Nearly 1,400 Pattaya-area motorbike-taxi drivers have until September to apply for a public-transport license or face arrest.
Banglamung District Chief Chakorn Kanjawattana said at a July 5 meeting that 1,385 drivers who have not already obtained a license must do so within 60 days. Drivers who were in the process of obtaining one must reapply, he said.
No new motorbike-taxi licenses will be issued after Oct. 1, he added.
Since 2014, the district has been trying to both register thousands of drivers and require them to charge legal fares set by Chonburi Province.
While fare enforcement has been a complete and utter failure, authorities have managed to get 5,689 drivers registered and issued them official orange vests.
But many others remain on the streets, using unofficial uniforms and without public-transport licenses.
Applicants must supply fingerprints to allow for a criminal background check and be sponsored by either the head of a local taxi stand or two neighborhood drivers. The driver’s motorbike also will be inspected for safety.
Chakorn said strict enforcement will begin in October and any driver found without a proper license and vest will face immediate arrest and prosecution.
He made no mention of drivers who still continue to charge over the legal rate.
