Pattaya officials finally move against jet ski vendors

PATTAYA: -- Pattaya officials have finally moved against the city’s many jet ski scam artists, ordering every vendor working the area’s beaches to register at city hall by Aug. 10 or be classified a criminal operator.

At yet another meeting Aug. 3 on the scandal that has besmirched the city’s image internationally for more than a year, officials pounded fists on tables and professed outrage at the seemingly endless string of incidents involving extortion and physical intimidation of tourists by jet ski touts plaguing Pattaya, Jomtien and Naklua beaches.

Pattaya beach Jet Ski operators once again listen to the city dressing them down.

Officials were apparently content to ignore overseas and online media accounts of the scams. But a July 26 expose on government-owned Channel 3 TV prompted police and administrators to get serious about addressing the scandal.

Full story and pictures of the meeting HERE

[pattayamail][/pattayamail]

I will believe it hell Hell freezes over. Nothing will change.....

Pattaya officials have finally moved against the city’s many jet ski scam artists, ordering every vendor working the area’s beaches to register at city hall by Aug. 10 or be classified a criminal operator.

Today is the 13th, no.

Pattaya jet ski extortion plot crackdown..............April 2010.

http://www.pattayaon...-jet-ski-scams/

Does anybody here really think this is the right man for the job?

Edited August 14, 201114 yr by pauljones

Jet Ski Extortion Crackdown......2008

April 2008

Governor Pracha cracks down on unruly jet-ski operators

Australian Ambassador complains to Ministry of Interior

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk

Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat is leading an initiative to clamp down on the dangerous activities of jet-ski operators, following pressure from the Ministry of Interior.

A meeting organized by Governor Pracha on April 4 at Banglamung district public hall, which included Pattaya City permanent secretary Sittiprap Muangkoom and Banglamung district chief Mongkol Thamakittikhun, discussed the zoning proposals with more than 70 jet-ski operators.

http://www.pattayama...news.shtml#hd17

Jet Ski Extortion Crackdown....2007

Meeting Feb 2007

Tourists complain over jet-ski charges

Narisa Nitikarn

Tourist complaints that jet-ski operators were overcharging them resulted in a meeting in late January between Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and the operators from all three beach areas, namely Pattaya, Jomtien and Koh Larn.

http://www.pattayama.../news.shtml#hd4

Interesting that something is being done (maybe) about jet-ski scams and prices. Wouldn't it be a good idea to tackle this nationwide? Especially in Phuket and Samui? Surely this isn't Pattaya's problem only and a nationwide approach could have "more teeth" as the local governments are too deep in gratitude for the votes generated by many jet-ski mafia boys while the local police sits in their pockets.

Thus ensuring that there is an up to date list of the people/companies that need to be visited to collect their tribute.

Quote: the scandal that has besmirched the city’s image internationally for more than a year

Has this scam only being going on for 1-year?

I remember the same jet ski scams happening 20 years ago.

One way to deal with this never ending problem would be to enforce long-ignored regulations requiring tourists who rent jet-skis to have a Thai Helmsman Level 2 licenses, a qualification that requires two years’ documented proof of experience aboard a Thai-flagged ship.

The regulation states that any tourists caught operating a jet-ski without a Helmsman’s 2 license should in theory be liable to six months in prison, a 5,000-baht fine, or both – but it would be impractical to enforce such a law because it would mean the overnight death of the jet-ski rental business.

Problem dealt with................