Legal/ Illegal Motorcycle Taxi

[roger101]

The other day I was cut up by a white plated m/c taxi. Nothing unusual in that you may say but it got me thinking.  I thought all m/c taxi's had to have yellow plates, a coloured jacket with an ID on the back,  So over the next few days while riding around I counted the number of m/c taxi's that were strictly legal.  After 6 days I had seen 10 (not a typo).  So I started counting white plates against yellow plates. When I reached 50 I gave up counting the score was Yellow Plates 26 against 24 White Plates.

This means that the nearly half the m/c taxi's  here are  illegal.  I take it that no yellow plates would also mean no insurance.

As an afterthought how many m/c taxi's have you seen on getting  checked by the boys in brown.

[VocalNeal]

...and the point is?

[Briggsy]

I also noticed this. This was brought in during one of the Thaksin administrations. It is no longer enforced.

[DrTuner]

As I've understood it, yellow = commercial and needs a commerial license (not sure if that exists for motocy's), white = private. So the white plate guys are using a vehicle meant for private use, which probably isn't all kosher but TiT, nobody cares.

[Curt1591]

13 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

As I've understood it, yellow = commercial and needs a commerial license (not sure if that exists for motocy's), white = private. So the white plate guys are using a vehicle meant for private use, which probably isn't all kosher but TiT, nobody cares.

Probably a steady income for the posses lying in wait for just such infractions.   

[bkk6060]

They are checked all the time the Pats police station is full of them paying fines everyday.

But, it is a ride one place to the next God who cares....

[KhunBENQ]

4 hours ago, DrTuner said:

As I've understood it, yellow = commercial and needs a commerial license (not sure if that exists for motocy's), white = private. So the white plate guys are using a vehicle meant for private use, which probably isn't all kosher but TiT, nobody cares.

I was digging through some Thai websites and it seems clear that a "license for public (transport)" is necessary. Example pictures just show "Taxi" on yellow band but probably I haven't found an actual motorcycle taxi license.

AND: a text from the DLT says that yellow plates are required

(and motorcycle no bigger than 125 ccm?)

[dotpoom]

There are "fake" Taxi's in every country that has taxi's?

[owenm]

As a MC taxi passenger, how many would insist on a helmet? I notice that some BKK city MC taxis will provide one is asked, usually stored under their seat.. If you had an accident and your head hit the pavement would you be covered by MC taxi insurance or travel insurance / expat insurance if not wearing a helmet?? 

 

I have a push bike helmet that I could wear, but would look like an absolute git I suppose, but at least provide some head protection in an accident. 

[newatthis]

13 minutes ago, owenm said:

As a MC taxi passenger, how many would insist on a helmet? I notice that some BKK city MC taxis will provide one is asked, usually stored under their seat.. If you had an accident and your head hit the pavement would you be covered by MC taxi insurance or travel insurance / expat insurance if not wearing a helmet?? 

 

I have a push bike helmet that I could wear, but would look like an absolute git I suppose, but at least provide some head protection in an accident. 

N0. In fact, while reading the exclusion clauses in one policy, I discovered there is no cover for this. I'm not sure but maybe other companies are the same. And I wonder if you were a passenger on a white plated M/C taxi, they could refuse coverage, too?

[natway09]

They do not care,,, why should you ???

[DrTuner]

1 hour ago, owenm said:

As a MC taxi passenger, how many would insist on a helmet? I notice that some BKK city MC taxis will provide one is asked, usually stored under their seat.. If you had an accident and your head hit the pavement would you be covered by MC taxi insurance or travel insurance / expat insurance if not wearing a helmet?? 

 

I have a push bike helmet that I could wear, but would look like an absolute git I suppose, but at least provide some head protection in an accident. 

The best policy is to avoid motocy taxis like the plague. Sometimes there's no choice so one must take one's chances. Grab, although expensive, is worth keeping your life.

[scubascuba3]

This place is lawless. MC taxis breaking the law all day long going through red lights, going the wrong way on the road. They don't worry about plates

[emptypockets]

21 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

They are checked all the time the Pats police station is full of them paying fines everyday.

But, it is a ride one place to the next God who cares....

Why do you spend so much time at the Pattaya police station?

[marinediscoking]

There is another crackdown on them currently to get yellow plates. Many of them are doing this however they are still not required to have insurance other than the basic parabol that covers very little in medical and no property damage.  If the bike is somewhat new they might be required to have first class insurance as the bike is financed. 

[HTC]

According to Bangkok Post approximately 20 - 30% do not have the correct permit and licence plate.

The current government introduced a rule that a person with a criminal record cannot hold a public vehicle driving licence.

The article says that some people (ex criminals) want to make a new start as taxi riders due to the relatively decent wage, the freedom to be your own boss and no need for education diplomas. It also says that people want to do the right thing, but the current law does not enable this.

I would say that you are free to choose your motorbike taxi rider based on the colour of the licence plate, if you use them at all.

[digbeth]

Yellow plate means at least the driver had a criminal background check for prior convictions in order to get 'commercial' motorcycle licence

 

 

 

[scubascuba3]

Good point about only getting a taxi bike if it has a yellow plate

[digbeth]

also to get a commercial licence, they'd have to hold a normal licence for at least 5 years, the Thai doesn't mean much, but in 5 years on motorcycle if they haven't lost their live or limbs that should mean something.

 

But to be fair to the white plate cowboys, to get white plate they'd need to be a resident of Pattaya (having their name in the house book) and get something in writing from the mafia/owner of the stands/ranks that they operate from 

knowing most landlords, and the cheaper ends of the market that these guys will be renting from, getting the house registration to move their name in is next to impossible. so the lack of yellow plate is understandable, and the police turn a blind eye in some case