Tourist police chief acts to help Thai tourism: Tells cabbies to get professional and stop refusing fares

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The chief of the Thai tourist police is fed up with Thailand's image being ruined by cabbies who continually refuse fares from tourists. 

 

He has told tourists that they should call his men with pictures of licence plates and they will do something about it. 

 

In this way it would help the country rid itself of the bad image and compete with other country's for the tourist dollar.

 

The edict came down from the chief Pol Lt-Gen Sukhun Promayon via his senior spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Apichart Suribunya.

 

It's an unusual move; matters about refusing fares are not dealt with by the tourist police, normally it is the domain of the Department of Land Trandsport, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

The fact that the tourist police chief has stepped in shows the country's annoyance that the problem of cabbies refusing fares is heightening as the country competes with other countries post pandemic. 

 

Apichart said that the tourist police had received many complaints on their 1155 hotline about cabbies refusing fares in tourist areas.

 

Especially when it's raining. 

 

He said that this unprofessional attitude was damaging the image of Thailand for tourism at a time when competition is high, reported Siam Rath.

 

He said that Thailand is indeed a top tourist destination in the world but that such activity was damaging to the good name of the kingdom.

 

He urged tourists to call 1155 and send a picture of the registration plate. The tourist police will then contact the DLT so that the driver, if guilty, is appropriately sanctioned.

 

He also called on all Thais to help in the issue and promote "professionalism".

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-09-19

 

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[Tropicalevo]

Quote

Tells cabbies to get professional and stop refusing fares

Well, that should frighten the cab drivers. (Not!)

[bamnutsak]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

The edict came down from the chief Pol Lt-Gen Sukhun Promayon via his senior spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Apichart Suribunya.

So the full extent of his efforts are to issue an edict?

 

Classic Thai.

 

 

[ezzra]

To be fair, in all my times of using cabs in BKK i have found most if not all cabbies doing their job properly and with courtesy...

[jacko45k]

Just now, ezzra said:

To be fair, in all my times of using cabs in BKK i have found most if not all cabbies doing their job properly and with courtesy...

You never met my wife's brother then! 

[Gottfrid]

I think he have to do a little bit more than tell. Think I´ve heard that before.

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

To be fair, in all my times of using cabs in BKK i have found most if not all cabbies doing their job properly and with courtesy...

It is very different on the islands.

No cab on Samui uses the meter.

In my experience, it is the same when I have been on Phuket and KPN.

To be fare though, they are very courteous when they take 800 baht for the 15 minute trip from the airport here on Samui.

[arithai12]

There are times when the refusal is justified. Especially in a megacity like Bangkok at strange hours with very far destinations that will make the driver waste gas and time with an empty return trip.

If they want to enforce no-refusals, then they should revise the fare system and the number of licences.

There are also times when the refusal is justified on the basis of the customer being unruly or perceived as a threat or having oversized baggage and so on.

So.... it requires a little more than just asking the public to report, in the era of social media some people tend to make a fuss over nothing.

[realfunster]

I see fare gouging and “unpleasantness” around that, as a bigger issue.

There was a great example in the last couple of weeks of a tuk tuk driver attempting to con some Singaporean tourists and then embarking on an impressive expletive ridden rant in English when challenged…

[arithai12]

10 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

It is very different on the islands.

No cab on Samui uses the meter.

In my experience, it is the same when I have been on Phuket and KPN.

To be fare though, they are very courteous when they take 800 baht for the 15 minute trip from the airport here on Samui.

Wow. Phuket is also usually fixed fare from the airport, 1000B for 1:15h drive to Rawai. Samui makes that look cheap! But as you said, to be fair it's excellent service in well kept modern cars.

And if on the route, there is the opion of the Smartbus: 100B 2h to Rawai.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

To be fair, in all my times of using cabs in BKK i have found most if not all cabbies doing their job properly and with courtesy...

