Once again the #Pattaya authorities have been made to look rather silly. They just can’t seem to find any wrong doing at the seaside resort.
Police, military, Department of Land Transport, City Hall and protection agencies – everyone and his dog – all descended on the resort’s motorcycle taxi services yesterday.
But despite the fact that the DLT chief said 80% of the 1000 bike taxis in Pattaya are illegal there were no reports of any arrests or charges in the Sophon TV story.
Instead they pictured a smiling Chonburi police big wig with a motorcycle rider who they eventually found that WAS legal. The “win” (motorcycle taxi rider) was also grinning.
Wasu Mongkhonkaew, the Bang Lamung DLT chief, said that there are 1006 win riders in Pattaya, up from 444 that were identified during a four month inspection period from.
This period was meant to highlight problems and warn riders about their future behavior.
Yesterday’s raid was designed to check up on the legality of riders in Sai 2. Led by Chonburi provincial police deputy Pol Col Phongphan Wongmaneethet they were checking up plates, tax, the cleanliness of ranks and the dress sense of the riders.
They also warned the riders about ripping off the public and tourists by not following set charges.
There were yet more warnings that 2,000 baht fines would be levied for riders not using yellow plates.
It is illegal to use a white plate motorcycle for a public service.
Yet there were no reports of fines. Just those smiley pictures.
The riders are complaining that it is hard to get a yellow plate and it doesn’t last very long.
But the reason is that they don’t have a public service licence in the first place so can’t get a yellow plate.
The other week a similar giant raid by hundreds of police and military in Walking Street found absolutely no prostitution. – Sophon Cable TV
