Patong Police Crack Down on Reckless Foreign Tourist Riders

[snoop1130]

Picture of police stopping a Thai man in Phuket courtesy of Phuket News

 

In an effort to address the rampant chaos on Phuket's roads, Patong police initiated a significant crackdown on reckless driving among foreign tourists over the weekend. On Saturday, February 15, authorities targeted local motorbike rental operators, penalising over ten businesses for failing to verify tourists' driving licences before renting out vehicles.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Chamnan Sapsin of the Patong Traffic Police disclosed that tourists caught riding without licences were fined 1,000 baht each, while rental shops were hit with a 2,000-baht penalty per violation for their negligence in ensuring proper documentation. This operation led to the seizure of several motorbikes, creating a temporary halt for those affected.

 

 

The current strategy focuses on enforcing fines rather than closing down rental operations. Despite the intensity of the crackdown, police have so far been issuing financial penalties only, refraining from pursuing further legal actions or business closures. This steady approach is part of an ongoing effort to instil road discipline as Patong police continue to apprehend about twenty unlicensed foreign riders daily.

 

As authorities summon bike owners to settle fines and reclaim their vehicles, the Patong police remains resolute in their mission to maintain safer streets and restore order on the island, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-18

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

They should try this one on the other holiday islands here. Tao, Phangan and Samui.

Koh Phangan last week was a free for all with foreigners driving badly.

[MikeandDow]

They should also stop the Thais as well

[spidermike007]

If this is indeed true it is certainly a step in the right direction. I have never in two decades seen either a policeman or the highway patrol pull over a driver for reckless driving, this would be a first. It would be a rare demonstration of law enforcement. 

[scottiejohn]

They were probably just flagging down those they new whose brown envelopes had bounced!

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

On Saturday, February 15, authorities targeted local motorbike rental operators, penalising over ten businesses for failing to verify tourists' driving licences before renting out vehicles.

Just more fines... 

[sikishrory]

12 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If this is indeed true it is certainly a step in the right direction. I have never in two decades seen either a policeman or the highway patrol pull over a driver for reckless driving, this would be a first. It would be a rare demonstration of law enforcement. 

The NZ boys that got locked up for wrestling the cop. Allegedly speeding and in the right lane was the reason for the stop.

[Krabi King]

I'm curious to know if there are any cases where rental shops have been sued by family members of people that had a (fatal) accident, for renting out a motorcycle without a proper driving license? 

Yes, I know the painstaking process of going through court here and you'd probably say Thai will protect Thai. But I'm just wondering if there are any known cases where a rental shop was held liable...

[john smith]

Twenty years ago on Samui police attempted to use the same tactics and achieved nothing. The shop owners absorbed the losses . The fines then and now are so small that tourists really do not care. Shop owners simply will not check for driving licences as to refuse to rent cycles would destroy them. I lived a short distance from one such shop. On several occasions whist talking to the shop owner over an afternoon beer the shop owner left his beer to rent a cycle to a tourist who had shortly before been stopped for not having a licence. Cycle rental is a big business

[Greenhill]

4 hours ago, sikishrory said:

The NZ boys that got locked up for wrestling the cop. Allegedly speeding and in the right lane was the reason for the stop.

And they weren't deported??  Why not??

[actonion]

17 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

They should try this one on the other holiday islands here. Tao, Phangan and Samui.

Koh Phangan last week was a free for all with foreigners driving badly.

When in Rome

[ozz1]

They just have to go to any school in Thailand and watch the young kids roaring around  on their motorbikes but that won't happen no money in that

[richard_smith237]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In an effort to address the rampant chaos on Phuket's roads, Patong police initiated a significant crackdown on reckless driving among foreign tourists over the weekend.

 

A step in the right direction - but hasn't this been announced numerous times already ???

- Targeting rental companies renting out to tourists without licenses ???

 

Then, how many Thai's are also riding around without licenses ???

 

 

The Thailand police should be targetting and  cracking down on ALL road users driving and riding recklessly.... and they should be doing so without any prejudice whatsoever....

 

If the bike is rented to a foreigner without a license, penalise the rental company too.

 

On the roads, crack down on the road behavior of Foreigners & Thai's, anyone without a license, driving poorly or recklessly, issue the same level of tickets and fines... 

 

Execute police work with consistency and effectiveness that is equal across all road users whether a high-so in an S-Class Merc, a delivery driver in a Box-Truck, a Tourist in a Yaris, a Grab Rider on a Honda click, a Foreigner on a CBR 1000 or a family man Honda or in his fortuna etc... 

 

Police work and controls are only effective when they are executed without prejudice, openly, cleanly, consistently with consistent penalties. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If this is indeed true it is certainly a step in the right direction. I have never in two decades seen either a policeman or the highway patrol pull over a driver for reckless driving, this would be a first. It would be a rare demonstration of law enforcement. 

 

If could be bothered, I could post daily videos of outrageously stupid driving / riding.

 

Yesterday it was a 'Western idiot' on his bicycle, that overtook me as I was turning left, then cut across me to the inside....  inches away from hitting him I had to slam the anchors on... 

 

Mere moments before I had to swerve slightly to the right, to allow for the the oncomming motorcyclist (looked Thai) who had just dismounted the pavement onto the road riding straight towards me, had I not swerved, we'd have met head on (him colliding with my left / nearside headlight).

