Police to pounce on public passenger vans

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Police to pounce on public passenger vans

Published: 3 Feb 2013 at 16.53
Online news: Local News

Bangkok police will renew efforts to bring public passenger vans into line after a surge in complaints about widespread violations of traffic rules that worsen traffic congestion in the city, according to a Thai Rath report on Sunday.

The crackdown will start on Monday, the report said, quoting Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, chief of the Police Traffic Division.

The officer said police had received complaints that many drivers of unregistered vans illegally parked and ate up traffic lanes at bus stops as well as picked up and dropped off passengers outside designated stops. This caused traffic problems to be more severe in the highly congested areas of the city.

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DonAleman
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Discussion 14 : 04 Feb 2013 at 12.2114
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1). Do I note a tone of disbelief from commenters ?
2). Did you say "pounce" ? What happened to the tried/true "SWOOP" ?
3). Police delaying the usual stop/drop/leave of these vans will increase congestion.
4). Will the police accept credit cards ?
5). Most operators are just drivers with no answers,papers, or most importantly - MONEY !
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onlyme
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Discussion 13 : 04 Feb 2013 at 09.4713
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Disc 8 - joe-blow - Also please factor in the 'market' that is under the clover leaf and the foot traffic dodging in and out. I stopped going to Future Park just because of that mess.
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Sally23
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Discussion 12 : 03 Feb 2013 at 22.5812
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This mode of transport is used only by the countryside people who moved to Bangkok. It is cheap for them as they cannot afford a car, so I think they are ok as long as they don't cause the traffic.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 11 : 03 Feb 2013 at 22.0611
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Will the police crackdown on the van drivers now like they promised to do on the taxi-meter a couple of months ago? They both seem to have good connections to some influential figures and don’t have to worry about the police or anyone else.
As far as the taxis are concerned: For me it looks like the problem gets worse every day. Since two hotels opened in my small Sukhumvit Soi almost all taxis don’t want to go anywhere a few km away. Some ask for ridiculous prices to drive around the corner and others just shake their head. I know there is nothing I can do about it but I am really fed up with the completely useless police here.
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borrocks
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Discussion 10 : 03 Feb 2013 at 21.4310
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3. Doubling parking or parking in a manner that blocks or impedes travel on a roadway. A maximum fine of 500 baht.

SAYS EVERYTHING...............
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bluebottle
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Discussion 9 : 03 Feb 2013 at 21.219
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Parking is the tip of the iceberg. The total disrespect for the law is the main problem .Yet again clearly the Government do not realise the main problem caused by these drivers or they do not want to know due to the power held by the ultimate owners of these minibuses.
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joe_blow
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Discussion 8 : 03 Feb 2013 at 21.078
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The huge cloverleaf interchange at Rangsit Future Park the junction of Highway 1 and the Pathum Thani - Nakon Nayok Road, is a classic example of a total lack of urban planning and understanding of basic traffic flow and patterns. The huge congregation of all forms of public transit mixed together with the main flow of private and commercial on the road vehicles is an absolute mess. The jam it creates on a daily basis can sometimes be traced all the way back to the Don Muang area. The part that's even more frustrating is that there's plenty of land area around that place to provide a proper terminal for the busess and mini vans. Come on man!
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amerman
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Discussion 7 : 03 Feb 2013 at 21.077
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All the same talk and do nothing. They should just say. Bla bla bla bla
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dao
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Discussion 6 : 03 Feb 2013 at 21.026
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The only reason vans are so popular and people risk their lives using them is because there is no public transportation meaning TRAINS .
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upena
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Discussion 5 : 03 Feb 2013 at 20.575
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Some big tea money to be had.
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