TWO ‘YELLOW’ CARDS FOR MINOR OFFENCES WILL SEE ‘BAD FOREIGNERS’ DEPORTED

Pol Maj Gen Praphansak Prasansuk, Commander of the Immigration Region 6 Office, has announced a new system of ‘yellow cards’ and ‘red cards’ for foreigners caught breaking the law in Phuket.

The system, announced at a press event on Mar 1, will see foreigners found guilty of two minor ‘yellow card’ offences deported from the country.

Under the system, a foreigner will be designated a ‘yellow card’ for a first offence. The foreigner will be issued a formal warning and the relevant embassy will be notified, Maj Gen Praphansak said.

After the foreigner completed the current stay and left the country, the foreigner may be denied permission to stay in Thailand for the next visit on the basis that the foreigner had conducted an unlawful act that “caused trouble and behaved [in a way] that is a threat to society”, Maj Gen Praphansak said.

If a foreigner is found guilty of a second offence during the same period of stay, the foreigner will have the permit to stay in Thailand revoked and will be sent back to their home country, Maj Gen Praphansak confirmed.

However, Maj Gen Praphansak did not define exactly what level of or type of crime or “unlawful act” would be considered for a first or second offence.

Of note, the types of offences mentioned at the press conference focussed on traffic violations such as not wearing a helmet while riding a motorbike, not having the correct driver’s licence and dangerous driving.

Local Understanding

Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai later explained to The Phuket News that foreigners will be given a ‘yellow card’ warning for minor offences. The relevant embassy will be notified and once the foreigner is found committing the offence twice, a red card will be given.

“A yellow card is a warning. A foreigner who receives one can still stay in Thailand. But after the two yellow cards, there will be a red card, and the foreigner’s visa will be revoked and the person will be

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 deported,” Col Thanet said..

Red cards will be issued for crimes of a serious nature, Col Thanet continued.

However, Col Thanet was unable to further clarify breaking specifically which laws would constitute a ‘yellow card’ or a red card offence.

“The actions need to be considered case by case and the main standard of consideration is maintaining the peace in public areas,” he said

“For example, with the foreign motorcyclists in Patong who rode the bikes, made loud noises and disturbed people in many ways, all of the motorcyclists have already received yellow cards,” he continued.

“We have just started the project so we have to look into the offences case by case. In any case, if we see...

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