Photo courtesy of Thairath

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Foreign tourists in Phuket sparked a social media firestorm after blatantly disregarding Thai law by smashing a police wheel lock with a rock in broad daylight. The brazen act occurred outside a shopping mall on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong today, January 14.

 

A 23-second video of the incident was shared by the Phuket Newshawk Facebook page, captioned: “A friend smashed the chain. #Don’t do it #Patong.” The clip shows a tourist using a rock to break the chain securing their motorcycle wheel, which police had locked for illegal parking.

 

The video quickly went viral, igniting heated discussions online. Furious netizens slammed the tourists for their disrespectful behaviour.

 

“Foreigners aren’t afraid of Thai laws because they can pay fines.”

 

“Thailand’s laws are too lenient. When will we see stricter enforcement?”

 

 

Others criticised what they perceived as leniency towards foreigners.

 

“When Thais break the law abroad, they face severe consequences. Here, tourists pay and walk free.”

 

Some called for harsher punishments, suggesting jail time for vandalising government property.

 

The incident raises broader concerns about law enforcement and the behaviour of certain tourists in Thailand. Many locals feel stricter regulations are necessary to protect the country’s image and ensure respect for its laws, reported Thairath.

 

As tourism continues to boom in Phuket, police and local government officials face growing pressure to address these recurring issues.

 

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-14

 

 

Well that was stupid. Maybe he thinks that the bike can’t be traced back to him, which is even stupider.

Another fool, that can´t behave in a proper way.

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Foreigners aren’t afraid of Thai laws because they can pay fines.”

 

Or perhaps they see that the locals tend not to follow them, so assume they can do the same...  🤔

The Thais can only blame themselves. They built a reputation of a country where everything goes. Would the scum dare to do this in Singapore?

 

Chain them at the entrance of Bangla road, and give them 100 lashes Singaporean way. Put it on Tiktok everyone to see.

Are these wheel locks made of plastic? So you can go caveman on the wheel locks here in Thailand and they come off ??

Police need buy better locks , or hide all the rocks ! 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Foreigners aren’t afraid of Thai laws because they can pay fines.”

Just like the locals ?

7 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Or perhaps they see that the locals tend not to follow them, so assume they can do the same...  🤔

Took the words right out of my mouth. 

How much is a fine for illegal parking?, surely not worth the effort of vandalism.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Here, tourists pay and walk free.”

Here EVERYONE pays and walks free.  

This is the second incident in a matter of weeks, very rarely done years ago, just pay a small fine and be on your way, although to be fair not clearly sign posted at that spot about parking.

I am assuming he as now upped the offences from that of  illegal parking to  criminal  offence of criminal damage. As they say wisdom is chasing him but he his quicker.

Locking a vehicle in place does nothing to remove the obstruction. 
 

The bike should be lifted, with locks only used for a short time while the police wait for the tow truck.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“When Thais break the law abroad, they face severe consequences. Here, tourists pay and walk free.”

Substitute ‘Thais’ and ‘tourists’ for ‘anyone’. 

Thai's dont respect the Law, so Farangs think they can do the same, 

Looks like he is squatting right next to the No Parking sign on the payment. He is also blocking the steps. Forget the chain, the police should simply throw these mb's in the back of police pickups and the owners can come to the police station and sort things out. 

I am never surprised by the pure blatant hypocrisy of the Thai netizens. Sure, what He did was wrong, however, The Thai people are the last to start throwing accusations around. Do these "netizens" go on a verbal rampage when they see their countrymen riding with no helmets, going the wrong way on the road, riding three or more on a bike, parking on red lines , double parking, drunk driving, my, the list is endless. 

2 hours ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Are these wheel locks made of plastic? So you can go caveman on the wheel locks here in Thailand and they come off ??

Chinese brand

55 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Thai's dont respect the Law, so Farangs think they can do the same, 

Correct, the law or 'respect' for the law should be the same for everyone?

Wheel locking is accompanied by a ticket with the amount to pay and your registration  information , they got you so why would you 

make it worse.

1 hour ago, kuzmabruk said:

Here EVERYONE pays and walks free.  

correct even for murder !!!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Foreigners aren’t afraid of Thai laws because they can pay fines.”

Whereas some Thais simply leave the country for a few years, and wait for things to calm down, or the statute of limitations to run out.

2 hours ago, kuzmabruk said:

Here EVERYONE pays and walks free.  

If that were true, Thailand would have 0 jail and prison population.

28 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

correct even for murder !!!

Seriously mate, what did Thailand do to you to hate it so much?

While I amit that this guy is doing wrong to say '...sparked a social media firestorm after blatantly disregarding Thai law ' I'd like a Baht for everytime I seen a Thai road use disregard Thai traffic law. Who writes these headlines? AI I suppose.

10 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Seriously mate, what did Thailand do to you to hate it so much?

Stating the facts,  and why do you think i hate Thailand, Asumption!!! Asumption!!!  and by the way iam not your mate !!!

He obviously knew nothing about locks or metal. TRYING is the word here. He never boke the chain or lock with a stone. Should he have stuck with it, he would have still been their. 

The fine small and everyone watches,did he rent then his name recorded.He will pay more now

1 can you not park there? any sign?

2 official police notice , anyone could chain them up ?

3 fines, do thai people pay any ?