I keep seeing guys say this, but over the past month in BKK taxis seem significantly worse than they did when I used to live here pre-Covid. I've only had ONE driver actually use the meter, and most drivers will ask for ridiculous fares like 150-300 baht. In the past they were asking for 100 baht, but now seem to not even be happy with that - especially when it rains - they seem to think a few rain drops entitles them to extra fare which makes no sense. I never pay more than 100 baht on principal, but that can make it hard to find a taxi willing to take you when it rains.

 

There definitely needs to be better (or ANY) enforcement of this. They keep complaining that the current meter fares are too low and that's why they refuse fares, but in reality what will happen when fares are raised is they'll still refuse to use the meter and quote even higher rates. Like the guy who wanted 300 baht for literally a 2 minute ride - we just walked away since this kind of driver does not deserve our business.

[engamann]

" The good name of the kingdom" you gotta be joking me , under Cha Cha and company the last 8 years Thailand become nothing else then a <deleted>thole. 

[Lemsta69]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He urged tourists to call 1155 and send a picture of the registration plate.

I've got better thing to do with my time. if a cabbie wants four bucks instead of three bucks for a ride across town I'm happy to oblige. old mate might get to enjoy a cold beer at the end of his shift. it's the "principal" ????

[webfact]

Tourists Urged to Report Unwilling Taxi Drivers

by Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

    
BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourist Police Bureau has advised passengers rejected by taxi drivers to take photos of their license numbers and report them through the bureau’s 1155 hotline.

 

Bureau Spokesperson Apichat Suriboony said drivers who refuse passengers are damaging the nation’s tourism industry and reputation. He added that tourist police will work with officials from the Department of Land Transport to punish such drivers for the lack of professionalism.

 

Under the Land Traffic Act, taxi drivers who reject passengers face a fine of up to 1,000 baht and the possible revocation of their driver’s license.

 

Uncooperative taxi drivers can also be reported to the Land Transport Department’s Public Passenger Protection Center by dialing 1584, or with the Traffic Police via the 1197 hotline.

 

Source: https://www.innnews.co.th/news/criminal/news_412319/

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-09-17

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

To be fair, in all my times of using cabs in BKK i have found most if not all cabbies doing their job properly and with courtesy...

Certainly don't agree with that.

[steven100]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He urged tourists to call 1155 and send a picture of the registration plate

and he guarantees when the driver see's you taking a shot of his registration plate he will jump out of his cab and shoot you or club you to death .... 

[steven100]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

To be fair, in all my times of using cabs in BKK i have found most if not all cabbies doing their job properly and with courtesy...

sorry,  I can tell you the opposite ....    you try and catch a taxi on Sukhumvit in the afternoon ,  say from 4.00pm onwards ... going to any suburb 10klms away,  90% will refuse with all the excuses, and friday's worse. 

[scorecard]

39 minutes ago, steven100 said:

sorry,  I can tell you the opposite ....    you try and catch a taxi on Sukhumvit in the afternoon ,  say from 4.00pm onwards ... going to any suburb 10klms away,  90% will refuse with all the excuses, and friday's worse. 

One of the worst I'm aware of; my uni invited a young female professor from Italy to present one course of lectures (about 12 days). The young lady is an expert in a specific area of economic analysis and quite beautiful.

 

She insisted that she try to take care of herself re transport etc.

 

First morning she hailed a cab just outside of her hotel (about 4 km from the uni.). On arrival she fled the taxi, bystanders asked her what's wrong? Turns out the cabbie was putting his hand to the back of the cab and trying to touch her legs. She got a photo of the cab rego plate, uni sent the photo to DLT. They refused to help 'not enough information'.

 

She finished her lecture on day one, went outside to the kerbside and hailed a taxi. She had the full address / tel. no of the hotel on a slip of paper in Thai language. A few minutes later a couple of her male students who had walked out noticed her banging on the closed taxi window.

