the need to change my behavior between the two places, one iota. Then again, I am (reasonably) law abiding.

 

I also haven’t noticed any changes in Phuket from two months ago. It’s a little quieter now that high season is over and we approach the low season, but that’s about it.

 

It’s seems you don’t live here yourself, so ether you have friends who live here and are dumber than dumb, feeding you (false) information, or you’re just making stuff up in order to jump on a currently popular bandwagon.

 

anyway, enjoy your current place of abode and if it’s ok for you to break the law there with impunity, so much the better……..I guess.

[ThaiFelix]

6 hours ago, sungod said:

Must be sh!t being a farang on Phuket at the moment.

Its ludicrous!!  Nearly happened to me a couple of years ago.  Kids all through the village were setting off fireworks for weeks (without any permits lol)  The shops had been selling them for weeks (without permits).  Nobody told me there were any rules when I bought them??  I had been mucking around with a couple of kids passing by and set off a couple of bombs just to entertain them in fun.  Suddenly some cop, who had been gambling (yes gambling) on a TV boxing match over the road wanted to grab me.  Luckily a couple of my friends and neighbours who were also gambling there came to my rescue stating I didnt know about the laws and he let me go.  Can you even absorb that fully?? Lol!  Welcome to Thailand!

[gomangosteen]

Is it that he set off the fireworks on Patong Beach rather than on a private property? 

 

It's one of the designated/protected no-smoking beaches with advertised heavy penalties up to 100k fine (which has probably never been imposed).

 

Earlier in the week read of a tourist being 'fined' the maximum 25,000 baht for smoking cannabis on the beach.

 

A beach crackdown?

[ThaiFelix]

20 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

Please do TAT a favour.. tell all your western mates, don't come to Thailand... if you must come to SE Asia go to Vietnam or The Philippines.. that should make the Thai's much happier...

Yeah?  And then where will the thais get their revenue if no farang??  Thailand, like most of SE Asia only survives because of the Chinese money and brains.  In more recent decades its due to the farang coming here and spending.

[Xonax]

The police should rather catch som of the many thai's driving around with modified exhaust systems on their motorbikes and cars. I live in what used to be a quiet village, but these days all the delivery bikes and trucks are polluting the area with noise. I don't understand why the delivery companies are allowing this, and how these often older vehicles can pass the annual inspections with modified exhaust systems.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I think it was only yesterday that it was reported that authorities were starting to clamp down on excessive noise and use of fireworks in Phuket. 

 

My my they certainly moved quickly on this.  What about the sellers of fireworks?  Remove the source then you automatically remove the problem. 

 

I've never been to Phuket,  seems like I'm not missing much. 

Good point

[kentrot]

For many years that I have lived here , Jomtien Beach was a quieter family neighbourhood with many Thai's and permanent farang residents. Recently with the overdevelopment of newer hotels and short term rentals, the nightlife has gotten out of control. Fireworks are set off on the beach nightly (not on special ocassions) until 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning. Children and family residents need their sleep without the sounds of a war zone in the background . 

If you want to party all night with loud noise , go to one of the famous party islands.

 

The police in Jomtien need to step up and enforce the laws like this example in the story above.

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, Dcheech said:

What I do not get is how these prats down in Phuket do not seem to understand this.

 

Prats are everywhere....    Its just that in area's of high tourist footfall such as Phuket, there is a higher density of prats because there are simply a lot lot more tourists there.... 

 

... Familiarity breeds contempt... and thus, the authorities specifically target foreigners in these area's of higher 'foreigner density' whereas in other area's of Thailand foreigners are treated with the general level of indifference with which everyone treats everyone else....  BUT, do something wrong in area's such as Phuket and the Police know its a pay-day... so they are on the lookout for anything...  Thai's committing similar acts are almost invisible... 

 

The 'Police Positions' in areas such as Patong and Pattaya even cost a lot more to 'secure' as these are the more coveted profitable positions - the amount of money that filters up through this police pyramid scheme is astonishing. 

 

 

Of course - all of this is overlooked by the media which is also cashing in on this 'bad farang' creates more clicks... add in a little netizen outrage and we have a recipe for add revenue !!! 

 

 

[scottdavio]

Can you get up to 3 years jail and/or a 60,000 baht fine for letting off fireworks anywhere any day without a licence to do so? The last New Year’s Eve the whole neighbourhood was letting them off, all Thais though, so I suppose that don’t count. 

[Dcheech]

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

but in what universe is being punished for breaking the law an issue? 

 

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

anyway, enjoy your current place of abode and if it’s ok for you to break the law there with impunity, so much the better……..I guess.

 

Comprehension issues or trying to re write my post, make a straw man, & do a little soap box preaching? Nowhere do I advocate breaking the law, no matter how trivial & ridiculous.
 

My post concerns the blockheaded & ignorant westerners on Phuket who are oblivious to the fact the plod are looking for any and every transgression they do. It does not matter if the locals do the same every day. More to the point these brick thick westerners have had two months to catch on, but they don't. Pitiful little critters. Perhaps you can help them next time you are down there. Our hopes & prayers are with you.