Thread: Bangkok Governor Cracks Down on Tuk-Tuk and Taxi Overcharging

On April 27th, 2024, Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, and relevant Bangkok government agencies addressed an issue of tuk tuks and taxis parking in front of the Central World shopping center, Pathumwan, Bangkok.


According to the Governor of Bangkok, Central World had a massive number of visitors daily and many tuk-tuks and taxis were reportedly parked in front of the shopping center to pick up passengers. However, they allegedly parked along the road blocking traffic and only picked up foreign tourists as they could charge extra without using the taxi meter.

As a result, it caused traffic congestion although the Bangkok Government set up a special lane especially for taxis and tuk tuks to pick passengers up and go swiftly. According to the Bangkok Governor, every type of vehicle could use this special lane and were prohibited from parking more for than an appropriate time.

The Bangkok Government pleaded for the cooperation of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers to keep the traffic in order. Potential passengers needed to call them at three designated locations in the Central World vicinity.


Moreover, the Bangkok Government coordinated with the Thai Department of Land Transport to issue penalties for taxi and tuk-tuk drivers who overcharged passengers or did not use the taxi meter. It was reported that embassies from developed countries complained about hail-riding service haggling in Thailand, said the Bangkok Governor.


The fare control for tuk-tuks and taxis was under the authority of the Thai Department of Land Transport. The Bangkok Government presented the tuk-tuk meter problem to the Department of Land Transport to tackle the issues with technology for the benefit of Thai citizens and foreign tourists.


Bangkok Governor Cracks Down on Tuk-Tuk and Taxi Overcharging: Central World Traffic Woes Addressed - The Pattaya News

Good luck on solving that problem.

Oooooooooo a crackdown, that should sort things out.

I've been waiting 40 years for this.

They are fixing all the pavements too.

Do I recall correctly, not long ago they promised to fix the flooding issues?

I'm so looking forward to my next visit to Bangkok. It will all be so perfect.

Prime Minister Orders Crackdown on “Taxi Mafia” at Ratchaprasong

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed the police to take serious action against the “taxi mafia” at the Ratchaprasong area. These taxi drivers reportedly do not use meters and extort tourists. The premier ordered the police and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to look into the issue of “taxi sticker” bribes, particularly taxis idling in front of the CentralWorld shopping mall.


Following images shared on the "Taxi Driver Thailand" Facebook page showing taxis parked in a special lane in front of CentralWorld, it was noted that these taxis, identified by a sticker on the back window, are allegedly allowed by officials to pick up passengers without using meters, creating a negative image for tourism.


Members of the press who visited CentralWorld on Tuesday evening observed taxis entering the special lane to pick up passengers regularly, but not parking indefinitely. Officials said that the activity is permissible, while adding that police have coordinated with the mall management to designate specific taxi and rider pickup points. If called through an app, the meeting point will be set beside the mall, not on Ratchadamri Road.


Recently, the traffic police at the Lumpini precinct installed signs indicating that all vehicles could use the leftmost lane of the road. The move came after road users mistook it for a bus lane, resulting in heavy traffic congestion during rush hours.


Additionally, officers confirmed that all vehicles could still use the leftmost lane, but they must not stop to pick up or drop off passengers.


The Lumpini precinct also revealed that officers had investigated whether the “Isetan” sticker scandal involved influential local groups. The precinct confirmed that currently, no privileged groups should be allowed to park waiting to pick up passengers or tourists, and no taxis should be operating without meters and overcharging foreign tourists.

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