An officer from a marine
police unit from Chachoengsao finds a damaged jet ski and orders it be
fixed before renting out.
Jetsada Homklin
The Pattaya Marine Department and a marine police unit from
Chachoengsao launched a beachfront inspection from Soi 2 to Walking
Street in Pattaya Aug. 23, checking permits, boat-driving licenses and
jet ski condition.
A number of drivers were found with torn licenses and fined. Many jet
skis also were found damaged and owners were warned and ordered to
repair them. The vendors were told to report to the marine authorities
when repairs were complete before they would be allowed to rent them
again to customers.
Damaged jet skis have been the crux of a years-long scam run by jet ski
vendors, who cover up dents or scratches with water-soluble putty or
paint and rent them to unsuspecting tourists. Once tourists return,
vendors claim the pre-existing damage was new and demand, sometimes
under threat of violence, payments of tens or hundreds of thousands of
baht.
Despite much talk and many promises from Pattaya and Chonburi officials,
nothing has been done to resolve the extortion scams since September of
last year.
At a Sept. 17, 2013 meeting of an “emergency” committee formed to
resolve the issue, Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai said Thaisri Insurance
plc has been signed to provide insurance cover for the 452 jet skis
operating in Pattaya, Jomtien Beach and Koh Larn.
Combined with other regulatory changes, Khomsan vowed, tourists no
longer would be victimized and forced to pay tens of thousands of baht
in compensation for alleged damage to the watercraft. The city
supposedly planned to freeze the number of jet skis allowed to operate
on area beaches at the current level of 452.
Since that date, nothing has been done to enforce any freeze or require
insurance.
Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho admitted to the Pattaya
Business & Tourism Association Aug. 23 that the scams are continuing.
The problem, he said, is that every attempt to change laws to include
jet skis, an unregulated business, has encountered obstacles.
“Due to the complicated and slow process, it is appropriate to call a
meeting of new operators to restrict the number and areas of operation,”
he said.
Despite the fact that two committees already have looked at the issue,
Sakchai said a new board should be formed to solve the problem and
enforce rules against those abusing tourists. He said officials will
meet again to discuss the issue.
