Arab Motorcycle Racing Business as Usual

[Undaunted]

Pattaya vows to regulate motorbike rentals after German embassy raises safety concerns

By Pattaya Mail

June 14, 2025

Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn chaired a high-level meeting on Friday with city executives, government departments, local stakeholders, and related agencies to address mounting safety concerns over the rental of motorbikes to tourists.

The urgent meeting follows a formal visit on May 28 by H.E. Dr. Ernst Reichel, German Ambassador to Thailand, who raised serious concerns after a German tourist was involved in a motorbike accident in Pattaya. The ambassador noted the lack of proper compensation and insufficient regulation of rental services, calling on Pattaya City to take decisive action to ensure the safety of foreign tourists.

In response, Deputy Mayor Wuttisak expressed deep concern and emphasized the need to organize and regulate motorbike rental operators, especially those using public spaces to conduct business. He called on all involved sectors to work together to develop practical safety measures, including:

-Verifying driver’s licenses of foreign renters

-Providing clear travel route guidance

-Communicating rules and safety protocols effectively to tourists

The city also reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing cooperation with foreign embassies and all relevant sectors to raise tourism standards and ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike.

“This is not just about traffic; it’s about protecting lives and sustaining our tourism image,” Wuttisak said. “We aim to align our actions with the realities of Pattaya as a tourism hub while creating an environment that is both safe and welcoming.”

The move signals Pattaya’s ongoing efforts to address international concerns and strengthen its position as a responsible and sustainable tourism destination.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattay ... rns-505153

[Dodger]

According to a friend of mine who resides at Yensabai Condo there was a large police bust last night on soi VC...many bikes hauled away...and the Yensabai area was back to quiet again afterwards.

Maybe the meeting Undaunted posted had some influence???

Hauling away the bikes is a good start!

[Gaybutton]

According to a friend of mine who resides at Yensabai Condo there was a large police bust last night on soi VC...many bikes hauled away.

Excellent! Maybe this year the police are finally going to do something substantial to put a stop to the motorbike maniacs. Let's hope they keep it up rather than last night being a one time "crackdown". I also hope they not only went after the maniacs, but also went after the places that rented them the motorbikes - and for the motorbikes that were confiscated they'll have to pay a fortune to get their motorbikes back. If that happens maybe they'll think twice about who they are renting to. I wouldn't be surprised if not even one of the maniacs had proper paperwork

Just as good - if the motorbike maniacs cannot do that kind of activity anymore, maybe they'll all pack up and go home. Let them try it in their own country.

[Undaunted]

Police are serious?
________________

Pattaya Soi Yensabai Residents Outraged as Foreign Bikers Disrupt Neighborhood with Nightly Mayhem

By Adam Judd

July 10, 2025

In the early hours of July 10, 2025, residents of Soi Yensabai in Pattaya City flooded local police with complaints for the second night in a row over incessant disturbances caused by a group of Arab, mostly Kuwaiti, youths racing motorcycles through the streets. The loud, reckless biking persisted throughout the night, leaving residents unable to rest.

In response, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee, head of Pattaya City Police Station’s patrol unit, mobilized officers to set up checkpoints and roadblocks within Soi Yensabai. The operation aimed to stop the disruptive group, prevent further gatherings, and enforce strict checks on documents and behavior.

Authorities issued stern warnings to the offenders and confiscated several motorcycles for further inspection. Police spoke about continuing proactive measures to prevent this happening every day like in prior years.

Lt. Col. Suchart stated that locals expressed relief at the police’s swift action and voiced hope that sustained checkpoints would decisively stop the issues.

The Pattaya News notes this has become an annual problem during this time of year as thousands of Kuwaiti college students come to Pattaya on summer break from school, many choosing to break driving laws and frustrate local residents leading to tension. Last year the problem became so bad that senators and Parliament members visited Pattaya to brainstorm solutions.

The tension became so great last year that it led to several fights and brawls between Thais and Kuwaiti nationals like this major incident.

https://thepattayanews.com/2025/07/10/p ... ly-mayhem/

[Gaybutton]

senators and Parliament members visited Pattaya to brainstorm solutions.

What are they talking about? Considering all the years this has been going on, they need to brainstorm solutions? They haven't figured out what to do about it? All they need to do is put in a few more police officers, confiscate any offending motorbikes, and arrest and heavily fine the violators - along with the places that rented to them, keep the violators in jail for a few days, and blacklist them from ever returning to Thailand. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Don't worry - the Kuwaiti motorbike maniacs will be right back next year doing the same thing, and the year after that and the year after that. Maybe they'll have another brainstorm session to try to figure out what to do about it.

[SP55]

I was in soi Yensabai on the evening of the 8th. Indeed it was total mayhem with motorbikes everywhere racing in every direction carrying 1-4 arabs each. None I saw had helmets ofc. I had to be very careful not to be run over. I didn't witness any accident but one very-near accident.
There was no police present at all.

[Gaybutton]

There was no police present at all.

I wish I could understand why. I believe there is much more to it than blaming it on tea money.

[Jun]

I believe there is much more to it than blaming it on tea money.

From what I see, all of the policing actions in the city are driven by tea money. Just as long as you pay them off when needed, it's possible to ignore all sorts of laws.
Why do you think this issue would this be any different ?

Also, it's a safe bet that the senior police will live somewhere far smarter than the Yensabai area. So they are not disturbed by it.

[Gaybutton]

Why do you think this issue would this be any different ?

I just don't think tea money is the explanation as to why this is tolerated year after year despite endangering so many people and despite so many complaints coming from locals, not to mention all the publicity about it. I think there is much more to it than simply tea money and if money is involved, we're talking not just enough to cover some tea money, but it would have to cover an entire tea plantation.

If it is tea money, then how much? Who is paying who? Why would whoever would be accepting the money want to risk getting caught in involvement with this?

I've already seen another article saying the police did show up, but not until 3:30am. And several Kuwaitis were caught riding motorbikes, but they had no licenses - neither from Kuwait nor International Driving Permit - which means whatever outfits rented to them ignored the law about making sure they do have those documents. As far as I know, those outfits have yet to have anything happen to them any more substantial than paying whatever they have to pay to get their confiscated motorbikes back.

The Kuwaiti violators that do get caught rarely end up fined rather than just warned. I have no idea how much the fine would be, but my guess is it isn't much. They are also threatened with deportation. I have yet to ever see anything about any of them ever getting deported.

I also see no reason to believe next year they won't be right back, doing the same things.

I just find it hard to believe that tea money, in itself, is nearly enough to explain this. I have no idea what the explanation might be, but I think there is much more to it.

[Jun]

The Kuwaiti violators that do get caught rarely end up fined rather than just warned. I have no idea how much the fine would be, but my guess is it isn't much.

Google suggests the fine for riding without a proper license is 1000.
That fine, or tea money at half the rate may well be insufficient to deter wealthy Kuwaitis. Particularly if only a small percentage get caught.

As for us, in the absence of policing, the obvious answer is to avoid the area at night.
You're living on the dark side, some board members live further away and board members who just take holidays increasingly stay in Jomtien these days.