French Consul meet Patong Police over motorbike incident
The Head of the French Consulate in Phuket met with Patong Police and Phuket Tourist Police to address the issue of French motorbike racers causing a public nuisance. The meeting on Friday was prompted by the recent arrest of 20 French racers who were caught breaking traffic laws in Patong. This incident and footage of their reckless behaviour caused a public outcry and prompted the local authorities to take action.
During the meeting, the Head of the French Consulate received a letter of cooperation from the Patong Police, which requested the consulate to inform French tourists visiting Phuket and Thailand about the country’s traffic laws and the requirement for valid driving licenses. The Head of the Consulate promised to pass the letter to the French Embassy in Thailand and request better communication of these rules and regulations to French tourists.
The meeting was yet another move in the fallout over the group of French drivers. Patong Police have also taken action against the motorbike rental operators who allowed foreign tourists to rent vehicles without a valid driving license. These operators were fined 1,000 baht each for their actions.
Also, to reinforce the importance of following traffic laws, the Patong Police carried out a large bust operation on Thursday night. During the crackdown, 39 foreign motorbike drivers were arrested for not wearing helmets, 44 for lacking a driving license, and eight for running red lights. Fifteen rental motorbikes were also seized by the police.
These actions taken by the Patong Police serve as a reminder to all tourists visiting Phuket and Thailand that they must abide by the country’s traffic laws. Driving without a valid license and engaging in reckless behaviour can result in arrest and severe consequences. The head of the French Consulate and the Phuket Tourist Police will work together to ensure that French tourists are aware of these rules and regulations to prevent further incidents.
