Visitors Call for Investigation After Claiming They Were Asked to Pay Cash Fines Outside Official Channels
A group of Kuwaiti tourists has alleged that uniformed police officers in Pattaya repeatedly demanded cash payments for traffic offences away from police stations, issuing receipts they later claimed were not genuine. The visitors have called for senior police officials to investigate the allegations while stressing they do not want the city’s reputation as a leading tourist destination to suffer.
The group spoke to local reporters on the evening of 14 July after spending around a month on holiday in Pattaya. They provided video footage, which they said was secretly recorded during encounters with officers, along with receipt slips they claimed were given to them after making payments.
Tourists Say They Accepted Responsibility for Traffic Offences
Speaking through an interpreter, the tourists said they understood Thailand’s traffic laws, including regulations governing motorcycle use, and accepted responsibility for any genuine offences they had committed.
However, they questioned the way the fines were allegedly enforced.
According to the group, they were stopped by police between two and five times on some nights, most often after midnight. They said each encounter resulted in demands for cash payments ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 baht.
The tourists alleged that instead of being taken to a police station to pay official fines, officers escorted them to secluded locations. There, they claimed, an unidentified man collected the money while uniformed officers remained nearby. They also alleged that cash was the only payment method accepted.
The visitors said they were warned that their rented motorcycles would be seized if they refused to pay.
Questions Raised Over Receipts
The group said they repeatedly asked to pay any fines at a police station but were refused.
They also claimed they were prevented from paying at an official vehicle impound facility. Instead, they alleged they were told they would need to pay additional towing and storage fees in cash. According to the tourists, they were informed that receiving a receipt would require an extra payment of 500 baht.
The receipts they received reportedly resembled those issued by small retail shops rather than official government documents. Although the slips listed an alleged offence and fine amount, the tourists said they later showed them to other police officers, who allegedly told them the receipts were fake.
The group also claimed they were stopped again after a minor motorcycle collision in which several riders fell from their bikes. They said officers from the same group took them away and imposed further fines, despite the tourists saying they were not informed what offence they had committed.
Calls for Official Inquiry
The visitors said they have travelled to Pattaya on numerous occasions and had always viewed the city as a safe destination, partly because of its visible police presence.
This time, however, they said they felt more concerned about encountering police than criminals.
In Thailand, official traffic fines are normally processed through recognised police procedures, and motorists should receive official documentation. Tourists who are uncertain about a fine or payment request are advised to ask for details of the alleged offence, request identification from officers if appropriate, and seek to pay through official channels whenever possible.
The Kuwaiti tourists have urged senior local and national police commanders to investigate their allegations, establish the facts, and take appropriate action if any misconduct is found.
At the time of writing, the allegations have not been independently verified, and no official response from the relevant police authorities had been announced.
Photo Credit:SiamChon News
