Arab Motorcycle Scum Return

[Gaybutton]

those of us who live here know it is highly unlikely to see a policeman after 10 PM.

You're right. And it is even more unlikely if there is any rain, even a light mist. If another terrible accident happens they did it to themselves.

I am posting this at 6:15am, Thailand time. No news yet about whether that boy gets to keep his leg. I really hope he won't have to lose his leg. I can only hope the accident will prevent at least a few others from being utter morons. But I think we all know - it won't . . .

Police warnings and relatively light penalties won't stop them for a second. That hasn't worked in the past and it's not going to work now. The only way I can see putting a real stop to it would be to somehow make it too expensive for them to rent motorbikes in the first place. A year or so ago someone posted a message suggesting installing speed bumps. That might help to some extent, but that's not the answer. They'll just sail right over them as if they don't exist.

[Jun]

Police warnings and relatively light penalties won't stop them for a second.

Heavier penalties would help. For example, a few days or weeks in an unpleasant jail.

As for injuries, lets hope these continue to be confined to the hooligans and not innocent bystanders. That's as far as my sympathy goes.

This reminds me of Yangon. In that city, motorcycles are banned. Apparently because one of the generals was killed by a collision with a motorcycle.
Thailand is not as kleptocratic as Myanmar, but perhaps who is inconvenienced by the scum probably has a bigger impact on police activity than what the scum do.

[Gaybutton]

This reminds me of Yangon. In that city, motorcycles are banned. Apparently because one of the generals was killed by a collision with a motorcycle.

I was not aware of that, but if the victim was one of the murdering son-of-a-bitch generals, no sympathy from me. None. Zero. There would be no sympathy from me if motorbikes got every one of them.

It is, in my opinion, absolutely absurd to ban motorbikes in an entire city, even if the accident was no accident. Most people drive their motorbikes properly. They need them for transportation. They need them for work. They need them in case of emergency. They need them for a million things. How are people in Yangon expected to get around? And if motorbike have been banned, what are people who already owned motorbike supposed to do with them? I usually confine my "I Don't Get It" list as it applies to Thailand, but this one - I don't get.

On another note, as of the time of this post I have seen no follow-up on the condition of the young man whose leg was nearly severed in that terrible motorbike accident. If any further information comes out, I will post it.

[Jun]

It is, in my opinion, absolutely absurd to ban motorbikes in an entire city, even if the accident was no accident. Most people drive their motorbikes properly. They need them for transportation. They need them for work. They need them in case of emergency. They need them for a million things. How are people in Yangon expected to get around? And if motorbike have been banned, what are people who already owned motorbike supposed to do with them?

I've been to Yangon. There were no motorcycles on the streets.
I didn't notice this immediately, but once I did, I looked into it & found an explanation linked to a general getting hurt.

However, according to this link, the real reason is not known and it's just down to rumours: https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/01/ ... ggest-city
So apparently, they don't even need to explain the policy.

Motorcycles are permitted elsewhere in Myanmar.

Anyway, Myanmar has by far the worst Kleptocracy that I've encountered in SE Asia. The people would be very justified in using force against that regime.

Despite retaining military control at present, Thailand is nowhere near that bad.

However if they has the scum riding noisy motorcycles outside the residence of (cannot discuss due to board rules), how long do you think it would take the police to put an immediate stop to it ? We know it would be a matter of minutes.

When a few hundred "less important" people are affected, very little is done. I guess this is what you get in undemocratic countries.

[Undaunted]

Pattaya Police meet with Kuwaiti Ambassador to discuss their nationals causing problems with their recklessness:
______________________________________________________________________________

Pattaya Police Chief Teams Up with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Tackle Kuwaiti Motorbike Racers

By Tanakorn Panyadee

18 July, 2023

The captain of the Pattaya police met with the Kuwaiti ambassador on Monday, July 17th, to find solutions to troublesome Kuwaiti motorbike racers in Pattaya.

Pattaya police chief Pol. Col. Thanapong Phothi went to consult with the Kuwaiti ambassador of Thailand Brigadier Faisal ALsuwaileh, Colonel Faisal Ali Sweileh, and Secretary Abdulmohsen AlRefai regarding the rising problems about the group of Kuwaiti street racers.

Middle Eastern joyriders made headlines on several occasions recently due to their reckless and dangerous behaviors on the road.

Last Friday, July 14th, citizens in Soi VC and Soi Yensabai complained about the unbearable nuisance caused by Kuwaiti motorbike riders revving their bikes and racing up and down the streets.

