Cops to crackdown on illegal Bangkok nightlife

[lee b]

Would this include the millions of Cocktail street bars that open late ( and pay the BiB for their spot ) and carry on until 6-7am in the morning?? What about all the bars who pay as well? 100 % i think it is... What exactly are they going to crack down on?? I'm lost now...!!! haha

[aussieinthailand]

Ohh well there goes the world famous FULL MOON PARTY, a massive tourist event with millions being pumped into the Thai economy

No way will happen, shut things down for a few weeks and then back as there are so many more cop's that need to up grade their Merc and more gold n diamond rings.

[monkeycountry]

Reading between the lines, it all pretty much sums up to the police wanting even more power to collect tea money.

Since they want to change the laws reg. fine sizes, perhaps a simpler solution would be to change the law reg. opening hours. Besides a few brawls as mentioned, there is little reason (other than tea money) to force people to close at 1 am.

[horisize]

Government has destroyed Bangkok Nightlife. They should mind their own business instead of others.

[skorchio]

Increase the fine and obviously the tea money has to go up in proportion as well. Otherwise there is no incentive right?

[Camilo Diaz]

In Europe there are Nightclubs where nobody goes for party before 2am.

Spicy Club.

[BigRick]

Why use words when there are songs!

(Grateful dead Shakedown street) Sorry might have dated myself and a few others.

[Pralaad]

Do not get the obsession with closing times.

This silly law was introduced years ago for the benefit of one, who no longer in the country.

What is the problem with being open late? Are they worried people will spend money?

[Tanlic]

Maybe the bars opening later has affected the income of the unlicensed street bars, which are allegedly owned by none other than the police.

I sincerely doubt if many of the street bars are owned by the police. If what I was told is true they have a bettere way of collecting with less risk

I spoke to one individual a couple of years ago who told me that every other night the police would turn up and write them a ticcket.

She had to send someone to the police station to pay a fine which varied between 500 baht and 1000baht depending how busy the police thought they were.

Call it tea money if you like but I would imagine it's a bit like the traffic laws for misdemeaners, once you have been booked you can't be booked again for the same offence for 24 hours

Take all the stalls during the day and the bars at night thats a fair bit of tea money.

As far as cloing bars at 1am is concerned it is beyond me why on earth they would do that.

Young Holiday makers want bars to be opne 24 hours a day or aty least they want discos etc to be open until the early house.

Early closing must affect tourism.

Even crazier is what I call the 7/11 law..................you can't buy drink between 2pm and 5pm or whatever.

That is dead set againt every adults rights. They have a law that covers age limit which does not affect adults rights.

The Idiot who thought that one up mus be about as popular as afart in a spacesuit with every responsible adult in the country.

If kids want to drink between the banned hours they are simply going to pick the drink up earlier so the current restrictions are worthless.

All they do is every so often annoy the sh!t out of some adult who forgot the law exists.

[BuddyPinkham]

Under the proposed new legislation, much more severe fines for late night opening, ranging from between 60,000 and 200,000 Baht, would be issued to venue owners who are caught breaking the rules.

Is it me or what? The caretaker government CANNOT pass legislation or does the police have a right to amend laws without legislative approval?

[Fullstop]

Wouldn't be a week in Thailand without another crackdown

Rumour has it, that there is actually a Ministry of Crackdowns ... just down the hall from the Ministry of Silly Walks.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Fullstop

[BestBitterPhuket]

Thailand is becoming more like the west everyday, Fines and restrictions always increased, If the authorities dont watch out they wont have a tourism industry as people could have more fun in their home countries.

Thailand needs more enforced regulations and discipline. It would be great if they could weed out the garbage tourists who come here for cheap sex and booze, to escape the law at home or who are using Thailand as a mental asylum.

[Fullstop]

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Thailand is becoming more like the west everyday, Fines and restrictions always increased, If the authorities dont watch out they wont have a tourism industry as people could have more fun in their home countries.

Thailand needs more enforced regulations and discipline. It would be great if they could weed out the garbage tourists who come here for cheap sex and booze, to escape the law at home or who are using Thailand as a mental asylum.

It's not really that cheap anymore. Cambodia on the other hand.....

[Strangebrew]

Here's a concept change an extra fee for staying open after hours in entertainment zones. You create more revenue for government and keep cops honest by owners reporting police who raid there bars asking for bribes cut the middle man out money goes to the head crooks instead. Also 24 hours open creates need for more workers which in turn creates more taxes WIN WIN Then police can get down to having time to do police work instead of being muscles for there bosses.

[BKS22]

You want tourist but asked them go back to sleep 12 p.m like Cinderella , fun just begin 10.00 p.m - 11.00 p.m main income for district office post to make extra, why silly politician make such laws many vibrate cities like Hong Kong ,Singapore and Kuala Lumpur which never sleep, leave the adult alone as long as not children under 18 roaming after 10.00 p.m that is fine.

Such control makes more illegal discos and pubs, which you can see in dark lane but many people walking in and out.

The demand is there the government should collect more taxes if let them operate legally and in other ways.

Agree! It's never been a problem in Phnom Penh either. And there the doors NEVER close to some bars & discos.

[tingtongteesood]

Just trying to make more tea money, Thaksin isn't bribing them as much as he used to and they have gotten used to a certain lifestyle....

