Taxis biggest problem for tourist police

By The Nation

 

File photo 

 

Taxi problems were the biggest issue for tourist police last year among thousands of arrests, the Tourist Police Bureau said on Wednesday.

 

Tourist and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said that from January to October last year, tourist police cracked down on thousands of crimes ranging from overcharging taxis, to illegal entertainment venues.

 

Last year tourist police beefed up crackdowns on unruly taxis and unlawful tour guides. He said in 2018, police arrested 12,679 taxi drivers - including over 5,668 drivers who refused to pick up passengers, 3,408 drivers who refuse to use meters, and 1,659 drivers who overcharged - up from 1,681, 255, and 120 driver arrests during the same period a year earlier.

 

Police also arrested 1,581 unauthorised tour guides, and 390 so-called “sitting guides”, who use their licenses to accompany an unauthorised guide who can speak foreign languages. The number was up from 132 and nine guides arrested in 2017.

 

Tourist police also arrested 6,333 low-quality tour operators, 26 vendors who offered overpriced products to tourists, and raided 35 illegal entertainment venues.

 

They also found 1,406 cases of illicit drugs at tourist venues and there were also 161 cases of “influential people” carrying firearms in tourist areas and 9,533 cases where tourists were affected.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361530

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-03

 

On the positive side, there are some 12,679 stories about taxis returning forgotten money, gold and jewels to tourists.

RTP is biggest problem for Thailand and visitors

4 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

On the positive side, there are some 12,679 stories about taxis returning forgotten money, gold and jewels to tourists.

Unfortunately those 10 taxi drivers seem to be getting fed up with all the publicity.

I smell another "honest cab driver returns bag containing 1000s of (insert currency name here) to forgetful tourist" story not too far away. Or are we going to have a flurry like we did last month I wonder.........

Why do they always say "arrested taxi drivers."  The police are not arresting the taxi drivers; they are just issuing tickets.

20 minutes ago, Pib said:

Why do they always say "arrested taxi drivers."  The police are not arresting the taxi drivers; they are just issuing tickets.

It must be a grammatical error - the police are stopping them so they can all have 'a rest'.

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

so-called “sitting guides”, who use their licenses to accompany an unauthorised guide who can speak foreign languages

 

Bloody tourists....not taking the trouble to learn Thai before deciding to holiday here.

Nothing changes ????

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

On the positive side, there are some 12,679 stories about taxis returning forgotten money, gold and jewels to tourists.

There will be another very soon after this story.

Yesterday, Taxi from Karon to Rawai wanted 1000 Baht from a couple of tourist they actually do themselves out business

Thailands biggest problem is the thais

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Last year tourist police beefed up crackdowns on unruly taxis and unlawful tour guides. He said in 2018, police arrested 12,679 taxi drivers - including over 5,668 drivers who refused to pick up passengers, 3,408 drivers who refuse to use meters, and 1,659 drivers who overcharged - up from 1,681, 255, and 120 driver arrests during the same period a year earlier.

 

Lots and lots and lots of arrests - but the problem still exists.  ???????

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Last year tourist police beefed up crackdowns on unruly taxis and unlawful tour guides. He said in 2018, police arrested 12,679 taxi drivers - including over 5,668 drivers who refused to pick up passengers, 3,408 drivers who refuse to use meters, and 1,659 drivers who overcharged - up from 1,681, 255, and 120 driver arrests during the same period a year earlier.

What does that increase say .. Either there's nothing but contempt and disregard for the rules by which Taximan is granted authority to operate .. or does it mean the previous year the T P couldn't be arsed to get off their's and pull a few more in .. Still on the positive front none appeared to have been pulled for excessive gearchanging or watching jazz movies in the motor .. 

How many of those drivers who broke the law lost their Taxi driver licences and how many taxi companies also fined eh.....that information is sadly lacking 

 

Did big joke order a cardboard already reading: "OUTLAW CABBIES"?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

there were also 161 cases of “influential people” carrying firearms in tourist areas

What happened to them, just curious?

Simple one word solution to this problem: GRAB!!!!

Take the restrictions off and let them operate like they do in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, etc. It brings transparency to the fare - you see what you pay before you accept the ride - no BS meter, no refusal of service, no long rides to run up the fare. I use it all the time in Vietnam and it works great. VN is notorious for taxi's with rigged meters and Grab is great.

But how will the RTP get their cut.... 

24 minutes ago, phkauf said:

Simple one word solution to this problem: GRAB!!!!

Take the restrictions off and let them operate like they do in Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, etc. It brings transparency to the fare - you see what you pay before you accept the ride - no BS meter, no refusal of service, no long rides to run up the fare. I use it all the time in Vietnam and it works great. VN is notorious for taxi's with rigged meters and Grab is great.

But how will the RTP get their cut.... 

The missus and boy went to Vietnam and used a Taxi once.  After that we used Grab.  They were less money than a Taxi.  You have to admit, the taxi drivers dress nicely.

