Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

A street vendor in Nonthaburi has been left in disbelief after receiving a fine of 159,000 baht from the Pak Kret Municipality for breaching public health regulations. The case has drawn attention to the financial strain such penalties place on low-income traders, who often earn only a few hundred baht a day.

 

Thawatchai “Arm” Thepsutin, 25, and his wife Chotiphat “Phum” Thepsutin, also 25, ran a small grilled pork and chicken skewer business from their home for four years. Municipal officials visited their premises earlier this year and identified several hygiene violations, including raw meat stored on the floor and staff preparing food outside. Despite warnings and attempts to comply, such as installing a grease trap, the couple were unable to meet further requirements like purchasing a tiered refrigerator and fire extinguisher.

 

After inspections in April and July, Thawatchai was issued a fine in early October totalling 159,000 baht. He said he initially believed the penalty would be minor and manageable but was shocked by the final amount, which far exceeds his annual earnings. The couple have since stopped selling food and now rely on delivery work to make ends meet.

 

Pak Kret Municipality clarified that the fine resulted from three offences: operating a business harmful to health without permission, defying an order to stop operations and continuing to trade despite repeated notices. The total included 84,000 baht in daily fines of 3,000 baht for 28 days. Officials stated the penalties were determined by the provincial committee, not the municipality, which serves only as an intermediary between residents and provincial authorities.

 

Deputy municipal clerk Parinda Chao-aran said the city sympathised with affected vendors but was legally bound to enforce provincial rulings. She noted that of about 800 annual complaints concerning public health violations, most cases were resolved through mediation. Only a handful, including Thawatchai’s, have reached the fine stage this year.

 

Local MP Watcharat Tasorn criticised the scale of the fines, arguing they were disproportionate to the offences and burdensome for small traders. He said penalties of 30,000–40,000 baht would be more reasonable in the current economic climate and pledged to help ensure fair treatment for all parties involved.

 

Pak Kret Municipality has since stated that affected vendors can appeal or request mediation to seek a reduction in fines. Officials emphasised that they did not wish to escalate disputes with residents but must uphold legal responsibilities to maintain public health standards.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A Nonthaburi street vendor was fined 159,000 baht for public health violations despite modest earnings.

• Municipal officials said the fine covered three separate offences under the Public Health Act.

• Authorities have invited affected vendors to seek mediation or appeal the penalties.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-23

 

 

 

I have to say, if they were warned then they were asking for this. The fine might be a bit harsh but they're Thai, they know how crazy the Municipal Officers can be. 

Som nom na.

 

 

And what would be the Fine for MASS Food Poising or Death for lack of hygiene these vendors deserve everything they get should be shutdown !!! 

They were warned several times, but did not take action.. For once the laws are being enforced and now they are complaining??? Indeed mostly it stays with a warning sometimes 100 times for the same, but happily this will be an example for many others to start changing things if they are being warned.. Don't complain now, you knew what was wrong I would tell them

It's not hard to be hygienic, where food is concerned.

It's just lazy behavior.

 

Pretty funny replies from guys who complain about 5 baht beer increase.

 

You want food regulations be prepared to pay for it. Nothing is free

 

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

They were warned several times, but did not take action.. For once the laws are being enforced and now they are complaining??? Indeed mostly it stays with a warning sometimes 100 times for the same, but happily this will be an example for many others to start changing things if they are being warned.. Don't complain now, you knew what was wrong I would tell them

I agree. 28 days they continued to operate selling food but failing to comply with the order to get a fridge and grease trap. They are in no position to complain the cost of the fees they themselves ignored would be happening by their failure to comply. A 2nd hand fridge is not that much money. A grease trap is even less. Perhaps they thought they would be forgotten about due to the size of their business. 

On 10/23/2025 at 8:30 AM, MikeandDow said:

And what would be the Fine for MASS Food Poising or Death for lack of hygiene these vendors deserve everything they get should be shutdown !!! 

The fine was obviously an accumulation of fines over a period of time.

Seems they were given chances to clean up their act and get the hygiene and storage under control, however they seemed to have ignored the warnings and continued in the same fashion.

Suck-it-up

If only they give more brown envelopes.....

22 hours ago, thesetat said:

I agree. 28 days they continued to operate selling food but failing to comply with the order to get a fridge and grease trap. They are in no position to complain the cost of the fees they themselves ignored would be happening by their failure to comply. A 2nd hand fridge is not that much money. A grease trap is even less. Perhaps they thought they would be forgotten about due to the size of their business. 

Where does the meat originate? What was fed to the animal and what residues (pesticides, insecticides, growth hormones - not to mention ground-up animals, which started the whole mad cow festivities) are in the meat? Was the animal living in moderately hygienic conditions (eyeroll)? How clean was the slaughter and how hygienically was the meat handled? How long was flesh stored and transported without refrigeration?

 

Compared to all those factors the carelessness of the satay vendors is pretty trivial ... but of course all of what I mentioned is out of sight (and surely out of mind).

1 minute ago, Fishfish Snakesnake said:

Where does the meat originate? What was fed to the animal and what residues (pesticides, insecticides, growth hormones - not to mention ground-up animals, which started the whole mad cow festivities) are in the meat? Was the animal living in moderately hygienic conditions (eyeroll)? How clean was the slaughter and how hygienically was the meat handled? How long was flesh stored and transported without refrigeration?

 

Compared to all those factors the carelessness of the satay vendors is pretty trivial ... but of course all of what I mentioned is out of sight (and surely out of mind).

CSB: Elderly American tourist traveling in Central America orders a meat dish in a roadside eatery. Spits out the first bite and yells at the seller "I can't eat this! You're selling cat meat!" Turns out the dude had been a POW in a Jap prison camp and they survived by snaring and eating cats'n'rats.

 

On 10/23/2025 at 10:38 AM, quake said:

It's not hard to be hygienic, where food is concerned.

It's just lazy behavior.

 

And education maybe?