Pattaya: Uber to be run out of town but taxis ordered to turn on meters - or else!

[webfact]

Pattaya: Uber to be run out of town but taxis ordered to turn on meters - or else!

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

A crisis meeting was held at Pattaya police station to address the Uber vs Taxi Mafia war that has been raging at the resort.

 

A fist fight between two drivers this week only served to make matters worse so land transport officials, police, soldiers, city hall and taxi representatives gathered to hear some home truths from the chairman of the gathering.

 

Manot Charnwatanasin who oversees transport matters in Chonburi was forthright and direct in saying how things would be from now on.

 

While it was very bad news for Uber, taxis in Pattaya were also criticized for not using meters and told to smarten up their act...or else.

 

Though some conciliatory noises were made about raising taxi prices, reported Manager online.

 

The taxi drivers had earlier unfurled a banner outside that said:

"Taxis in Pattaya: We don't want Uber - we don't want Grab Car. We don't want any illegal cars here".

 

Manot said at the well attended meeting that the following would happen:

 

1. Uber drivers would be fined 2,000 each time they picked up passengers. They would have their licenses suspended immediately for three months. No questions asked, no leniency. The message was they were not wanted in Pattaya.

 

2. Taxi drivers were ordered to stop hemming in Uber drivers. Stop causing violence. If you don't obey there will be tough penalties as much as can be given under the law. No leniency. The message was no more fighting - tell the authorities if you suspect Uber are operating.

 

3. Taxi drivers must turn meters on, it is illegal not to do so. If they fail to do that top fines will be issued. No leniency. No excuses.

 

But Manot stuck a kinder note in another statement.

 

4. Regarding the view that Pattaya taxis face hardship because fees they can charge are too low leading to not turning on the meter. "We have put this issue at the top of the agenda for discussion and possible change", he told the taxi drivers.

 

Time will tell if the tough sounding edicts are enforced at the resort and if the travelling public see any change to what has been a burning issue in recent months, notes Thaivisa.

 

Source: Manager Online

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-09-28

 

[bdenner]

IMHO this whole debacle has greater entertainment value than news worthiness.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The taxi drivers had earlier unfurled a banner outside that said:

"Taxis in Pattaya: We don't want Uber - we don't want Grab Car. We don't want any illegal cars here".

 

I thought Grab Car were just legal taxis that utilized the Grab app to find riders?

 

I'm surprised they didn't demand an end to those despicable BKK taxis taking backhaul fares...

 

BTW, are there really metered taxis in Pattaya?  I've never encountered one, but then- I've never looked for one.

 

[Moonmoon]

Top Fines, 500 baht. Now all farangs in Pattaya whip out your camera phones .

[james.d]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

4. Regarding the view that Pattaya taxis face hardship because fees they can charge are too low leading to not turning on the meter. "We have put this issue at the top of the agenda for discussion and possible change", he told the taxi drivers.

How can Manot say this?.. it would lead to a countrywide raising of prices.

And no its not because they face hardship.. its because they want to rip-off as much as possible under the guise of being a taxi meter.

[taichiplanet]

pattaya taxis using their meters! i am gonna put it up there with Thailand having general elections (without the Generals).

[stanleycoin]

Authorities forging ahead again.

 

A big green light to the bad guys,  oh deer oh deer.

 

Time for a new slogan

Good Taxi drivers  out,  Bad Taxi drivers in. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good job 

 

[Get Real]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The taxi drivers had earlier unfurled a banner outside that said:

"Taxis in Pattaya: We don't want Uber - we don't want Grab Car. We don't want any illegal cars here".

Illegal cars in Pattaya. How illegal is it to refuse to use the meter? I guess they should take a good look at themselfs.

[dotpoom]

2 hours ago, bdenner said:

IMHO this whole debacle has greater entertainment value than news worthiness.

Not for the Taxi drivers and their families?

[Colabamumbai]

And some one made a post yesterday questioning Pattaya as a "Mafia Town".?

[cedel]

Why not let the competition operate like in the Philippines? There now  the regular taxi's  have put their prices down to compete with Uber and Grab and all this is good for the consumer !! 

