Police to get tough on taxi drivers after flood of complaints

[misskit]

Police have set out to clamp down on taxi drivers who violate the law or mistreat passengers while urging them to instead help create a positive image for the country.

National Police Chief Pol Gen Jakthip Chaijinda convened a meeting with officials from the Department of Land Transport and other related agencies to discuss solutions to various problems surrounding the provision of service by taxi drivers, who number more than 130,000 nationwide. The discussion followed the submission of a series of complaints by passengers, both Thai and foreign.

As a result, the police resolved to enforce traffic laws more stringently while setting up a database on taxi drivers’ law violations in order to deter them from repeating their offenses. Any drivers with inappropriate behaviors will have their licenses revoked. Information and tips on how to use taxi service in Thailand will also be provided for tourists.

These measures will be piloted in Bangkok, particularly at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports, as well as Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui. Evaluation will be conducted on a monthly basis, starting in March.

Pol Gen Jakthip, on this occasion, asked for all taxi drivers’ cooperation in being good hosts to foreign visitors and creating a good impression on them for the sake of the country’s tourism.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en...C5902040010001

[DJ Pat]

Thank god for that

[Bobcock]

Bangkok is the only place where they will even make an effort and to be honest there is little wrong here.

Phuket.... forget it, beyond repair years ago.

[chassamui]

Never had a problem at DM and Swampy has the advantage of a decent enough bus and rail service to keep the taxis in line.
Getting a cab in central BKK is a different story. They will only pick up if you want to go where they want to go.
Samui and Phuket are run by a den of thieves and they need to be brought into line.
The only way it will work is to have a fixed tariff between two points. No negotiating prices or insisting on meters being used, just a flat rate between A & B, with maybe a 10% premium for fares after midnight. Published at airports and all central taxi pick ups. If the greedy arrogant cocks refuse to play, take their cabs away.

[Bobcock]

They will only pick up if you want to go where they want to go.

You maybe...... never have a problem

[Kurgen]

I look forward to the day (eventually) when there is a rail link from Swampy too Pattaya.

Oh how the cabbies will giggle

[chassamui]

You maybe...... never have a problem

Must be because the TGF is so ugly.

[spliff]

I don't do taxis.

[DJ Pat]

Maybe it's my scary aura and how fierce I look, but never once, ever, have I had a taxi problem, refusing to take me, no meter etc etc

[Dillinger]

Getting a cab in central BKK is a different story. They will only pick up if you want to go where they want to go

I was on the phone to a friend yesterday who was driving with a taxi in front of him and he counted 5 times that the taxi driver turned down fares.

^ I will give you odds of 10-1 about you getting a taxi to pick you up from Mo Chit BTS station and drop you at Mo Chit bus station

[Bobcock]

Mo Chit bus station

Why on earth would anyone want to go to a bus station.......

That implies that you take the taki to take you to a bus to go to X

Just get in the taxi and say X.

A bus.....????.... heavens NO!!!

[barrylad66]

Getting a cab in central BKK is a different story. They will only pick up if you want to go where they want to go

I was on the phone to a friend yesterday who was driving with a taxi in front of him and he counted 5 times that the taxi driver turned down fares.

^ I will give you odds of 10-1 about you getting a taxi to pick you up from Mo Chit BTS station and drop you at Mo Chit bus station

Asked 4 taxis on Monday, the fifth agreed...

[Deckwan]

Getting a taxi at Mo Chit BTS is indeed a pain in the ass...onward with the BTS construction...

Anyways, only had a problem at a few places, namely the fuckwits in Soi 11 and fe other places, everywhere else have been ok.
BUT! I am a Farang and I just open the door and get in and say lets go, I do'nt do the Thai shit where the open the door then ask tell the driver their destination and wait for him to nod his head yes.

This is a problem the Thais created.

I have been using Uber a bit more, waaay better, more money and not alwatys useful in all situations but its a nice option, grab taxi is ok as well.

[harrybarracuda]

Yes! A crackdown!

[Dillinger]

Why on earth would anyone want to go to a bus station.......

To get the VIP night bus to Laos, 500 baht Bob

Asked 4 taxis on Monday, the fifth agreed...

Make that 3-1 then Pat.

How long did it take you Barry? The traffic was awful as I cut through it on the back of a mocy taxi.

Most of these taxi drivers are doing you a favour by turning down your fare

[Bobcock]

To get the VIP night bus to Laos, 500 baht Bob

You take a 500B VIP bus to the airport???????????

[Dillinger]

No Bob, I took a mocy taxi, the bts, then another mocy taxi, then the vip bus, then another bus, then a tuk tuk to get to the hotel in Laos.

I did fly back, however.... that involved, a songtaew, a bus, a tuk tuk, a mini van, an airplane and a taxi

[BaitongBoy]

^ He's Welsh, mate...

[chassamui]

Interesting that some other random government department recently authorised the second phase of a fare increase because there had been so few complaints about taxi drivers.

[BobR]

They will only pick up if you want to go where they want to go.

You maybe...... never have a problem

Not just him, came out of Pantip with a computer and got refused a ride to Sukhumvit 33 by 4 or 5 taxis before I finally hired a tuk tuk.

[Bobcock]

^ He's Welsh, mate...

Exactly... I have standards...... I don't use buses..... I just assumed it could only be to the airport to catch a plane......

[Henrie]

Bangkok is the only place where they will even make an effort and to be honest there is little wrong here.

Phuket.... forget it, beyond repair years ago.

They are great in Ubon. Cheaper than Bangkok for exactly the same service. I've used loads and they are all polite. One driver last week even remembered me from when I arrived in Ubon on my first visit, two months ago. I couldn't remember him, but he recalled the exact time, day, and destination, in English. Genius.

[Bobcock]

I had one in Bangkok who said.... Oh you are still wearing the same aftershave.....

He'd picked me up 6 months before, funny thing was as I opened the door to get in, I noticed a crack on the handle and thought "I've used this taxi before"

Funnily enough he picked me up 3 days later as well....

Oh how we laughed.....