Pattaya, Banglamung officials reaffirm support for Beach Road traffic crackdown

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Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho reaffirmed the commitment of public officials to the Beach Road bus-stop system and traffic crackdown begun earlier this month.

Pattaya Business & Tourism Association President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn joined the district chief Jan. 21 in marching down Beach Road to Walking Street with supporting organizations, students and hotel workers all in favor of the effort launched Jan. 8.

Pattaya Business & Tourism Association President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn says, “If we cooperate and help each other enforce the parking regulations, I can assure everybody that Pattaya can change for the better.”Pattaya Business & Tourism Association President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn says, “If we cooperate and help each other enforce the parking regulations, I can assure everybody that Pattaya can change for the better.”

The new system requires baht buses, tour buses and taxis to use the 17 yellow stop zones located near Beach Road’s popular shopping, entertainment and hotel destinations. Police have vowed to ticket drivers stopping outside those zones. Double-parking and stopping in red-and-white “no parking” zones also will be targeted.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome announces, “If anybody witnesses double parking on Beach Road, please report it to the 1337 call center immediately.”Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome announces, “If anybody witnesses double parking on Beach Road, please report it to the 1337 call center immediately.”

Pattaya’s history of dropping enforcement of any traffic “crackdown” beyond a few days left many observers brimming with skepticism. And, in fact, Beach Road motorcycle taxi drivers quickly reported that enforcement already had become spotty and people are ignoring yellow zones as they’ve always ignored the red ones.

But Sakchai said both government and businesses are keen to improve Beach Road’s chronic parking and traffic problems.

“We need to cooperate to make things happen,” he said. “Today is a start and we can count starting from one. If we help each other enforce the rules, I’m sure that the results will give a better look to Pattaya and will profit all business organizations throughout Pattaya in return for the cooperation.”

“We have faced these problems over the years and it needs to come to an end,” Sinchai agreed. “We need to be strict with our regulations to put a stop to all the trouble we have experienced. If we cooperate and help each other enforce the parking regulations, I can assure everybody that Pattaya can change for the better.”

Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome thanked the many groups for their support and confirmed city hall still intends to enforce the program.

“We can’t just depend on our public officials, so we need to help each other. If anybody witnesses double parking on Beach Road, please report it to the 1337 call center immediately,” he said.

Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho reaffirms the commitment of public officials to the Beach Road bus-stop system and traffic crackdown.Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho reaffirms the commitment of public officials to the Beach Road bus-stop system and traffic crackdown.

Organizations, students and hotel workers show their support for the effort during a march down Beach Road.Organizations, students and hotel workers show their support for the effort during a march down Beach Road.