PATTAYA, Thailand – A video showing a motorcycle taxi rider in Pattaya allegedly pointing a green laser at a Bolt driver before blocking his motorcycle and verbally abusing him has sparked widespread criticism online. The incident occurred near a hotel opposite Soi 9 on Pattaya Beach Road. The footage shows the motorcycle taxi rider confronting the Bolt driver over collecting passengers near his taxi stand, despite a foreign male tourist and a Thai woman being on the motorcycle.
Speaking to reporters at 1am on November 10, Bolt rider Saksit Ngiorai, 29, known as Ton, said the incident happened at 11.47pm on October 30. He had accepted a booking to collect a foreign male passenger and a Thai woman from a hotel on Pattaya Second Road. Hotel security guards had allowed him to enter and pick them up in front of the building as usual.
While he was collecting the passengers, a green laser was directed at his eyes from an estimated 60 to 70 metres away. He said his eyes felt irritated and he had to turn his face away. He believed the laser came from a motorcycle taxi rider stationed outside the hotel who was unhappy about him picking up passengers there. After leaving the hotel, Saksit encountered the same rider standing directly in front of his motorcycle, blocking his way and shouting abuse, as seen in the video. The Thai female passenger tried to calm the man down, but he continued. The foreign tourist also suggested that Saksit contact the police.
Saksit eventually decided to ride away because he was concerned about the passengers’ safety.
He said he had encountered similar situations several times before, although most had been resolved through discussion. He appealed to motorcycle taxi operators to respect one another, noting that everyone was working to support their families. He stressed that passengers’ feelings and safety should always come first. Pattaya City Police have summoned both the motorcycle taxi rider and the Bolt driver for questioning to establish the facts and consider further legal action.
