The video shows the tourist using a rock to smash a chain lock placed by police on their motorbike, parked in front of the Central Patong department store on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd.
The 23-second clip, accompanied by the caption, “Don’t do it”, quickly gained attention on social media. Many users expressed frustration over the perceived disregard for Thai laws by foreign visitors.
“Foreigners are no longer afraid of Thai laws because they have money to pay,” said one person in a comment online.
“In other countries, breaking things is taken seriously, but here it’s just about paying fines,” said another.
Other comments included. “When will Thailand prosper if this behaviour is tolerated?”, “Destroying government property should result in a month in jail” and “Low-quality tourists are not afraid of Thai laws; they just pay and move on.”
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about how to handle such violations and the need for stricter enforcement to prevent similar cases in the future.
Some commenters called for harsher penalties to ensure respect for local laws and preserve Thailand’s reputation as a tourist destination.
Local authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident or potential consequences for the tourist involved.
The video remains a hot topic online, reflecting growing concerns about law enforcement and accountability among foreign visitors in Thailand.
Last year, as the breaking of chain locks placed on motorbikes started becoming commonplace, Phuket City Police Chief Col Pratuang Pholmana launched a ‘You Cut, I Catch’ campaign.
In concert, Patong Police arrested two French nationals caught on camera while using a stone to break a chain on a motorbike parked on Thaweewong Rd (the Patong beach road). The video was later shared on Patong Police Station’s page on Facebook.
The two unnamed men were charged for "damaging, destroying, depreciating, or rendering useless a vehicle restraint device placed by an officer to prevent moving a vehicle in accordance with Section 59 of the Land Traffic Act”, Patong Police confirmed.
However, Patong Police did not specify the penalties the men could face for breaking the chain. Additionally, details regarding the initial traffic violation that led to the scooter being chained were not disclosed.
Section 59 of the Land Traffic Act (also known as the Road Traffic Act) is punishable under Section 159 of the Act, which stipulates:
Any driver who fails to comply with the order of the traffic officer, or competent official given under section 59 paragraph one, or obstructs the traffic officer, or competent official in the moving or using a device for locking such conveyance under section 59 paragraph two shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding B5,000, or to both.
Any person who damages, destroys or deteriorates or makes useless the locking device used by the traffic officer or competent official for preventing the conveyance not to move under section 59 paragraph two without having been permitted by the traffic officer or competent official shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding B5,000, or to both.