Phasakorn Channgam
Baht buses are once again in the news, even though
basically nothing has changed since the last time they were making
headlines.
Tawat Puakbunnak,
president of the Pattaya Transport Cooperative.
The most recent complaints come from alleged
overcharging during a recent beauty contest. Organizers, media and even
beauty contestants were allegedly charged much more than the standard,
written fare.
The matter was brought up at the Feb. 8 Pattaya
Business & Tourism Association meeting at the Green Park Hotel in North
Pattaya, where once again members wanted authorities to urgently resolve
these kinds of issues in order to better the city’s tourism image.
Tawat Puakbunnak, president of the Pattaya Transport
Cooperative, answered the charges by saying that the co-op has a car ply
normal baht bus routes to see if anything nefarious is going on, such as
arguments between tourists and baht bus drivers, and/or tourists being
dropped off half way to their destination. He didn’t elaborate on how
they would be able to recognize the latter, but did say that if
passengers feel cheated, they should record the white letters on side of
the baht bus and on the floor of the passenger space, or its license
plate, and report this to the Pattaya Transport Cooperative office, at
144/37 Moo 4 Pattaya-Naklua Road, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi; or phone
081-9838-716, 038-423-554. He said the office would investigate the
driver and, if necessary, dole out punishment.
Tawat then went on to outline the company’s
discipline procedures. “If the information reported by the passenger or
tourists turns out to be true after investigation, the Pattaya Transport
Cooperative will warn the driver and he will be fined from 500-2,000
baht. There will be a report filed at the Provincial Land Transport
office and if there are repetitions or violence against passengers or
tourists, the drivers will be fined, and his public transportation
permit will be terminated permanently. If further investigation reveals
criminal actions, he will face legal actions.
“The Pattaya Transport Cooperative’s board committee
is currently in discussions with the Pattaya Land Transport office to
outline disciplinary measures. The measures are expected to be finalized
within 4-5 months,” Tawat concluded.
Before the meeting concluded, Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh brought up another matter regarding baht buses. “Pattaya roads
have limited lanes leading to tight traffic; a major complaint made by
citizens and tourists to Pattaya City is that of baht buses not parking
in an orderly manner. Many drivers park their buses and wait for
passengers at important tourism spots, such as Walking Street, causing
traffic snarls.”
He suggested that, “…Since the city will remove
beach-bus signs on Pattaya 2nd & 3rd roads, Sukhumvit Road and the road
to Jomtien Beach, as their rental contract with Pattaya City is over,
these spots should instead be used as designated baht bus stops for
picking up and dropping off passengers, creating a more disciplined
commute and better safety for the passengers and tourists.”
