Vendors warned not to mark out Pattaya footpaths

Pattaya municipal officials inspect footpaths along Pattaya Beach, where several spots were sprayed with white paint by vendors wanting to illegally reserve the space for the Wan Lai Pattaya water festival on April 18-19, when pavement vending along the waterfront is prohibited. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)

PATTAYA, Chon Buri: Traders have been warned that spray painting footpaths along Pattaya Beach to reserve a vending space for the Wan Lai Pattaya water festival will bring legal action and a maximum fine.

The warning came as city authorities promised drastic action against people trading illegally along the waterfront during the festival.

Deputy mayor Wichian Pongpanich on Thursday led thetsakit officials to inspect footpaths along Pattaya Beach road following a complaint some people had spray-painted footpaths to reserve space for the annual festival on April 18-19.

They confirmed that several spots along the beachfront footpaths had been sprayed with white paint and the Thai word jong, or reserved.

The city inspectors will examine surveillance camera video of the area, find those responsible and bring charges against them, Mr Wichian said.

Footpath vending along the beachfront is prohibited. Roads along the beach will be closed from 6am until 7pm during the festival to allow residents and tourists to enjoy the water splashing fun.

Vendors who ignore the ban can have their goods seized and face a fine of 2,000 baht each under municipal regulations.

Mr Wichian said the municipality recently held a meeting with police, the military, local officials and others to discuss enforcing the ban. They agreed that offenders would face the maximum penalty, he said, but did not mention the size of the fine.

Warnings against vending on footpaths were issued every year, and vendors regularly paid no heed, he said. This year would be different.