 

They demanded the driver unlock the doors, cabbie refused. Students called the police. Two cops close by arrived quickly. Cabbie insisted 'she's farang, she has to pay double'. 

 

Cops suggest she pay 50% more than on the meter.

 

She refused to get back in the cab. Cabbie drives away disgruntled.

 

The 2 male students discussed with her, they called a cab and got in then the young lady got in, 15 minute trip to hotel without incident, paid the amount on the meter plus small tip. 

 

Next morning same students went to her hotel early and travelled with her to the uni. All the male students then made an am / pm roster to travel with her.

 

Uni director was quite impressed with her work and asked if she could come from Italy 3 or 4 times each year.  She refused. 

Edited September 19, 2022 by scorecard

[spidermike007]

I wonder if this guy has ever heard of an abstract concept, called enforcement? How about siezing their licenses to operate? On the 3rd offense sieze their cars permanently. Problem solved. Word would get around that the cops are actually doing their work!

[2009]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He also called on all Thais to help in the issue and promote "professionalism".

Indeed.

 

This man understands.

 

The only place you find professionalism in a tourist area is on the red light street.

 

Forget it in pubs, restaurants, traditional massage, taxi etc. etc.

[jaiyen]

My reasoning is that if the taxi driver is such an A hole that he doesnt want to take me then I don't want to give him my business. There are plenty of others. It is mostly the old ones that are a problem. Have had many enjoyable rides with young guys trying to make a living and learn English. When I am at the airport I will always choose a young driver to take me into BKK. Never had any problems. But the fares do need to increase ! They are so low, so I will give a decent tip if the driver is good.

 

[hellohello123]

Great! So now you need to bribe two people to get a result.

 

Genius way to increase the GDP,  give the man a payrise

[Big Bert]

I give up long ago with taxi meter. I find BOLT so good lately I never think of another mode of transport.

 

[Neeranam]

58 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Next morning same students went to her hotel early and travelled with her to the uni. All the male students then made an am / pm roster to travel with her.

So she was hot. 

 

My parents were told to get out on the elevated highway unless they boaid 1000 baht. 

 

I was punched in the face by a driver and then threatened with va tyre lever when I hit him back, many years ago. 

[Neeranam]

Tourist police are the laughing stock of the police force. 

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

and he guarantees when the driver see's you taking a shot of his registration plate he will jump out of his cab and shoot you or club you to death .... 

Not picking us up is one thing, what about all these broken meters they have?

[johnnyloda]

To get a ride from a thai taxi driver, you have to be lucky enough that your destination coincides with where he wants to go ... 

[NemoH]

They should use undercover cops to catch the drivers red handed.

Just wait for a rainy day and all taxis will shut off their meters and ask for fixed fares... it happening in Sukhumvit and Sathorn all the time..... so easy to catch but its whether they want to do so..

[LatPhrao]

Praise be!!!   Won't use the meter and demanding more than?    Calling 1155 and a license plate pic coming up, all over night time Sukhumvit.  With pleasure.

Edited September 19, 2022 by LatPhrao
add info

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

complaints on their 1155 hotline about cabbies refusing fares

When I was a Tourist Police Volunteer, the complaints were about the overcharging of fares, not refusing them!

Our regional TP Office set up an operation to catch such taxi drivers. We farang volunteers, dressed in "civvies", were dropped off at certain locations all within a short 40 baht (official) distance from one city center hotel. My taxi driver and those of the other volunteers, wanted to charge us 80 baht. In one instance 100 baht was demanded. When the taxis arrived at the hotel they were met by the Tourist Police, local Police Officers and Department of Land & Transportation Officers. Us farangs were instructed to leave and not get involved when the meters were inspected. The fares seem a pittance, but the operation was the culmination of numerous "overcharging" complaints which markedly decreased.

If my post is "off topic" being overcharging rather than refusing fares, then please remove.

Edited September 19, 2022 by Burma Bill
additional information