Tough Measure on Expired Vans

BANGKOK, Jan 18 (TNA) – Authorities will set up checkpoints next Monday to arrest passenger vans, operating over the ten-year age limit as a thousand vans were believed to still operate illegally in Bangkok. Senior officials from the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the National Police Bureau and the Land Transport Department and the military met Friday morning to tackle illegal passenger vans. From Jan 21, violators face a maximum fine of 50,000 baht and their vehicles’ license number will be suspended, said BMTA acting director Prayoon Chuaykaew. The authorities earlier gave leniency to offenders to allow them to register new vans. The tough measure has been enforced to abolish expired vans, which have problems with structures and fuel systems. CNG and LPG cylinders are certified by manufacturers with the ten- year working life, so expired vans leave passengers at risk. A taxi fitted with LPG exploded last week, he said. There are 3,860 vans, operating under the concessionaire of the BMTA. In the past five year, about 1,900 public vans were over 10 years old and were disqualified to renew licenses. However, only 340 new vans have been registered to replace the old vehicles. The rest of more than a thousand are operating illegally. This year, 809 public vans will reach ten years old and must be decommissioned. (TNA)