The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has announced a war on fried banana vendors, many of whom employ workers to roam through traffic selling their crispy treats to motorists.
Despite pressing urban issues such as littering, masturbating taxi drivers, and dual pricing, Bangkok officials decided that people selling bananas in traffic “ruin the image of Thailand,” and therefore, both vendors and customers should be fined according to the Act of Orderliness of the Country.
The idea was brought up yesterday in a council member meeting by member Paitoon Kamparat, who said there are too many fried banana vendors in the Old Town, where tourists commonly stroll around after visiting the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha, Prachachart reported.
Paitoon said that according to the law, vendors who sell bananas in the traffic must be fined up to THB5,000 while the customers will be fined up to THB2,000 for illegally buying a snack that costs about THB20.
Paitoon added that the city needs to designate the area where fried banana vendors can set up shop and then and monitor them via CCTV.
The council agreed with Paitoon, and Deputy Bangkok Governor Chinthat Meesuk said that he will coordinate with the City Law Enforcement Department and the police in the area to enforce the ruling.
Still want to buy kluay kaeks? Check out Coconuts’ guide on where to find the best fried bananas in the Old Town. (Don’t worry, these stalls have been set up there for decades.)
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