The complaint quickly reached the ears of the Pattaya police the next day, prompting them to launch a crackdown on the racers, resulting in many arrests. The officers also officially warned the Kuwaiti tourists of legal consequences if they were caught riding motorbikes without helmets, driving licenses, insurance, and registration.

However, only one day after the major crackdown, two Kuwaiti tourists got into a traffic accident while riding their motorbike in South Pattaya. One tourist, who is only 19 years old, suffered a severe injury around his knee that nearly got his leg amputated, according to medical personnel.

This likely pushed the Pattaya police to take decisive action, leading to the meeting between Pol. Col. Thanapong and the Kuwaiti ambassadors.

According to Pol. Col. Thanapong, he wanted to enforce the law to prevent accidents and to protect the tourists’ safety without impacting the city’s tourism image.

In line with this shared objective, the ambassadors reached an agreement to initiate a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting Kuwaiti tourists and individuals planning to visit Thailand.

The primary aim of the campaign is to emphasize the significance of adhering to traffic laws and regulations within the country. The launch of this campaign is expected to take place as soon as possible.

Story and photos: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/07/18/p ... ke-racers/

[Jun]

I wonder if the Kuwaiti Ambassador just said what we all know ? He does not have the authority to police Thailand.

Followed by suggesting something just as obvious:
ie perhaps the police should apprehend offenders and then the courts should impose some stiff penalties.



As for penalties, this blog refers to 3 months jail sentences for a lot of traffic offences in Kuwait.
I would imagine a few 3 month sentences would swiftly solve the problem, just as long as they can stop Pattaya Police converting the punishment into a 500 baht bribe.

https://www.hilitehomes.com/real-estate ... -in-kuwait

[Gaybutton]

the ambassadors reached an agreement to initiate a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting Kuwaiti tourists and individuals planning to visit Thailand.

That's not going to do much good unless they back up what they say with consequences. While Pattaya is always worried bout its image, maybe the Kuwaiti government needs to start worry about their own country's image. If this is the way people behave in Kuwait, then I wouldn't go to Kuwait.

I doubt this will actually happen, but what they could do is any Kuwaiti who is fined or otherwise penalized in Thailand for their motorbike behavior, then harsh consequences too when they return home - fines, suspension or revocation of driving licenses, suspension of passports, even jail time or something substantial that would definitely get these morons to think twice about how they are going to behave in Thailand.

Kuwait needs to maintain its own image.

"Let any one of you provoke an incident which endangers it, and I shall cause that man to curse his mother for giving him birth."
- Trevor Howard (Captain Bligh), 'Mutiny on the Bounty' - 1962

[Jun]

Expecting Kuwait to solve the problem is optimistic. Could you expect their courts to sentence people for traffic offences in a foreign country known for police corruption ? Then why just Kuwait ? Would US citizens expect US courts to convict people for Thai traffic offences ?

Thailand needs to solve the problem.
I presume the police are allowed to arrest people for reckless driving & keep them in jail whilst awaiting the court hearing ?
Perhaps they could gate off a few streets after midnight, making it easier to trap offenders. There are probably other things they could do to assist policing and prosecution.

[Gaybutton]

why just Kuwait ? Would US citizens expect US courts to convict people for Thai traffic offences ?

Why just Kuwait? Because it is almost exclusively Kuwaitis going to Thailand and doing these things. I know of no other countries where year after year significant groups of their people go to Thailand seemingly for the sole purpose of being motorbike maniacs. So yes, I think Kuwait needs to take an aggressive step to help put an end to this. In my opinion it would be irresponsible of them not to do so.

I don't expect US courts to do go after people for traffic offenses, but they do convict and punish people who commit more serious crimes in foreign countries such as sex crimes, fraud, extortion, etc. and so do other countries. And yes, if groups of US citizens are going to foreign countries for the express purpose of doing the same things these Kuwaitis do, now it becomes much more serious and yes, I would expect US courts to convict and punish those responsible. I would not expect the US to just ignore it and say "Sorry, not our problem."

[Jun]

I would not expect the US to just ignore it and say "Sorry, not our problem."

I've never heard of the US ever convicting anyone for a road traffic offence abroad. Or any other country.

Adding to the long list of things Thailand could do, well they could also revoke the 30 day visa free entry for Kuwaitis.
That should cut numbers, particularly if they impose a high fee and block visas for anyone with previous road traffic penalties.