Phuket, May 7, 2025 — A 31-year-old Australian motorbike rider has been sentenced to 15 days in prison after performing reckless wheelie stunts in Rawai, marking another crackdown on foreign tourists flouting Thai traffic laws.

Australian Man Arrested for Reckless Motorcycle Stunt in Phuket

The Chalong Police arrested the man last week after video evidence and multiple eyewitnesses captured him lifting his motorbike’s front wheel (“wheelie”) at high speed through busy streets. The Phuket Municipal Court delivered the verdict yesterday, May 6, convicting him under Section 157 of Thailand’s Traffic Act for endangering public safety.

The ruling reflects Thailand’s harder stance against foreigner misconduct, particularly in hotspots like Phuket and Pattaya. Police confirmed: “This wasn’t just a stunt—it put lives at risk. The court’s decision sends a clear message.”

Recent months have seen similar cases, including a Frenchman fined 10,000 THB for street racing in Patong, and a Russian influencer deported for illegal motocross on Bangla Road.

“We’re tired of tourists treating our roads like playgrounds,” said a Rawai restaurant owner. Meanwhile, rental shops now require signed agreements prohibiting stunts.

‘French’ Motorbike Rider Arrested in Phuket for Reckless Driving

The Australian will serve his term at Phuket Prison, with possible deportation afterward. Authorities confirm more undercover traffic patrols are planned.

-Thailand News (TN)