BANGKOK, 19 Nov 2014, The Department of Land Transport has urged van operators who have not registered their names with either the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) or the Transport Company Limited, to do so within December or they may loose their licenses.
According to Mr. Teerapong Rodprasert, the Director General of the Department of Land Transport, a number of van operators have already had their vehicles inspected and granted appropriate licenses. All public van operators must register their names with one of the 2 said companies before they can legally provide public transportation services, he said.
He warned that those who failed to register within the given time would have their licenses revoked. He also reminded them that those who violate the traffic law or breach the public transport conduct code would be punished accordingly. He clarified that first time offenders would only be fined, and second time offenders would be fined and punished, in accordance with the their contracts. Third time offenders would be banned from operating public transportation vehicles, on top of stiff fines.
The Director General stressed that van operators operating without appropriate licenses will be arrested. They are, on conviction, subjected to a fine of 20,000 to no more than 100,000 baht, or a five-year imprisonment; or both.
