Warnings Today, Violations Tomorrow: Locals demand real enforcement on sidewalk abuse PATTAYA, Thailand – A fresh round of “tidy-up” operations targeting illegal parking on sidewalks along Jomtien Second Road drew praise on social media this week — but also deep skepticism. City officials from the Jomtien municipal enforcement division (thesakij) responded to public complaints by organizing a site visit and asking business operators to remove vehicles parked on pedestrian walkways. But many residents say the cycle of warnings without real penalties has gone on for too long. “The problem keeps coming back. They were here yesterday, and the next day cars were parked there again,” one commenter wrote under a post by the city’s official Facebook page “Pattaya Mayor’s Direct Line” The crackdown came after a wave of complaints about sidewalks being turned into personal parking lots. One particularly egregious case involved multiple vehicles blocking pedestrian paths on Jomtien Second Road, creating safety hazards for walkers. But the issue, locals say, isn’t isolated — and won’t go away with verbal orders alone. “Park on the Road — No, the Sidewalk!” Confused residents slam mixed signals from officials ‘A Public Space Is Not a Parking Lot’ The public had no shortage of suggestions — or frustrations: “Try in front of condos on Thepprasit Road next. Both sides are a hazard for people walking.” “Near a well-known groceries is a mess. Dirty, and billboards block visibility — it’s dangerous for drivers.” “Try all of Soi Buakhao. There’s no sidewalk left. Businesses have taken over everything.” “Try Beach Road 13/3.” “Beach Road is filled with rental vehicles again. You clear it once, they come back the next day.” “In a rare case, police say ‘park on the sidewalk’ to avoid traffic fines. Then the thesakij fines you for being on the sidewalk. So… what now?” While some praised the effort — “Great job, keep it up!” and “We support this for pedestrian safety” — others demanded actual consequences: “Use fines, please. Don’t just warn them, or officials will have to do this over and over again.” One of the most pressing complaints was about baht-buses near Walking Street: “Please do something about the songthaews parking along the left lane all the way to the red light. When cars stop at the light, these guys honk and act like they own the road. It’s mafia behavior.” Soi Buakhao to Beach Road 13/3: Public walkways still under siege despite clean-up blitz Enforcement Without Teeth Is No Solution Locals are calling for real deterrents: stricter ticketing, vehicle removal, and even naming repeat offenders. As one person bluntly put it: “Pattaya will never change if you keep issuing only warnings. People just laugh and park there again.” The situation reflects a larger problem: city regulations often lack real enforcement mechanisms. Without follow-up action or serious penalties, efforts to clean up Pattaya’s streets will remain cosmetic. Until the city transitions from polite requests to firm, consistent enforcement, many fear the pedestrian nightmare will continue. Official shows off cleared footpath — but locals say it won’t last without fines: “Fines, not warnings!” plea to end sidewalk chaos in Pattaya. Official shows off cleared footpath — but locals say it won’t last without fines: “Fines, not warnings!” plea to end sidewalk chaos in Pattaya.