Taxi-ous times in Phuket: Crackdown leads to double ‘fare-ests’ in Kathu

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Phuket‘s crackdown on illegal taxi drivers continues, with two arrests made in Kathu last week. At Si Kor Intersection, Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) officials and Kathu Police officers set up a checkpoint to identify and apprehend drivers using their private vehicles for commercial transportation services.

 

The operation took place on the main road to and from Patong, the island’s most popular tourist area, and was active for two hours. While the exact number of alleged taxi vehicles checked during this time was not disclosed by the PLTO, the operation resulted in the arrest of two taxi drivers, reported Phuket News.

 

The announcement of these arrests came just hours before the Department of Land Transport’s (DLT) central office publicly announced that Bolt, a taxi application, had been granted permission to provide services nationwide.

 

Bolt drivers using private vehicles can now offer taxi services to customers in Phuket and other locations in Thailand, as long as their cars display the “CAR APP” stickers, confirming proper registration with the DLT or PLTO in Phuket.

 

by Mitch Connor

 

Top Picture courtesy of Phuket Land Transport Office.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-crackdown-on-illegal-taxis-continues-with-two-arrests

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-05

 

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[richard_smith237]

Is this a crack down on private drivers who are creating competition using Grab / Bolt ????

 

Or is it protection and removal of competition for the extorting taxi drivers, so they can continue to extort passengers and operate with inflated prices ???? 

[hotchilli]

Phuket and it's taxi wars have been rife for years... time to get to the bottom of it.. or is the problem at the top?

[Watchit]

Somebody very high up must have an interest in the tuk tuks that rip everybody off. Much the same as the jet ski extortion which was allowed to go on for so long. 

[natway09]

The RTP & the mafia taxis do not want anybody to rock the boat

[cncltd1973]

crack down on the competition to benefit the taxi mafia... it's almost as if the RTP has their best interest in mind