The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday launched a campaign to round up hundreds of abandoned cars around the city.
"This survey marks D-Day, the day City Hall starts to take control of abandoned cars," said deputy Bangkok governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul as he supervised the first vehicles being towed away at 10am in Suan Luang district.
Yesterday's activity followed an order by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang to officials in all 50 districts to clear the capital's streets in the wake of numerous public complaints.
Initial BMA figures estimated that 400 abandoned cars had so far been found.
Deputy governor Sakoltee urged residents to tell the police if they find any abandoned cars on public streets. ''They will get half the fine as a reward, if a punishment is handed out," he said.
The fine for abandoning a car in a public area ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 baht.
Officials are obliged by law to spend 15 days trying to find the vehicle's owner -- otherwise, the BMA will impound it at a pre-assigned location in the district.
The cars will be kept there for about six months, after which it is the duty of district office directors to auction them off.
The BMA already has 70 abandoned cars in lock-up and must now hurry to find places for the 400 newly found ones.