Mr. Sakoltee Phattiyakul, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, had a site visit to inspect the removal of damaged and abandoned vehicles and cleaning of the areas where the vehicles used to park in Suan Luang district in order to solve traffic congestion problem, decrease the pathogen sources, reduce obstacles when responding to emergency situations, minimize impacts on environment, and provide safety and security among the people.
Deputy Governor of Bangkok revealed that Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) by City Law Enforcement Department has been implemented a project to remove damaged and abandoned vehicles and clean the areas where the vehicles used to park in 100 days. This aims to lessen and solve traffic congestion problem, decrease the pathogen sources, reduce obstacles when responding to emergency situations, and minimize impacts on environment and public health. In Suan Luang area, the district office and relevant organizations have towed and removed damaged and abandoned vehicles starting from July 24, 2020. Since then, according to the statistics of receiving complaints and clues or surveys in Suan Luang district, 48 abandoned vehicles were found. Among these, 33 vehicles were removed by the owners or occupiers and 12 vehicles were removed by Suan Luang District Office comprising 3 cars and 9 motorcycles. Today the 3 remaining vehicles will be removed and transported to a yard where damaged and abandoned vehicles were kept in Nong Khaem district. At any rate, the law prescribed that there shall be an attempt to trace the owner by posting announcement searching for the owner for 15 days. If the owner is nowhere to be found, the BMA will tow the damaged and abandoned vehicles and store them at the place provided by the district office. If the owner shows up and contacts district office, he or she must pay fine. If no one claims the ownership of the vehicle, the BMA will impound it. The vehicles will be kept for about six months. After that, Directors of District Office have power and duty to auction them off.
There is a total of 865 damaged and abandoned vehicles found all over Bangkok metropolitan area (as of February 18, 2021). At present, 849 vehicles were towed: 770 were removed by the owners and 79 were removed by District Office. The BMA set to gradually remove 16 remaining vehicles, which is expected to be completed within February 2021.
