This is the shocking moment tourists ignored police and sped through a checkpoint to avoid being fined in Thailand.

Dashcam footage shows the disrespectful holidaymakers weaving through traffic to escape the cops on popular tourist island Phuket on January 26 evening.

Bungling law enforcers had tried to block them for not wearing helmets but they were ignored as the motorists raced away from the checkpoint.

The blatant disregard for authority sparked outrage among the locals fed-up with rule-breaking visitors on the tropical island.

Local police chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang vowed to implement stricter measures to punish traffic violators.

He said: 'I will not let anyone cause trouble for the people of Phuket.'

The incident is the latest involving tourists disobeying traffic rules in Thailand.

On January 21, British backpacker Ronnie Stanley Gillette, 22, was fined for pulling wheelies on a rented motorcycle in Krabi province.

On January 2, American tourist Philip Edward MC Morrow, 37, reportedly killed a pedestrian while speeding on his dirt bike in Chiang Mai province. He was said to have been racing across the road when he struck villager Kia Sae-wang, 67, as she was about to buy dinner. Police detained the 'deeply remorseful' driver at the police station to face legal action.

The once-pristine island of Phuket has been marred by overtourism as the Thai government implemented a visa-free scheme to boost revenue.

But the policy has infuriated locals claiming it has attracted crowds of 'low-quality' visitors to Thailand.