A Thai commando police officer dragged a taxi driver to Huay Kwang Police Station in Bangkok after the driver attempted to overcharge him using a modified meter. The driver claimed he needed the money to feed stray dogs and cats.

 

Police Lance Corporal Phubate Rattanaphong told Channel 3 that the incident took place on the morning of June 9 during his trip from Mor Chit Bus Terminal to his home in Soi Pracha Uthit 28 in the Huay Kwang district of Bangkok.

 

The taxi driver, a man estimated to be between 60 and 70 years old, greeted Phubate warmly and engaged him in conversation during the ride. He told Phubate he was a retired teacher, while Phubate revealed he was an officer from the Commando Police, also known as the Special Service Division (SSD).

 

Halfway through the trip, Phubate noticed the fare on the meter was already 130 baht, even though he had paid only 100 baht on previous rides. Upon closer inspection, he realized the fare increased every time the driver pressed a small button on the turn signal switch.

 

Phubate directly confronted the driver about the fraud.

 

“Are you being honest with me? I am not going to ask you again. Are you cheating me?”

 

The driver responded that his car was larger than other taxis, so the fare was higher. The police officer was not convinced by this claim and informed the driver that the taxi fare depended on the distance, not the size of the car.

 

The driver eventually confessed to using a modified system to control the meter. He claimed he had only done this a few times before because he wanted to earn extra money to buy food for stray cats and dogs.

 

Phubate didn’t sympathise with him, deeming his claim unreasonable. He suspected the driver had been overcharging many passengers before, so he instructed the driver to drive to Huay Kwang Police Station instead of his intended destination.

 

The driver pleaded with the police officer for forgiveness and promised never to overcharge passengers again but Phubate remained unconvinced.

 

Officers at Huay Kwang Police Station charged the taxi driver with attempted fraud. The penalty was a fine, the amount of which has not been disclosed. The taxi will be handed over to the Land Transport Department for an investigation into the modified meter and possible additional charges.

 

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via TikTok/ @poubet1998

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-12

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

20 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Phubate noticed the fare on the meter was already 130 baht, even though he had paid only 100 baht on previous rides. Upon closer inspection, he realized the fare increased every time the driver pressed a small button on the turn signal switch.

 

I wonder how many more taxis around the country are fitted with the same device ?

5 minutes ago, NE1 said:

I wonder how many more taxis around the country are fitted with the same device ?

Most times in Pattaya I use baht buses and or walk. If I need a taxi I've used Bolt for several years and not one problem.

"Its the first time ive used this fake meter" = "im not a hooker, im just the receptionist at this gogobar"

 

 

One thousand baht fine.

11 hours ago, NE1 said:

I wonder how many more taxis around the country are fitted with the same device ?

I noticed it once in over ten years of almost daily taxi rides in Bangkok. However, my powers of observation are not strong.

11 hours ago, NE1 said:

I wonder how many more taxis around the country are fitted with the same device ?

Yes, it’s quite likely a modification on many taxis if it’s an easy fit which I’d say is quite likely. I doubt he’s the only one using it. 
Well done the policeman. 

Taxi drivers in Thailand is a problem that is never tackled. Why not?

 

I was in Shanghai last week, and all taxi drivers have to have a camera installed in them. That way if a tourist has issues, reports a meter not being turned on, or driver refusing a fare - they have all the evidence there. If they turn the camera off or it is not on, they get in bigger trouble. 

 

That would be an easy solution.

 

I am sick of getting into taxis in Bangkok, and they tell me 'no meter'. Or refuse a fare, which they're not meant to. 

 

The latest issue i have with them is driving into traffic, to push up that fare. Last two weeks i have asked the driver why he turned into this wall of traffic. Fare inflated by 100 baht, but more importantly wastes my time. 

 

Sick of Grab too, as it's expensive in Bangkok. 

A post with an off topic video contravening our Community Standards has been removed.

Why are the taxis not randomly pulled over for checks to the meter by the transport department or police and make the fine 10,000 bht or more plus points on licence and car impounded for a month if caught using a dodgy meter.

Have not heard of this scam previously. A decade ago in Bangkok I encountered the fake meter scam with the real meter covered up. Driver tried to get close to 300 baht for a 3-4 kilometer ride. When we arrived at my regular hotel I took photos of the fake meter, the uncovered (by me) real meter, the driver and taxi. Then had the bellhop explain to the driver he had two choices, take the 300 baht and get reported or leave without any payment. He left with no payment and the bellhop got what I estimated to be the real fare in addition to his normal luggage tip.

