Authorities threaten tripled fines to end Uber war

[Rimmer]

Authorities threaten tripled fines to end Uber war

PATTAYA:--Authorities are threatening to double or triple fines against warring Pattaya public-transport drivers, saying vigilante violence against smartphone-enabled ride-sharing services must end.

 

Manote Chanwattanasin, inspector general of the Chon­buri Land Transport Department, called a meeting Sept. 27 with police, Pattaya administrators, and Banglamung District officials for taxi co-operatives to discuss the latest salvos in the “Uber war”.

 

The confab was prompted by two videos posted to social media showing taxi drivers either fighting or angrily confronting drivers getting business from Uber Technologies Co.’s or GrabTaxi PTE’s apps.

 

The former’s UberX and the latter’s GrabCar discount services have been declared illegal in Thailand as they utilize privately registered cars driven by people without commercial driver’s licenses.

 

Operating almost with impunity in Bangkok for years, both services have been subjected to repeated incidents of vigilante justice and guerilla warfare by Pattaya co-op taxi drivers who, until the ride-sharing services arrived in Pattaya, had earned a dismal reputation for repeatedly overcharging customers.

 

Seeing the business being eaten by fairly priced, dependable competitors, the drivers have fought back, blockading vehicles and threatening violence against the private drivers.

 

Read more: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/authorities-threaten-tripled-fines-end-uber-war-188081

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2017-10-06

[richard_smith237]

Sickening..... A better, more reliable, more honest service is available and in the face of competition the Taxi-Thugs who themselves have operated illegally (no meter etc) are supported by the Authorities after they have further proven their propensity for illegal actions in escalating to violence. 

 

All that has happened here is to provide the Taxi-thugs with a greater sense of entitlement for them to continue doing what they do best, ripping of customers, but now do so with a greater sense that they can do whatever they want and get away with it....

 

 

[balo]

I will still use UBER and I am ready to fight any taxi driver and publish it on social media . 

 

[mikebell]

22 hours ago, Rimmer said:

called a meeting Sept. 27 with police, Pattaya administrators, and Banglamung District officials for taxi co-operatives

Was there any mention of using meters on the laughingly labelled 'taximeters'?

Pairing police and taxi co-operatives together suggests a tie-in?

[The manic]

On 06/10/2017 at 12:29 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Sickening..... A better, more reliable, more honest service is available and in the face of competition the Taxi-Thugs who themselves have operated illegally (no meter etc) are supported by the Authorities after they have further proven their propensity for illegal actions in escalating to violence. 

 

All that has happened here is to provide the Taxi-thugs with a greater sense of entitlement for them to continue doing what they do best, ripping of customers, but now do so with a greater sense that they can do whatever they want and get away with it....

 

 

Whenever a Pattaya taxi driver offers me service I ask him if he has a metre. When he replies no...I just say politely no metre no taxi....The solution is for these taxi drivers is to join uber.

[marginline]

On 10/6/2017 at 12:29 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Sickening..... A better, more reliable, more honest service is available and in the face of competition the Taxi-Thugs who themselves have operated illegally (no meter etc) are supported by the Authorities after they have further proven their propensity for illegal actions in escalating to violence. 

 

All that has happened here is to provide the Taxi-thugs with a greater sense of entitlement for them to continue doing what they do best, ripping of customers, but now do so with a greater sense that they can do whatever they want and get away with it....

 

 

Great piece of insight richard_smith237. You're 'spot on' Sir. Thank you for sharing.

[stanleycoin]

What a load of BS.

There will be no heavy fines on any drivers.

The Taxi Mafia won, and now have a green light to do what ever they want.

The competition has been squashed. 

This is all just hot air. as normal.

 

New slogan.

Bad  Taxi drivers in,   Good Taxi drivers out. 

 

Ps Anyone had a Taxi meter turned on for there rides yet

if so what was you charged and from where to where?

Edited October 10, 2017 by stanleycoin

[YetAnother]

On 10/6/2017 at 12:15 PM, Rimmer said:

Seeing the business being eaten by fairly priced, dependable competitors, the drivers have fought back, blockading vehicles and threatening violence against the private drivers.

pure primitivism

[The manic]

12 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

What a load of BS.

There will be no heavy fines on any drivers.

The Taxi Mafia won, and now have a green light to do what ever they want.

The competition has been squashed. 

This is all just hot air. as normal.

 

New slogan.

Bad  Taxi drivers in,   Good Taxi drivers out. 

 

Ps Anyone had a Taxi meter turned on for there rides yet

if so what was you charged and from where to where?

But I remember when BKK taxis were not metered. And Pats is like BKK in the late 80s_early 90s...A disgrace. So most of us never use taxis here...especially if we are alone. 200 baht from WS soi 15 to Pratumnak BB!. I   can...and do walk it in in 15 mins....

 

[NanLaew]

Meanwhile up in the cultural backwater of Udon Thani, "smartphone-enabled ride-sharing services" are making like gangbusters with many customers spurning the traditional, inflated fixed-rate services for the faster, cheaper and generally safer alternative. Why pay 200 baht for a 10 year-old, clapped out, green-plate 'limo' from the airport when you can pay 80 baht for a nearly new Trailblazer SUV? Why pay 100 baht for a unlicensed, unregulated and totally uninsured samlor driven by a drunk or a yabaa head when one can pay 50 baht for an air-conditioned Honda CR-V. All with GPS so they don't even have to ask you for directions either. Happy to tip these guys.

[Basil B]

Funny how they can clamp down on any competition to the Baht Buses and Pattaya Meter Taxis but have been unable to enforce Pattaya Meter Taxis use of their meters ever since they hit the soi's over a decade ago...

[over it]

On 10/6/2017 at 10:57 PM, balo said:

I will still use UBER and I am ready to fight any taxi driver and publish it on social media . 

 

 I got your 6. I'll lay down some fire from my sniper's lair.