Phuket taxi drivers protest against rise of illegal taxi apps

[webfact]

A sea of yellow and green licence plates flooded the grounds of Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, December 21, as taxi drivers from all over the province assembled in protest.

 

They demanded a crackdown on illegal taxi app drivers, who they contend are infringing on their once unchallenged dominion over tourist transportation.

 

At the forefront of the protest was Tinnakorn Chommuang, the president of the Phuket Provincial Taxi Operators Association, who rallied the taxi drivers in a bid to draw attention to their cause. They claimed that over 3,500 taxi vehicles had amassed at the hall, a figure that appeared to dwarf the 2,429 vehicles officially registered with the local authorities just a week prior.

 

The taxi drivers’ grievances were manifold. They sought intervention from the Department of Land Transport office in Phuket Province, also known as the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), and other related agencies, citing issues with unauthorised vehicles transporting passengers. Additionally, they highlighted the issue of foreigners transporting tourists under the guise of being friends or family.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Phuket News

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-22

 

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[novacova]

If the taxi apps are illegal then how is that the illegal apps are available to download in TH?

[LivinginKata]

23 minutes ago, novacova said:

If the taxi apps are illegal then how is that the illegal apps are available to download in TH?

 

Not the apps it's the drivers that are illegal

 

"illegal taxi app drivers"

[bob smith]

suck it up, buttercups! 

[bob smith]

Phuket taxi drivers, the mafia kind, are nothing but a bunch of violent hooligans and they deserve everything that's coming to them!

 

I hope they are all rounded up soon and thrown in the slammer.

 

bob

[sikishrory]

Feeling the squeezeee! I love it

A simple app is dismantling these losers effortlessly. Even the army couldn't fix them.

It's beautiful to watch.

 

[ChipButty]

They have brought it on themselves but wont change, Im just looking on the app, from Rawai to the airport 570 baht, them clowns want a 1000 baht, tourist are go for the cheapest options while they are staying here. 

A 1000 baht a tourist can rent a car for less 

[Chris Daley]

Aircon off, strong smell of sweat, no English, no map, rude and no clue where they are going.  Bring on the driverless AI taxi's.

[Srikcir]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

issue of foreigners transporting tourists under the guise of being friends or family

I don't think they care whether it's a guise or not, just the lost fare.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

They demanded a crackdown on illegal taxi app drivers, who they contend are infringing on their once unchallenged dominion over tourist transportation.

Competition will not be tolerated.. we are the taxi mafia.. 

freedom of choice for the customer is not a priority.

[stevenl]

29 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Competition will not be tolerated.. we are the taxi mafia.. 

freedom of choice for the customer is not a priority.

They all have paid in lots of money for their right to pickup from certain places.  A right that's fading away. So from that perspective I understand their anger, but it's a lost battle, app taxis will take over.

[Mike Lister]

"They claimed that over 3,500 taxi vehicles had amassed at the hall, a figure that appeared to dwarf the 2,429 vehicles officially registered with the local authorities just a week prior".

 

arf arf, 

[proton]

I thought not using meters in a taxi was illegal?

[bob smith]

9 minutes ago, stevenl said:

They all have paid in lots of money for their right to pickup from certain places.  A right that's fading away. So from that perspective I understand their anger, but it's a lost battle, app taxis will take over.

eff em steven.

 

they have been bleedin the farang dry since the 80's.

 

I hope they starve.

or get a real job instead of robbing and assaulting tourists.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Do I detect just a teeny lack of sympathy with these poor people....?🤣

[stoner]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

They demanded a crackdown on illegal taxi app drivers, who they contend are infringing on their once unchallenged dominion over tourist transportation.

 

the arrogance in this statement is astounding.

 

ya well guess what......your dominion is now being challenged. adapt or die off. or maybe buy a new blue shirt. s looks like you bought it in 96. 

[ChipButty]

15 hours ago, Chris Daley said:

Aircon off, strong smell of sweat, no English, no map, rude and no clue where they are going.  Bring on the driverless AI taxi's.

They have been known to be masturbating while driving 

[bob smith]

10 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

They have been known to be masturbating while driving 

Ive seen it myself!

they smoke ice at night too.

 

bad boys indeed

[Peterphuket]

They make so much money with ridiculous prices for a ride that they have enough time left over to protest over and over again, bastards.

[Peterphuket]

2 hours ago, bob smith said:

eff em steven.

 

they have been bleedin the farang dry since the 80's.

 

I hope they starve.

or get a real job instead of robbing and assaulting tourists.

Do you know, most of them believe in allah (without capital)

[bob smith]

14 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Do you know, most of them believe in allah (without capital)

They can pray to him for some money then.

 

the farang cash cow which has provided for so many shady locals over the years is now coming to an end.

 

i look forward to seeing many ex red van taxi drivers cleaning the bogs at jungceylon soon. 

[tomazbodner]

That last statement in linked article, though...

 

"Adcha has made no public comment regarding the punishment, if any, for two green plate taxi drivers who assaulted a Grab taxi driver, leaving him hospitalised with a punctured lung."

[RandolphGB]

Cry harder. 
 

You all believe in Buddhism. This is called karma. 
 

[digger70]

Greedy Mafia taxi army scared off a bit  off competition and worse off all missing out off fleecing the Tourist/Public. 

[Red Forever]

On 12/22/2023 at 12:44 PM, LivinginKata said:

 

Not the apps it's the drivers that are illegal

 

"illegal taxi app drivers"

The headline clearly says "illegal taxi apps".

[Red Forever]

9 hours ago, proton said:

I thought not using meters in a taxi was illegal?

No it's not illegal. If the passenger agrees to an off the meter fare with the driver that's ok but if the passenger insists on use of the meter and the driver refuses then that is illegal.

[Liverpool Lou]

9 hours ago, proton said:

I thought not using meters in a taxi was illegal?

Not if the booking is through an app that quotes a fare.  Grab, Bolt, et al, mean anything to you?

[Liverpool Lou]

17 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

On 12/22/2023 at 12:44 PM, LivinginKata said:

 

Not the apps it's the drivers that are illegal

 

"illegal taxi app drivers"

The headline clearly says "illegal taxi apps".

The content of the article is what matters, not an abbreviated headline.

[stevenl]

9 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Do you know, most of them believe in allah (without capital)

 

6 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

Cry harder. 
 

You all believe in Buddhism. This is called karma. 
 

 

[stevenl]

The Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PLTO) has announced that it is suspending the registration of any private cars for use as taxis via taxi apps.

 

From https://www.thephuketnews.com/protest-spurs-ban-on-any-new-taxi-app-vehicles-in-phuket-90680.php