A British man, who says he accidentally got his rental car stuck in sand at Phuket’s Kamala Beach, has been fined 4,000 baht. Kamala, and its sand, have recently been frequented by locals and foreigners driving their cars on its beaches.
In addition, the UK tourist has been ordered to pay 20,000 baht to the car rental company, as compensation for the damage caused.
The Phuket News reports that Kamala Police were alerted to a car stuck in the sand shortly after 1am on Monday, April 22. Eye witnesses reported seeing a car being driven along the beachfront sidewalk before becoming stuck in the surrounding sand.
On arrival at the scene, officers found the 26 year old tourist trying to dislodge a Krabi-registered Toyota Fortuner from the sand, to no avail. The man told police he’d recently arrived from Krabi and was staying in the area.
While driving along the beachfront pathway, a heavy downpour started, causing him to accidentally veer off the path and get stuck in the sand. The Briton told officers he had tried to get the car out of the sand but was unable to do so.
The authorities subsequently arranged to have the car removed, while the tourist was fined 4,000 baht under the Land Traffic Act, which states that it is illegal to operate a vehicle in such a way that may pose a danger to other persons or property.
The man has also been ordered to pay 20,000 baht to the car rental operator.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