[stockholm1995]

Translation by google:

According to Bangkok deputy police chief, Adul Narongsak €€€€€€ £££££ $$$$$ THB THB THB THB THB $$$$$ €€€€ 5555.

[Mirkwood]

Another joke...Very funny.

[kkup]

Maybe they should crack down on the crack instead.

[webfact]

Police to tighten grip on opening hours of entertainment venues



BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police will impose harsher penalties on entertainment venues that stay open beyond the time limit as they reasoned that extended hours could generate crimes.

Metropolitan police deputy commissioner Pol Maj-Gen Adul Narongsak said the metropolitan police is proposing the law change in relevant to entertainment venues, since the current penalties are quite light, leading the owners of these business venues to break the law by staying open beyond the legally permitted time.

Under the revised closing hours, the police would propose that the closing time of all entertainment venues will be until 1.00 a.m.

Currently closing times of entertainment venues ranged from midnight till 2.00 a.m. depending on the type of each entertainment venues or “Satan Borikarn” and their locations in zoning areas.

Satan Borikarn as defined under the 1966 Entertainment Venue Control Act is the places that offer a range of services to customers which include ramwong folk dance, massage parlours, pubs, and discos.

The deputy commissioner said under the change, the police will also list open eateries serving liquor and music is played with sound of over 80 decibels as entertainment venue, and operator is required to apply for a licence costing 10,000 – 50,000 baht, depending on its size.

He said operating the entertainment venue without a licence under the current law is a fine of less than 60,000 baht and or a maximum one year imprisonment.

However under the proposed law change, the fine will go up to 120,000 to 400,000 baht and imprisonment will be from 3-5 years.

At present about 2,000 entertainment venues operate without licences.
He said only 198 venues located in entertainment zones and 480 located outside these zones.

He said the police would also propose eight more zones in addition to the red-light Patpong, Phetburi and Ratchadspisek.

They include Sukhumvit, Prasertmanukit-Prasertmanutham, Ratchapruek, Boromatchoni, Ratchada-Thapra, Rama II, and Lat Krabang.

The proposed change would be discussed with other government agencies such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on April 28 before forwarding to the cabinet for approval, he added.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-tighten-grip-opening-hours-entertainment-venues/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-22

[Scarpolo]

while the penalties and fees are increasing for business, the killers on the road remain unaddressed

In Hollywood CA, at closing time oin the strip, the motorcycle cops come out and sit right in front of the bars they have trouble with,

the bar owners do not want any trouble anbd the doors get locked.

there is then a choice, stay and be harrassed, drive drunk and get caught in the DUI check points up the road, or get in a taxi

this is a huge step in the right direction for BKK,

fines in the 60,000 to 200,000 baht range, are exactly what is required.

will some stay open, with protection, perhaps,

but the vast majority of problems will fast fade,

this is a smart move

[Prbkk]

Jail? The Santika owner walked away without penalty and they expect to jail THE REAL OWNERS of these establishments for staying open late?

[drand11]

In Thailand..this is all code for: Higher fines = Higher bribes paid to Police to ignore the bars are open.

It certainly doesn't mean there will be real enforcement!! I don't see that happening.

It should be that clubs/bars must pay higher fees for late night opening permits. This brings cash into Bangkok..and leaves the Police out of enforcement

We all know that BKK police and Enforcement...are Oxymorons.

[Scarpolo]

Usually fly in after 9:00pm then taxi to hotel. Hit Soi Cowboy about midnight and stay 3-4 hours. Stay in BKK 2 or 3 nights.

If this crackdown happens then taxi straight to Pattaya, forget BKK. Can be in Pattaya by 11:30 and enjoy early hours of morning and save money

It is about time Thai government think properly about tourism.

maybe they want to clean up Bangkok, for real busines s interests and are tired of the reputaion of Bangkok?

[brewsterbudgen]

So they are going to crackdown on illegal Prostitution , bribery and corruption Too.

There are regular crackdowns on street prostitution, although they don't last long!

[hawker9000]

Oh good. Yeah - Bangkok's biggest problem alright...

[kaldoverde]

If there was really any interest to tackle the issue the government would issue different licenses to different businesses and only then apply exorbitant fines to those who don't comply.

The latter your business stays open the more expensive your license is. i.e.: Restaurants stay open until 00:00, Pubs until 02:00, and discos until 04:00.

This would mean that past 2am most people would either go back home or flock to discos, which would then make it easier for the police to do their job as revelers would be contained in a handful of places. Also, since the late night venues would be paying more expensive licenses, that money could go towards improving security on the streets.

Business owners are happy as tourists will hop from one place to another and spend money throughout the evening across different venues, tourists are happy as they can party until late night, police are happy because... err wait, police aren't happy.

Yeah, I guess bribery is more of a tradition than a crime here, so heavy fines will work best to prevent criminal activity...

[yourauntbob]

So they are trying to pass a law that will allow the police to extort larger amounts of money from bar owners. Its hard to get bar owners to pay big sums when the fine is only 2000 baht.

[gchurch259]

If you want to do something for the benefit of the customers, let them stay open till 03:00, and start enforcing the no-smoking law inside the clubs. The owners will not enforce it, they put ash trays on all the tables.

It is unhealthy for the staff and the customers.

Jerry

[Loles]

No-one wants to stop milking.