Udon Thani noodle shop owner fined for pavement obstruction

Thai officials confirmed that the removal of tables and chairs from a noodle shop obstructing the pavement and road in Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, was carried out in accordance with the law.

The shop owner admitted to causing inconvenience and revealed that he and his nine year old daughter have been selling noodles since the early hours of the morning, the official said.

“To all the shops, if you resist and challenge the system, we will have to enforce the law. We don’t want to do this, but it’s our duty. We’re using both political science and legal measures now.”

The Facebook post included images of police officers removing the noodle shop’s equipment, such as tables and chairs, which were set up at night in front of a jewellery store.

The reporter who reached out to the official in question learned that the noodle shop owner had already admitted his mistake. The official reiterated that they had previously warned the shop owner, who had promised to comply but continued to defy the regulations. As a result, police had no choice but to enforce the law to set an example.

Jack, the owner of the jewellery store where the noodle shop was set up, shared that 55 year old Sak, the noodle shop owner, had asked to rent the space for night-time sales. Jack allowed it because he saw Sak as a hardworking individual living with his two daughters. The noodle shop had been operating for several years without issue. However, Jack speculated that complaints about the shop encroaching on public space might have prompted the recent actions by the police.

Jack acknowledged the officials’ duty to enforce the law, even though he sympathised with Sak’s situation. He expressed a desire for a compromise to avoid conflicts and emphasised the importance of considering the community’s well-being while following the law.

Fair enforcement

Sak explained that he had been selling noodles in front of the jewellery store for two years since the Covid-19 pandemic began, paying 2,000 baht per month for the space. As a single father, he lives with his two daughters and starts selling noodles at 4pm every day, with his nine year old daughter helping him. They finish and return home by 6am the next day.

The noodle shop owner admitted his fault for not removing his noodle cart and tables from the pavement and accepted the 2,000 baht fine. He managed to negotiate the fine down to 1,000 baht and planned to pay it yesterday July 30. Sak mentioned that he would continue selling noodles at the same location but would now store his equipment in a rented space at the market after finishing each day.

The single father acknowledged his mistake and expressed no intention of disputing the police’s action. However, he hoped for consistent enforcement across all areas, as he observed other places also encroaching on the pavement. When asked about his living situation, Sak shared that he lives with his two daughters, one of whom is in the fourth grade. After school, he picks her up and takes her to help sell noodles every evening.

Sak described his daily struggle, riding a motorbike with his daughter nearly 5 kilometres into the city to sell noodles until the early morning. The earnings are used to pay off the motorcycle instalments and interest on a mortgage.

Despite the hardships, Sak is determined to persevere, though he worries about his daughters’ future if something were to happen to him, reported KhaoSod.