Photo: Aakash Goel / Pexels
Two British and New Zealand tourists were caught and fined for spray-painting a school fence in central Chiang Mai on July 12, 2026, after a member of the public tipped off police. The incident is a useful reminder that graffiti on public or school property in Thailand carries real legal consequences, including criminal charges and compensation payments, regardless of intent.
What Happened
Chiang Mai Provincial Police received a tip from a bystander and arrived to find two men actively spray-painting the fence of a school in central Chiang Mai. Elliot, 32, a British national, and Keegan, 27, from New Zealand, were caught in the act.
Both men told police they acted out of youthful high spirits and apologised, promising not to repeat the behaviour.
The Charges and Costs
The pair were charged under Thailand's Cleanliness and Orderliness Act B.E. 2535 (1992), which prohibits defacement of public property. Each man was fined 3,000 baht. On top of that, they paid 4,000 baht in compensation directly to the school. The apology reduced tension but did not reduce the fine.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Cost</th> <th>Amount</th> <th>Who pays</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Criminal fine</td> <td>3,000 baht</td> <td>Per person</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compensation to school</td> <td>4,000 baht</td> <td>Total (both men)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
This Is Not an Isolated Incident
Thai police have dealt with similar cases recently. In February 2026, a foreign man spray-painted political slogans on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani, prompting locals to call for police action. In December 2025, two foreign men tagged walls in Phuket without the owner's permission and faced legal action from a Thai resident. The pattern is consistent: bystanders report it, police respond, and the costs fall on the tourists.
What Tourists Should Know
Spray-painting any public property, school fence, wall, or road surface in Thailand is a criminal offence. You do not need to cause serious damage to be charged. The law applies to all public surfaces, and locals do report foreigners. An apology may help with compensation negotiations but will not get the fine waived.
If you see graffiti-covered walls in Thailand that look like an art scene, check carefully before adding your own mark. Authorised street art spaces exist, but an unmarked wall is not one.
Incident Photos
Information sourced from The Thaiger.