Bali Warns That Tourists Caught Speeding Will Be Deported 

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Tourists who think of driving recklessly in Bali are being urged to think again. As leaders and communities on the island grow tired of tourists causing havoc on the roads, authorities have confirmed that anyone caught speeding, attempting to do wheelies, or driving carelessly will be swiftly deported. 

The update comes as Bali continues its crackdown on foreigners behaving badly on the island. From stealing to disrespecting local culture, from illegally working to operating unregistered businesses, Bali is taking increasingly strict measures to stamp out poor behavior and to help promote culturally respectful and sustainable tourism across the island.

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A post shared by Ni Luh Putu Ary Pertami Djelantik (@niluhdjelantik)

Bali Senator Ni Luh Djelantik has issued a stark warning to tourists who are driving on the island, following viral video footage of a tourist driving a moped without wearing a shirt or helmet down a busy road in the Canggu area. Not only was the driver in question likely breaking the speed limit and not wearing suitable attire for driving, but he also did a wheelie in the center of a busy street. 

Senator Djelantik was clear in her stance on foreigners driving dangerously in Bali, and in a social media post resharing the viral video wrote “We don’t need trash tourists and those who don’t respect Bali like you.”

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A post shared by Christian Giacobbe 🤌🏻 (@chrisgiacobbecomedy)

The post continued, “It’s no longer about your safety, it’s about you making the people of Bali suffer if anything happens to you because of your stupidity that endangers your life and those around you.”

The Senator added, “You rent a motorcycle Rp. 100.000/day, you have an accident, thankfully you break your leg or hand you can still call your family. What if you pass away? The motorcycle owner suffered losses because the motorcycle was badly damaged, the Bali people where you have an accident have to undergo a post-accident mecaru ceremony (search info on Google).”

“The cost? From tens to hundreds of millions of rupees. Are you? Next time you’re in a foreign country, don’t just bring your body. Bring your brain and your heart too.”

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A post shared by Ditsamapta Polda Bali (@ditsamapta_poldabali)

Senator Djelantik called on Bali Police and Bali Immigration to follow up on the video and take prompt, strict action against the driver in question, which would surely result in deportation since the driver is breaking a series of Indonesian road laws.

As affirmed by Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster in the last month, has told government agencies to take a ‘no mercy’ approach to foreigners found to be breaking Indonesian law in any way. 

Following the controversy online, a young Balinese driver, Dek Cipta, spoke to reporters about his experience driving in Bali’s top tourism resort areas. He shared that he feels a level of anxiety while driving his moped, especially at night, in busy tourism areas where foreign drivers could be operating vehicles irresponsibly. 

Dek Cipta shared “I often see strangers like that. Among several tourism areas, compared to Ubud, Sanur, Uluwatu, perhaps Canggu is the most problematic.” Adding that he feels it is the digital nomads, who have been in Bali for a longer amount of time, are the real cause of the reckless driving issue, rather than short-stay holidaymakers. 

Lala, a local tourism worker, also spoke to reporters about her anxiety in driving home after a night shift in the resort area. She shared “Very restless with their behavior. I’m afraid that when we bring a motorbike, then something like that, it immediately makes us panic.”

She told reporters that she wants to see firmer action taken against foreigners driving dangerously, noting “Bule who recklessly rides a motorcycle, especially until he is a wheelie on the highway, and if he still repeats, he is ready to be deported. Not allowed to enter Indonesia temporarily. So that there is a deterrent effect and do not take our rules lightly.”

As Bali Police are conducting a series of new night patrols in top tourism areas such as Canggu, officers are conducting more spot checks of all drivers of motorcycles who are suspected of breaking Indonesian traffic laws, this is including a crackdown on illegal street racing activities by Indonesian drivers.