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

A crisis meeting was held at Pattaya police station to address the Uber vs Taxi Mafia war that has been raging at the resort.

Yeah right, use their meters. Since when have taxis, car or motorcycle, been subject to any regulations!

 

What happened to the Pattaya fixed motorcycle taxi fares, all the billboards seem to have vanished!

[klauskunkel]

this barking dog has no bite

[Bob12345]

12 minutes ago, cedel said:

Why not let the competition operate like in the Philippines? There now  the regular taxi's  have put their prices down to compete with Uber and Grab and all this is good for the consumer !! 

Why would they?

 

Why allow competition when you can also ask 10x the price and do 3 rides a day to make your salary?

Why follow laws if there are no consequences for breaking them?

[mark01]

If you think Pattaya taxis will use meters, then you still believe in the tooth fairy and that renting a  jetski in Thailand is a good idea.

Not going to happen. Not going to be enforced. Not going to get 1 baht from me!

[Emster23]

Might be slightly believable if had said " Taxi drivers would be fined 2,000 each time they did not turn on meter. They would have their licenses suspended immediately for three months. No questions asked, no leniency."

[IamNoone88]

So long free market enterprise. It was nice knowing you. 

[Destiny1990]

I rarely see Pattaya taxies driving with customers just only they standing still and blocking parking spaces.

[LannaGuy]

Another 'Thai style' solution!   run out competition because the mafia don't like it spoiling their profits

[JonnyF]

Rather than focusing on deck chairs, beer bottles being visible on Facebook selfies, twerking etc. I would have thought this was an excellent opportunity for the "government" to show they were serious about cleaning up corruption, intimidation etc.

 

But no, the taxi mafia wins and the consumer loses. No meters will be used. Back to square one. 

[LannaGuy]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Rather than focusing on deck chairs, beer bottles being visible on Facebook selfies, twerking etc. I would have thought this was an excellent opportunity for the "government" to show they were serious about cleaning up corruption, intimidation etc.

 

But no, the taxi mafia wins and the consumer loses. No meters will be used. Back to square one. 

And that should answer your question.

[craigt3365]

One huge benefit of Uber/Grab is the ability to call for a car from your phone.  Really nice for those of us who don't live in Central Pattaya. Where all the metered taxis seem to sit.

 

[kcpattaya]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Taxi drivers must turn meters on, it is illegal not to do so. If they fail to do that top fines will be issued. No leniency. No excuses.

And my name is Frank Sinatra...

[happyinthailand]

Does this mean we can still use the app to call Uber onto private property?

[mercman24]

USE METERS OR ELSE . yeah you will do absolutely nothing as per usual, i thought BKK taxis were terrible as to no meters but this lot takes the biscuit. for example JOMTIEN to PATTAYA  10 baht on the baht bus , or 300 with an unmetered taxi driver, and dont even think about coming back late at night.

[NextStationBangkok]

You have been Uberrred...

 

Do, or die. Switch on meter, or go to hell. No fixed rate anymore at the hotel desk cheating customers...

[SidJames]

I was down in Bangkok a few years ago & went to get a taxi from a rank by soi cowboy.

He wanted double what we had paid to get there & then explained that he doesn't get the extra but pointed to the cop that was stood watching over that corner & explained that they have to pay him a set fee for every fare that they pick up from that rank as it was 'his' & that was the extra that we had to pay to get in any cab from that rank.

[midas]

And who will be regularly checking the meters haven't been tampered with?   

[rkidlad]

Got a mate in Bali now. He said Uber are having the same issues there. He said when he arrived he used a few local taxis. Had to pay cash and got ripped off every time. He used Uber from then on. He pays the set rate (if not less than local taxis), they come to his door and he doesn't have to worry about paying cash. All a card based system.

 

Times are a-changing. In this age of us knowing more and utilizing technology, people will demand better and fairer services in all walks of life. Adapt or die. 

 

 

[Moti24]

"...... but taxis ordered to turn on meters - or else!"

 

Or else what?  A committee will be set-up to find-out why it's not happening?