Banning fireworks and floating lanterns on Loy Krathong usually has as much effect as banning PVC water cannons on Songkran, but Pattaya police are trying again anyway, promising to arrest anyone having unlicensed pyrotechnic fun.
City hall’s Peacekeeping and Security Department said officers will fine and even arrest anyone found to be shooting off fireworks or sending khomloys (candle-powered paper balloons) afloat into the air. They claim the crackdown is due to concerns about fires and child safety.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Jeerawat Sukonthasap, acting on behalf of the Municipal Official Chief, said officers will fine and even arrest anyone found to be shooting off fireworks or sending khomloys into the air.
Every year area beaches are filled with people doing both, with the Loy Krathong sky dotted with dozens of floating lanterns at any one point. And each year at least a couple of those flaming balloons come down in a wooded area, setting off brush fires.
Maj. Gen. Jeerawat Sukonthasap said only licensed vendors will be allowed to sell the flammable merriments. Anyone else will be busted.
One of the city’s official Loy Krathong celebrations kicks off at 6 p.m. at Lan Po Park with a krathong-judging contest and concerts. Another celebration will be held at Bali Hai pier.