Grab in Thailand uses regular licenced taxis, unlike Malaysia and Vietnam, hence you get roughly the same price as you do getting a cab on the street. Or it can be more. I checked the price from Karon to Jungceylon the other day: 550 baht! The rip-off taxis and tuktuks charge 400 baht. I've just checked the price from Karon to the Airport and it's 1200 baht!

 

Is Phuket unique in being the only place where you can get a regular rip-off priced taxi cheaper than you can get a Grab?

1 hour ago, Vacuum said:

What happened to them, just curious?

In the second half of November 2009, the media reported on a new project initiated by the Thai Ministry of the Interior: All ministry employees and all MPs were offered the purchase of weapons for personal use at a 50% reduced bargain price! The "Guns for five and dime prizes initiative" was cheered by the people's representatives, because the political situation in the country was not very promising. Sakda Khongpej, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee and Pheu Thai MP, was quoted as saying, "If ministers have nightly meetings with villagers, it can be very dangerous. Politically motivated violence can break out at any time."
Thai ministers now do not travel by bus, train or on the back of pickup trucks through the cities and provinces. Traffic stops when armoured limousines with bodyguards, motorcycle escorts and police cars sweep the red light across the convoy. If this type of "comfortable travel, relaxed arrival" is already considered unsafe by the people, how safe is the country for locals and tourists?
A member of the Chart Thai Party Pattana, who already has some weapons, ordered three more for his personal safety. Especially after the news from the Philippines, the question arises, how many weapons does it need, so that an already privileged individual can feel safe? The same MP then propagated his idea to make the (Buy One Get One for free) arms trade accessible to ordinary citizens. In a wild speculation the question turns up, who is probably the first in his constituency to apply for a license to sell weapons?
 

19 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

On the positive side, there are some 12,679 stories about taxis returning forgotten money, gold and jewels to tourists.

Until the Police crackdown on these taxi mafia/cowboys NOTHING will change.

 

Take the driver and taxi off the road for one month and start doubling for every successive offence. No more smacks on the back of the hand! Currently it's all talk (to save face?) but very little effective action taken. ????

16 hours ago, connda said:

Lots and lots and lots of arrests - but the problem still exists.  ???????

To date, I have seen only ONE story of Pattaya Plod arresting/fining a cab driver.  Nowhere in this city can you find a taximeter with a working meter.  Two mafia groups in bed together.

15 hours ago, madmitch said:

Grab in Thailand uses regular licenced taxis, unlike Malaysia and Vietnam, hence you get roughly the same price as you do getting a cab on the street. Or it can be more.

Grab in Thailand also uses non licensed taxis, "Grab Cars".

On 1/2/2019 at 10:56 PM, Pib said:

Why do they always say "arrested taxi drivers."  The police are not arresting the taxi drivers; they are just issuing tickets.

And those are only the taxi drivers that didn't provide an envelope to the RTP.

A law needs to be passed that plainly will arrest any rogue driver refusing the meter or overchanging...

 

.Police must be educated by their ambitious top brass to learn how to greet any expat/tourist comming over to them and filing a complaint against a taxi.

 

Use farang snitches to pose as tourists at Suvarnabhhumi airport arrivals, with police back up near by...the bangkok lockups will be full, before the day ends !  The cheating by the Thai taxis needs to be stopped once and for all...

 

Ok....this is all very nice, but the first to "blame" are those who plainly accept to be cheated and slammed in the arse....if each customer just refuses a taxi refusing the meter, things will auto regulate and improve within say a week !!!

Edited January 5, 20197 yr by observer90210

9 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

A law needs to be passed that plainly will arrest any rogue driver refusing the meter or overchanging...

 

.Police must be educated by their ambitious top brass to learn how to greet any expat/tourist comming over to them and filing a complaint against a taxi.

 

Use farang snitches to pose as tourists at Suvarnabhhumi airport arrivals, with police back up near by...the bangkok lockups will be full, before the day ends !  The cheating by the Thai taxis needs to be stopped once and for all...

 

Ok....this is all very nice, but the first to "blame" are those who plainly accept to be cheated and slammed in the arse....if each customer just refuses a taxi refusing the meter, things will auto regulate and improve within say a week !!!

 

There's a simple answer, which I have used myself. After you note the meter is off, wait until you arrive then state you will pay what the meter reads. Nothing? I agreed to not use the meter? Where did I sign saying so? Oh, OK, thanks very much. Bye.

On 1/3/2019 at 4:22 AM, Darcula said:

 

Bloody tourists....not taking the trouble to learn Thai before deciding to holiday here.

...or getting proper insurance!

Edited January 5, 20197 yr by NanLaew
sp

1 hour ago, chama said:

And those are only the taxi drivers that didn't provide an envelope to the RTP.

I guess the motocy taxi's also pay the police because they allow them to drive against traffic all days long.