AYUTTHAYA - The driver and owner of a passenger van caught carrying too many passengers were each fined on Monday, as the deadline passed for the vans to comply with new rules.
Prajit Suwannasaeng, the 55-year-old driver, was fined 5,000 baht and his licence suspended for 15 days.
Maha Phram Co, the owner of the van, was fined 20,000 baht and placed on a warning list. If the firm repeats the violation, it will face additional legal action.
Mr Prajit was arrested on Sunday after a passenger complained on social media the driver had stopped to pick up more passengers. The poster said the van had exceeded the 13-passenger limit, and some passengers had to stand up. The van was registered in Ayutthaya.
Dusit Bosuwan, a local land transport official, said the van was registered to carry 13 passengers, but modified to hold 17. Sometimes it had carried more than 17 people, he said.
The government set Monday as the deadline for about 15,000 passenger vans nationwide to comply with new safety regulations, which include a maximum load of 13 passengers per van.