App taxis must be registered: Land Transport Department

[misskit]

The Land Transport Department is committed to promoting the use of technology in taxi service to provide better convenience to customers, but all the taxis must be registered to make sure that they meet the safety standard, said the department chief Mr Sanit Promwong on Tuesday.

Representatives of App. Taxi operators, including Uber, are scheduled to meet with Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akarathit, Mr Sanit and authorities concerned on March 20 at the Transport Ministry to resolve their conflict over App. Taxi service.

Mr Sanit said the department agreed with the notion that consumers should be given more options regarding public transport service, but, at the same time, the department must make sure that consumers are accorded safe service and that taxi drivers who mistreat or cheat consumers can be traced.

Hence, taxi drivers must undergo training and be subjected to stricter control than ordinary motorists.

Meanwhile, the Land Transport Department and its network of private sector are providing free checks of 20 items of cars and motorcycles as of March 13 until March 24, including brake, tyre, battery and lighting system checks.

As far as public transport is concerned, the Land Transport Department in cooperation with Transport Company, the military and vocational schools will provide free checks in accordance with a checklist to make sure that public transport are safe and the drivers are fit to drive.

App taxis must be registered: Land Transport Department - Thai PBS English News

[harrybarracuda]

the department must make sure that consumers are accorded safe service and that taxi drivers who mistreat or cheat consumers can be traced.

Which is exactly what Uber and Grab provide, you snivelling chimp.

It's the fucking bandits in taxis, tuk tuks and songthaews that do the ripping off and sundry assaults.

FFS.

[S Landreth]

Uber, are scheduled to meet with Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akarathit, Mr Sanit and authorities concerned on March 20 at the Transport Ministry to resolve their conflict over App. Taxi service.

Sign it: Support Ridesharing in Thailand - English - Support Ridesharing in Thailand - Thai

[harrybarracuda]

Uber tells jobsworth to fuck off.

I like it.

Govt, Uber agree to find legal 'way out'
21 Mar 2017 at 02:43 7,144 viewed3 comments
WRITER: AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK AND WASSANA NANUAM

Car-hailing service Uber agreed Monday with the Transport Ministry to jointly conduct a study into ways of legalising the service in Thailand, where it is currently viewed as violating public transport laws.

Until that is completed the California-based firm is required to halt its ride-sharing service nationwide, deputy permanent secretary for transport Somsak Hommuang said after meeting with Uber representatives.

However, measures to clamp down on drivers of Uber will be stepped up after the operator rejected a request to halt its services for six to 12 months while the feasibility study is conducted, according to a joint force of military, police and land transport officers.

But Amy Kunrojpanya, director of policy and communications for Uber Asia Pacific, has rejected the request, saying the company only agreed to the study and not the suspension of operations.

"Uber does not violate laws," she said.

"But there is no law to regulate the service in Thailand, unlike [in] Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, which have already put [such laws] in place."

She shrugged off the government's warning of further arrests, saying the company takes good care of its drivers.

Drivers who are arrested and fined by the authorities can now seek refunds from the company, according to a source at Uber who requested anonymity.

Department of Land Transport (DLT) director-general Sanit Phromwong said the joint force will take legal action against drivers of any illegal ride-sharing services that refuse to adhere to the ban.

"We have to enforce the law. Uber is definitely illegal," he said.

"Even legally registered taxis must be punished if they violate the law."

Military officers will work with the ministry to find an appropriate solution so the public can enjoy safe and convenient means of transportation offered by "lawful operators", said a spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

The Professional Association of Public Taxi Motorists said it plans to speak to the military and police to find a legal means of halting Uber's service.

Its chairman Woraphon Kaemphunthot said his group will also request the Digital Economy and Society Ministry to consider shutting down Uber's smartphone app in Thailand.

The association petitioned the Transport Ministry Monday to terminate the "illegal" services of foreign ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Malaysia-based GrabCar.

It said they are unfairly poaching revenue from registered Thai taxi operators.

Mr Woraphon said both foreign services are running "immoral businesses" as they illegally use private cars as public vehicles.

Moreover, they are harming the interests of several thousand registered taxi drivers, he said.

Faced with claims that some licensed cabbies in the country behave poorly, he described this as a "minority".

The association's call came the same day as the NCPO decided to look into the long-running problem of ride-sharing services.

Witun Naeophanit, chairman of a taxi cooperative in Bangkok, said many Thai cabbies have seen their income drop by 30% due to the advent of Uber and GrabTaxi.

The DLT must clamp down on unlicensed drivers because "many taxi garage owners lease taxis to those with no licences for public vehicles", Mr Woraphon said.

Govt, Uber agree to find legal 'way out' | Bangkok Post: news