Kuwaitis back in Pattaya

[Jun]

Compared with Jomtien, there is a better selection of coffee shops, restaurants and other shops in South Pattaya. I cannot get some quite basic items in Jomtien.
As a tourist, I would not want to stay in Yensabai, but there are still arguments for tourists to consider South Pattaya.

If I were to become a resident, with my own motorised transport, there's no argument. It would have to be Jomtien.

[Gaybutton]

Another "crackdown". I wonder how long this one will last. In other words, will the motorbike maniacs be right back at it tonight? Why do I think that is a rhetorical question with no need for a response . . . ?
__________________________________________________________________________

Pattaya Police Crack Down on Noisy Middle Eastern Bikers After More Local Complaints

By Aim Tanakorn

15 August, 2024

Pattaya police launched another crackdown on noisy foreign bikers, primarily from the Middle East, following complaints from residents about traffic violations and loud motorbikes.

At 2:00 AM on August 15th, 2024, Pol. Col. Nawin Thirawit, Chief of the Pattaya Police Station, led a team of over 20 officers to set up checkpoints inside Soi Yensabai in South Pattaya. The operation was in response to multiple complaints about disruptive behavior from mostly Kuwaiti students, who had been causing disturbances by riding motorcycles, honking horns, and revving engines loudly, which affected local residents.

In addition to the checkpoints, officers conducted inspections at both ends of the soi. They targeted Kuwaiti men who often drove without helmets or valid driving licenses. During the operation, over 20 motorcycles were seized, including both small bikes and big bikes. Many of these motorcycles had noisy exhaust systems, and some lacked proper documentation, Pol. Col. Nawin said.

Kuwaiti tourists have repeatedly made headlines in Pattaya for various incidents recently.

Story and photos: https://thepattayanews.com/2024/08/15/p ... omplaints/

[Jun]

If they repeatedly arrest the offenders and scrap the seized motorcycles, the problems would quickly stop. (Assuming the law permits this)

On the other hand, if they allow modest bribes to smooth it over, the problems will continue.

[Gaybutton]

the problems would quickly stop.

the problems will continue.

Guess which of the two it's going to be . . .

[Jun]

Guess which of the two it's going to be . . .

Well, once officials start collecting tea money, they have crossed the line and there will be more of it.

I presume we start with Mo from Kuwait paying 400 baht for no helmet.

Looking at a random motorcycle hire place, they have a 2000 deposit. Now if the police have confiscated the motorcycle, Mo cannot reclaim his deposit. So I wonder what happens next ?

Does this go through the books, or do the police keep this off the books ?
If the latter, it follows that the tea money per motorcycle would be at least 2000. Perhaps they take it straight back to the motorcyle hire company, claim the 2000 and if there are any problems with the hire documentation, collect some more on top.
This seems like good money, but someone has to physically handle the motorcycles. Surely walking around and extorting money from bars is easier ?

[Gaybutton]

Surely walking around and extorting money from bars is easier ?

Looking at a random motorcycle hire place, they have a 2000 deposit. Now if the police have confiscated the motorcycle, Mo cannot reclaim his deposit. So I wonder what happens next ?

Yes, but in that area there are not many bars left to extort from.

My guess is if they can afford to go to Thailand and spend their time being motorbike maniacs, they're not going to give much of a damn if they lose their deposit.

We'll see how this plays out, but tea money or not, people, especially locals and business owners losing customers over this nonsense, are fed up with it and are not willing to tolerate it anymore. Plus, it's getting much more publicity than ever before.

Even Thais who have nothing to do with it and live or work nowhere near it are complaining about the lackluster enforcement of the rules when they know they would be facing serious penalties if they were doing the same things these Kuwaitis get away with virtually every day they are in Pattaya.

From what I have been reading, the police are going to call in the motorbike rental shops and if they find violations they are going to be charged and face whatever consequences the courts impose. Apparently several of the motorbikes have been illegally modified and the police are going to go after whichever motorbike repair shops make the modifications.

Enough is enough. We'll see if it finally works out that way, but I'm not holding my breath. Meanwhile, I'm fully expecting to be bringing a similar topic to the board when it's holiday time in Kuwait next year.

[Dodger]

We'll see how this plays out, but tea money or not, people, especially locals and business owners losing customers over this nonsense, are fed up with it and are not willing to tolerate it anymore.

Sadly, most of the businesses in the Soi Yensabai area have converted to Arab businesses - so they're the last ones to complain. Of the remaining Thai-owned businesses the majority are either motorbike rental shops or other small shops that cater to the Arabs...so not too many complaints coming from them either.

I'll wager that most of the complaints are coming from the small percentage of Thais and farang who remain in that area who aern't benefiting financially, or people who are just navigating through that area.

This being the case I doubt anything will change. As always, $$Money$$ rules.

On a personal note: Who cares? Out of sight - out of mind.

[Gaybutton]

Who cares?

I do. Not because it personally affects me. I haven't been anywhere near that area in several years. But I get angry at people who have absolutely no regard or consideration for others. With the Kuwaitis, it's the motorbike mania. And don't forget about the Chinese whose behavior was so reprehensible that pamphlets had to be distributed to them explaining how to, and how not to, behave.

I also resent the authorities, whether tea money is involved or not, letting these people get away with behavior that if you and I were doing the same thing we would be arrested, heavily fined, possibly jailed, possibly having our visas revoked, and likely having our motorbikes confiscated.

Other than that, no problem . . .

[Dodger]

I do. Not because it personally affects me. I haven't been anywhere near that area in several years. But I get angry at people who have absolutely no regard or consideration for others.

I agree in principle with everything you've said, although try to avoid the "getting angry" part.

One of the decisions I had to make when choosing Thailand for retirement was the fact that it's still a third-world country (regardless of how others have it ranked)...it's corrupt as hell and very little of what goes on in the government makes any sense to me. Once I accepted these realities it was all downhill.

I simply don't care about THAILAND'S problems. I'm only here to enjoy myself...bask in the sunlight...walk around bare-footed...act like a child again...take advantage of the low cost-of-living...and frolic with the smooth-skinned boys (or in this case boy). Whenever things gets fucked up over here - usually tied to corruption - it is their problem, not mine.

If I resided in the Yensabai area I would have moved years ago to avoid this negative karma for this very reason.

[Gaybutton]

I agree in principle with everything you've said

And I agree in principle with everything you've said . . .