 

Moments before that, I had to emergency brake on a narrow soi with two way traffic, as an on coming motorcyclist miss-timed his overtake and tried to 'nip in' before the cars passed, he was never going to make it without me braking hard. 

 

----

 

I will of course feel great sympathy for anyone who gets hurt in these situations.

 

But I will not feel or accept any responsibility for idiots who place their safety at risk like this. 

 

I will also feel great annoyance as their stupidity inconveniences my family while we are left without a car while its repaired... most likely on our own insurance as the other rider is likely both uninsured and unlicensed. 

 

Then of course is the helmet issue, as the fool who over takes in an impossible gap and hits my car smashed their head of the ground, either dies or is brain damaged - and then their family want to claim 'compensation' from me (or my Wife) who were simply driving safely down the road...   they will not get any of course and I'll be happy to take dash-cam footage to court (though never expect any such issue to reach that far).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robert_Smith]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Lieutenant Colonel Chamnan Sapsin of the Patong Traffic Police disclosed that tourists caught riding without licences were fined 1,000 baht each

You pay your fine and then you drive on..

 

Everything in Thailand is about money.

 

Nothing else matters.

 

Regards,

Bob.

[Liverpool Lou]

17 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

They should also stop the Thais as well

They do but this is a foreigner-oriented forum publishing articles mainly relevant to foreigners.

[actonion]

Him with the Beret,.....   He thinks he's John Wayne   ready for a shoot out

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, john smith said:

On several occasions whist talking to the shop owner over an afternoon beer the shop owner left his beer to rent a cycle to a tourist who had shortly before been stopped for not having a licence. Cycle rental is a big business

Cycle riders don't require licences.

[actonion]

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If this is indeed true it is certainly a step in the right direction. I have never in two decades seen either a policeman or the highway patrol pull over a driver for reckless driving, this would be a first. It would be a rare demonstration of law enforcement. 

Would a Boy in Brown recognise reckless driving,?  being Thai themselves they drive as stupid as the next one

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Greenhill said:

5 hours ago, sikishrory said:

The NZ boys that got locked up for wrestling the cop. Allegedly speeding and in the right lane was the reason for the stop.

And they weren't deported??  Why not??

They were locked up for four months, with bail refused, until their release and return to New Zealand, apparently after negotiations involving NZ officials.  

[spidermike007]

Nowhere else in the world have I seen people consistency take the kinds of chances and risks in the road, that they take here, with their families in the car. Nowhere. When they could have waited four seconds to make the uturn or turn onto the highway, and have a completely clear path, they instead choose to take a tremendous risk. It is beyond comprehension. I see it all the time. My eyes do not lie to me. This rarely ever happens to me in the US. The same applies to driving a scooter where infinitely more care is required in order to survive on the roads here. It is very likely that Thailand has the highest fatality rate in the world for scooter and motorbike drivers. 

 

If I decide to cut you off on a highway, when you are going 120kph, and I am making a u-turn, and there was plenty of room behind your car, to make a safe turn, is that an error, if it results in a horrific, fatal accident, and I take the lives of you and your family, and mine? Or is it sheer stupidity, blatant ignorance, no concern for your safety and the safety of my own family, or utter recklessness? Or all combined? 

 

[NoDisplayName]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In an effort to address the rampant chaos on Phuket's roads, Patong police initiated a significant crackdown on reckless driving among foreign tourists over the weekend.

 

Nothing to address the rampant chaos caused by reckless driving among locals?

 

More like they're making efforts to address a lack of funds in the office party fund.

[john smith]

For cycle read motorcycle. Given the context of the thread I thought that was a given. Obviously not.

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If I decide to cut you off on a highway, when you are going 120kph, and I am making a u-turn, and there was plenty of room behind your car, to make a safe turn, is that an error, if it results in a horrific, fatal accident, and I take the lives of you and your family, and mine? Or is it sheer stupidity, blatant ignorance, no concern for your safety and the safety of my own family, or utter recklessness? Or all combined? 

 

 

Look at this one. Pack of cars go racing on the highway and crash. Thai people think this is all fun and games I guess. You see these drivers every day in the city but never once will the police ever consider stopping them before they crash and get someone killed.

 

 

[No Forwarding Address]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

A step in the right direction - but hasn't this been announced numerous times already ???

- Targeting rental companies renting out to tourists without licenses ???

 

Then, how many Thai's are also riding around without licenses ???

 

 

The Thailand police should be targetting and  cracking down on ALL road users driving and riding recklessly.... and they should be doing so without any prejudice whatsoever....

 

If the bike is rented to a foreigner without a license, penalise the rental company too.

 

On the roads, crack down on the road behavior of Foreigners & Thai's, anyone without a license, driving poorly or recklessly, issue the same level of tickets and fines... 

 

Execute police work with consistency and effectiveness that is equal across all road users whether a high-so in an S-Class Merc, a delivery driver in a Box-Truck, a Tourist in a Yaris, a Grab Rider on a Honda click, a Foreigner on a CBR 1000 or a family man Honda or in his fortuna etc... 

 

Police work and controls are only effective when they are executed without prejudice, openly, cleanly, consistently with consistent penalties. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low hanging fruit, well you gotta start somewhere. Maybe they will start pulling over Thais as well.