Patong Police chief told to clear parking spaces for tourists – or be transferred

[Lite Beer]

Patong Police chief told to clear parking spaces for tourists – or be transferred
Phuket Gazette -

Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan remains confident the problem of tuk-tuks and taxis dominating the parking spaces along the Patong beach road will be resolved by New Year. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: The chief of police in Phuket’s premier tourism town of Patong has been ordered to clear beach road parking spaces for tourists by December 31 – or face being transferred.

The news came after a video conference between Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewwatee and Police Region 8 Commander Panya Mamen yesterday.

“Lt Gen Panya ordered the superintendents of the Patong and the Karon Police to get rid of mafia taxi operations in their respective precincts,” Col Arun told the Phuket Gazette.

“He also ordered that the problem of tuk-tuks parking along the Patong beach road be resolved – so that parking spaces would be available for tourists by December 31.

“If the Patong superintendent cannot make this happen, a new superintendent will be appointed to take action,” Col Arun confirmed.

The man under the gun, Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan, remains confident that the beachfront parking problem will be resolved by New Year’s Eve.

“We have held talks with taxi operators, tuk-tuk drivers, Patong Municipality and other relevant departments. Everybody wants the road to look beautiful without parked cars causing traffic jams,” he told the Gazette.

“Patong Police are now working together with Patong Municipality to create taxi ranks, and tuk-tuk drivers have agreed to park only 10 vehicles in zones marked by white-and-yellow stripes,” Col Chiraphat said.

“Also, car rental operators have agreed not to park all of their cars along the roadside,” he added.

In case the promises by local tuk-tuk, taxi and car rental cartels are not honored, the concept of introducing parking meters was tabled.

“With parking meters, the longer they stay, the more they pay,” he said.

Patong Police will remain “flexible” in enforcing the law around Soi Bangla after 11pm, Col Chiraphat added.

“At that time of day, there are very few road users other than tourists coming out for the nightlife, and nearly all tourists take taxis to their destinations,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Patong-Police-chief-told-to-clear-parking-spaces-for-tourists-or-be-transferred-22776.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-11-13

[KarenBravo]

Thought they set the end of November as the dead-line?

[NamKangMan]

Thought they set the end of November as the dead-line?

What year? :)

[NamKangMan]

“With parking meters, the longer they stay, the more they pay,” he said. - which means that cost will be passed onto the passenger, which means higher than already high fares. So, ultimately, the tourists pay for the tuk-tuk to remain parked on Beach Road.

[sawati]

Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan is going to be transfered...The mafia said.

[clockman]

This unique Thainess!!!!!!

[LivinginKata]

Thought they set the end of November as the dead-line?

High season starts 1 November. That's when the tourists ramp up. And there are many more hiring cars this year because of the bad press on taxis/tuk tuks. This is all just a huge image promo, with no real action being taken.

[andreandre]

As good a description of the BIB antics as any...

Edited November 13, 2013 by andreandre

[NeverSure]

By the end of the year? Why not by tomorrow? Oh, I forgot....

[stockholm1995]

Let the army take care of the thugs.

[horsewell]

It's the constant compromise that is so frustrating for everyone. They say we will clear the roads... then 3 per stand... then 10 per stand... then they can do what they like we will set up meters. I pity the fool that has to enforce the meters... or the fine would be randomly applied, advance notice of crackdowns so for a few hours the road is clear on that day and then business as usual... or something similar I suspect.

Probably get a new top cop rather than take on the establishment.

[chooka]

So where is he being transferred to?

[steelepulse]

Once Dec 31st comes, a new deadline will be made, but there will be "progress shown" to appease everyone, but actually nothing will have changed.

[sscsamui]

Lazy BIB… Wait Wait and Wait some more and then postpone it again...

[monkey4u]

Why not grow a set of balls and impound all tuk tuks and taxi's parked in this area

[Aachen]

These yellow and red boxes at the beach road are not there for optical reasons? It is a business? Really?

Edited November 14, 2013 by Aachen

[bender92]

“At that time of day, there are very few road users other than tourists coming out for the nightlife, and nearly all tourists take taxis to their destinations,” he said.

Yes they take taxis because there is no parking!

[ezzra]

Just wondering how much ' brasso" cream it takes to shine and polish all those medals and

insignias he's wearing, quite a lot I bet....

[eezergood]

So now he will extort even more tourists, before he is transferred, to top off his pension fund!

NIce meeting you and enjoy the deep south

[andreandre]

Just wondering how much ' brasso" cream it takes to shine and polish all those medals and

insignias he's wearing, quite a lot I bet....

Quite a bit of 'brasso' for sure..cleaned and polished twice daily by his tuk-tuk mates oops..staff .

[Sharp]

In case the promises by local tuk-tuk, taxi and car rental cartels are not honored, the concept of introducing parking meters was tabled !!!!!!

NO!!!!

Lock them up and take their vehicles......

Breaking the law .....Get it !!!!!

Edited November 14, 2013 by metisdead
Unnecessary usage of bold font removed.

[klauskunkel]

Patong Police will remain “flexible” in enforcing the law around Soi Bangla after 11pm, Col Chiraphat added.

Flexibility, the number one Police attribute. That's why they go to the gym so often. Come flex with me, boy...

"Even if I don't, Flexibility will prevail in the Thai Police Force", Col Chiraphat ruminated reflexively

[Bagwan]

Let the army take care of the thugs.

Not a runner I suspect but the thought of a tank running down the road mangling parked motorbikes gives me a nice arm feeling inside. Expect to see the sidewalk become a designated parking area.

[Thaddeus]

Let the army take care of the thugs.

Not a runner I suspect but the thought of a tank running down the road mangling parked motorbikes gives me a nice warm feeling inside. Expect to see the sidewalk become a designated parking area.

Imagine the number of hits that would get on youtube if filmed.

(btw, I took the liberty of correcting a typo, having a nice arm feeling inside is something completely different, editing another posters comments is against the rules, but I hope that one was Ok?)

[fabphil]

Give extra parking for tourists....

[spidermike007]

I suggest using a 2 million volt stun gun on all the tuk tuk drivers, and taxi drivers who do not want to move. Stun them into submission! Stun first, ask questions later. Teach these guys a lesson they will never forget. Imaging them sitting around drinking beers years later. Remember when that cop stunned the crap out of you that night on beach road. Wow, the look on your face was precious. Damn that was funny!

[barrybankruad]

Let the army take care of the thugs.

Not a runner I suspect but the thought of a tank running down the road mangling parked motorbikes gives me a nice warm feeling inside. Expect to see the sidewalk become a designated parking area.

Imagine the number of hits that would get on youtube if filmed.

The mayor of a Lithuanian town did just that. Ran over an illegally parked car in an armoured car. See...

http://swns.com/news/mayor-runs-over-illegally-parked-car-in-tank-20866/

(btw, I took the liberty of correcting a typo, having a nice arm feeling inside is something completely different, editing another posters comments is against the rules, but I hope that one was Ok?)

[eezergood]

Long term, nothing will change!

[Thaddeus]

The mayor of a Lithuanian town did just that. Ran over an illegally parked car in an armoured car. See...

http://swns.com/news/mayor-runs-over-illegally-parked-car-in-tank-20866/

good one Baz.

[eezergood]

Jesus the Editor of the the site which muct not be named must be creaming himself with joy on reading this!