16 minutes ago, ronster said:

Why are the taxis not randomly pulled over for checks to the meter by the transport department or police and make the fine 10,000 bht or more plus points on licence and car impounded for a month if caught using a dodgy meter.

 

Along with cameras (like they do for Uber in America) .... random stops on taxis would be a good idea too. 

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

Taxi drivers in Thailand is a problem that is never tackled. Why not?

Absolute corruption.

One down ,how many more to go?

53 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Absolute corruption.

 

But when there is a vested campaign to promote tourism, and tourism's huge financial draw - why then let one of the main faces of tourism just run rampant ? 

 

When a tourist arrives in Thailand, it's the first impression he gets. Get out the airport and you meet a taxi driver trying it on. 

 

What initiatives have the authorities tried ?

20 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

But when there is a vested campaign to promote tourism, and tourism's huge financial draw - why then let one of the main faces of tourism just run rampant ? 

 

When a tourist arrives in Thailand, it's the first impression he gets. Get out the airport and you meet a taxi driver trying it on. 

 

What initiatives have the authorities tried ?

Not exclusive to Thailand - London cabbies have been known to drive around for a while bumping up the fare before dropping first time visitors to their hotels.

Not just any old copper but a commando - wonder if he gets itchy when it gets hot...

I’ve never once encountered a dodgy meter surprisingly. I was once shouted at and thrown out of a taxi when I asked to go the way I knew to be shorter than the way I saw he planned to go. He dumped me right next to the MRT so I went one stop and had a 5 minute walk home.

 

Another one bites the dust.

3 hours ago, hellohello123 said:

"Its the first time ive used this fake meter" = "im not a hooker, im just the receptionist at this gogobar"

 

 

 

How stupid can someone get? The taxi driver knew that the passenger was a police officer (police officers are supposed to be trained observers and notice things normal people would not) yet he continued to try to scam him. 

However this is a really good advert for the makers and installers of this fake meter system.  I bet there are taxi drivers queuing up to have it installed so they can scam tourists fresh off the aeroplanes. 

Since there are no spot checks they will get away with it too. 

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

When a tourist arrives in Thailand, it's the first impression he gets. Get out the airport and you meet a taxi driver trying it on. 

 

What initiatives have the authorities tried ?

Asking the drivers to please not do it.

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Taxi drivers in Thailand is a problem that is never tackled. Why not?

 

I was in Shanghai last week, and all taxi drivers have to have a camera installed in them. That way if a tourist has issues, reports a meter not being turned on, or driver refusing a fare - they have all the evidence there. If they turn the camera off or it is not on, they get in bigger trouble. 

 

That would be an easy solution.

 

I am sick of getting into taxis in Bangkok, and they tell me 'no meter'. Or refuse a fare, which they're not meant to. 

 

The latest issue i have with them is driving into traffic, to push up that fare. Last two weeks i have asked the driver why he turned into this wall of traffic. Fare inflated by 100 baht, but more importantly wastes my time. 

 

Sick of Grab too, as it's expensive in Bangkok. 

Robot taxis coming soon.  Taxi mafia and taxi drivers are all headed back to the farm.  Yeah!!!!!!

tourists don't speak thai and how many times a day did he do this, for years on end...

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

But when there is a vested campaign to promote tourism, and tourism's huge financial draw - why then let one of the main faces of tourism just run rampant ? 

 

When a tourist arrives in Thailand, it's the first impression he gets. Get out the airport and you meet a taxi driver trying it on. 

 

What initiatives have the authorities tried ?

Yep... one would think that elusive, seemingly nonexistent in Thailand, concept known as logic would bring about some change here.
But... initiatives? lol  --> TIT

Sweet outcome. Always fun to see a fraudster outed!

15 hours ago, NE1 said:

I wonder how many more taxis around the country are fitted with the same device ?

I wonder if any are not!

The meter issue is frequent. Now, i do think the size and type of car you take has some incidence on the final price though (the article says it does not but i doubt so)

Taxis lost a lot of money when Grab/bolt came in , especially in Pattaya where taxis were charging minimum 200 baht in most cases 

Nice way to wear a seat belt, the cop didn't seem to notice that, probably not wearing one either.