Japanese Tourist Fined 3,000 Baht After Chiang Mai Lantern Incident

[The Pattaya News]

The Pattaya News
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Chiang Mai — On January 2nd, 2025, Thai police fined a Japanese tourist, 3,000 baht for attempting to release a sky lantern near Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai. The area is strictly prohibited for lantern releases due to fire hazards for densely populated residential areas. Mr. Hirano, 31, reportedly visiting Chiang Mai with his family […]

Japanese Tourist Fined 3,000 Baht After Chiang Mai Lantern Incident
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[Petesie]

What about the vendor who was selling the lanterns...🤔

[momo5]

9 hours ago, Petesie said:

What about the vendor who was selling the lanterns...🤔

I understood the prohibition to pertain to the release of a lit lantern in that specific area … the selling/purchase of the lanterns themselves likely okay.   It’s not the vendor’s concern as to where/when/what the purchaser does with the lantern after purchase. 

[Joeleg]

A warning would be fine as he is a tourist trying to do something Thai. 

[forcebwithu]

57 minutes ago, Joeleg said:

A warning would be fine as he is a tourist trying to do something Thai. 

Having watched the video of the encounter, my guess is if a Thai had been as verbally abusive as the Japanese tourist was toward the police officer the Thai would have been fined as well. Hats off to the police officer for exercising restraint in the confrontation.