Crackdown On Illegal Airport Taxis

[george]

Airport tout war going badly

SUVARNABHUMI: -- Police who promised to end the operations of the operations of cheating unlicensed black-plate taxis and illegal tour guides at Suvarnabhumi airport by mid-June have admitted a first-round defeat - but will try again.

Last month, Pol Maj-Gen Wut Liptapanlop, deputy chief of Police Region 1, vowed a major crackdown that would take the touts and illegal guides out of the airport within 15 days.

On Sunday, Pol Maj-Gen Wut urged Airports of Thailand (AoT) to apply tax laws to curb the illegal operators, and vowed it would take just [more...]

-- Bangkok Post 2007-06-25

[Mid]

calling bendix ...................

[chinthee]

Yeah, but what about that damm escalator trolley issue.

[Moruya]

Airport tout war going badly

SUVARNABHUMI: -- Police who promised to end the operations of the operations of cheating unlicensed black-plate taxis and illegal tour guides at Suvarnabhumi airport by mid-June have admitted a first-round defeat - but will try again.

Last month, Pol Maj-Gen Wut Liptapanlop, deputy chief of Police Region 1, vowed a major crackdown that would take the touts and illegal guides out of the airport within 15 days.

On Sunday, Pol Maj-Gen Wut urged Airports of Thailand (AoT) to apply tax laws to curb the illegal operators, and vowed it would take just [more...]

-- Bangkok Post 2007-06-25

There are 2 issues here - The "Black Market" taxis here appear to have increased by a huge amount since the move to Suvanabhumi and they just add to the already very congested areas at the exits. Why the local security guards can't throw them out or clamp their vehicles is beyond me....

[soundman]

Unforunately this crackdown has nothing to do with tourists getting ripped off - but eveything to do with what the govt. perceive as lost tax revenue on an estimated 1 mil baht daily turnover.

Soundman.

[A_Traveller]

I said it before, just say no. If most passengers do so, the marketplace disappears and the touts have no profitable reason to stay.

Regards

[terryp]

Why the local security guards can't throw them out or clamp their vehicles is beyond me....

Possibly they don't want to be shot!

These black cab touts are serious people (at all of Thailands airports...Phuket has seen killings by these black cab guys..and they are still there)

What makes me laugh is how the police just try to push the buck onto the AOT...very easy for all involved ..just blame someone else, welcome to the merry-go-round

This will not go away as there is too much money invoved and it's been said already that powerful people are protecting the scabs...so that means money is passing hands to allow this

Taxin was good on deadlines...

TIT

Still very 3rd World

[Tony Clifton]

They're a plague in the airport as well with many unauthorized employees walking around and taking up needed space. They're dealing with mafia and no one wants to get hurt. Arrest a few, see what happens.

[chuchok]

Shoot them,bet they don't come back then.

[MrSnrang]

What they should do is force them out of their taxis and drive them to the impound lot and tell them to take a bus home.

[geriatrickid]

What makes me laugh is how the police just try to push the buck onto the AOT...very easy for all involved ..just blame someone else, welcome to the merry-go-round

This will not go away as there is too much money invoved and it's been said already that powerful people are protecting the scabs...so that means money is passing hands to allow this Taxin was good on deadlines... TIT

A very unfair assessment. Pol Maj-Gen Wut Liptapanlop, deputy chief of Police Region 1 is reported to have urged Airports of Thailand (AoT) to apply tax laws to curb the illegal operators. The more accurate description would have been pleaded that AoT fulfill its responsibilities. He was ignored. The police did the best they could.

Pol Maj-Gen Wut claimed to have made 320 arrests, including 35 people arrested more than once. The fine is only B2000. What more could the police do? Is it any different in the west where the police arrest car thieves only to have the buggers out on a bail or community service stealing more cars? He gave the AoT a way to stop the situation by going after the tax cheats. That's how governments in the west went after organized crime. There is no doubt in my mind that it's the AoT responsible for the mess and it's the AoT that won't clean it up. The same people that gave us the construction problems are running the airport. Everytime I read the forums there is always a complaint about crooked cops etc. Well here's a policeman trying to do his job and no one is helping him. After banging his head against a wall for awhile would you blame him for not caring about anything anymore?

[Artisi]

You wouldn't think for one minute that there was any money in brown envelopes being passed under the table would you? - no that couldn't happen - could it?

[lazeeboy]

Airport tout war going badly

SUVARNABHUMI: -- Police who promised to end the operations of the operations of cheating unlicensed black-plate taxis and illegal tour guides at Suvarnabhumi airport by mid-June have admitted a first-round defeat - but will try again.

Last month, Pol Maj-Gen Wut Liptapanlop, deputy chief of Police Region 1, vowed a major crackdown that would take the touts and illegal guides out of the airport within 15 days.

On Sunday, Pol Maj-Gen Wut urged Airports of Thailand (AoT) to apply tax laws to curb the illegal operators, and vowed it would take just [more...]

-- Bangkok Post 2007-06-25

not before time ,first impressions for tourist are these touts ,get rid of them and maybe people would have a better memory to take home after there holiday

[Scott]

I am always amazed at the things that can't be solved in this country. It seems especially "unsolvable" if it primarily affects foreigners.

[steveromagnino]

You wouldn't think for one minute that there was any money in brown envelopes being passed under the table would you? - no that couldn't happen - could it?

Most of the envelopes were already paid, heavily, in the last administration of Taksin; no wonder that King Power and all other parties at the airport are so upset; they all paid, and now they are getting poor value.

Taxi mafia included.