Legal Corner: Is Not Wearing a Shirt for Men Illegal in Thailand?

We recently had a story that although minor in the scheme of things went viral with tens of thousands of views about a British man who was arrested by Pattaya police following eating his traffic ticket for various offenses on Pattaya Beach Road.

Although eating his traffic ticket was the main part of the story, we had many comments from surprised readers about the statements made that one of his offenses was for not wearing a shirt. With the help of our partners at Anglo Siam Legal, we wanted to clarify that today.
In Thailand, it is indeed illegal for men to not wear a shirt in certain contexts, particularly when driving a vehicle. The law explicitly prohibits driving a car or motorcycle without a shirt, with potential penalties including fines. This rule is occasionally enforced, especially if a complaint is filed or if police are particularly vigilant. However, outside of driving, while the general cultural norm in Thailand leans towards modesty and covering up in public spaces, there isn’t a specific law mentioned that universally requires men to wear shirts in all public areas.

For instance, while walking around in urban areas or visiting temples, cultural expectations dictate that men should be dressed modestly, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to legal enforcement unless it’s in a context like driving. The general advice for tourists and locals alike is to respect local customs by covering up in public to avoid offending locals or drawing unnecessary attention.
For specific contexts:
  • Driving: It is illegal to drive shirtless.

  • General Public Spaces: While not explicitly illegal, it is culturally frowned upon and could lead to social discomfort or disapproval. That being said, beachfront areas this is not seen generally as offensive and is fairly common in Phuket and Pattaya and similar locations to see men walking around without a shirt.
Thus, while the law is clear about driving, for general public behavior, it’s more about respecting cultural norms rather than facing legal repercussions for not wearing a shirt.

Consider reaching out to Anglo Siam Legal for assistance with any problems you may have had or questions regarding legal matters, including around traffic laws and problems.

Contact Anglo Siam Legal

Call Them: 0610184790

Visit Them: 565/103-104, Moo 10, Nongprue sub-district, Opposite Big C South Pattaya
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Chief of Content, English language, of TPN Media since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America, but has also lived in Dallas, Sarasota, and Portsmouth. His background is in retail sales, HR, and operations management, and has written about news and Thailand for many years. He has lived in Pattaya for over a decade as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over 15 years. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thepattayanews.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thepattayanews.com/contact-us/