Police are pushing for
clearance to arrest on site street vendors, like the flower seller left, and
sex-show touts, like the man to the right.
Thanachot Anuwan
Pattaya City Hall is taking another stab at cleaning up
Walking Street amid rampant complaints about touts, pick-pockets, ladyboys,
flower sellers and other riff-raff.
At a March 30 meeting with Walking Street’s board of
directors, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said a proposal awaiting approval
would have Pattaya police, tourist police and municipal enforcement officers
jointly ticket and arrest on sight pornographic DVD sellers, sex-show touts,
beggars, flower sellers and other street vendors from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Barriers will also be erected on side streets to prevent
cars from entering the zone during evening hours and officers were assigned
to inspect signage so it’s in compliance with height regulations.
Ronakit said the Public Health and Environment Office
would take over responsibility for garbage collection and city hall has set
aside funds for more officers to secure the street from 3-8 a.m.
Walking Street community head Sunthorn Kangsirikul agreed
many of the street vendors and beggars are nuisances to tourists. He also
requested more help in corralling the many transvestites and motorcycle taxi
drivers congregating on the 850-meter promenade who also draw copious
numbers of complaints from visitors.
Some of the street entertainers will be allowed to stay,
however. The deputy mayor said a dozen artists will be allowed to perform
behind the Siam Bayshore Hotel, including magicians, kids with footballs and
people painted up as robots.
Tourist Police commander Col. Arun Phrompan said six CCTV
cameras have been installed on Walking Street to help patrol officers.
