Taxi Driver With Guns?

[snakehips]

Last Wednesday night my friend and i where driving into Patong for a night out. My freind spotted a good parking space and parked. when he got out of the car a taxi driver came over and told him to move as that space was reserved for taxi's only. i told my friend he should just move but been the stubborn person he is he refused and said no this is a parking space i can park where i like. The Taxi driver then went to a nearby parked taxi and took out a pistol, put it down his pants and then walked back to my friend and told him to move NOW!

He moved his car....

Just wondering if anyone else has had the pleasure of meeting this taxi driver?

[LivinginKata]

I've met many taxi drivers with the same attitude, but never had the gun shown. Just not worth the hassle, and getting your car kicked, tyre let down, or worse. Must be shocking for a newbie tourist hiring a car and trying to park on a public parking place.

[fred2007]

Last Wednesday night imy friend and i where driving into Patong for a night out. My freind spotted a good parking and parked. when he got out of the car a taxi driver came over and told him to move as that space was reserved for taxi's only. i told my friend he should just move but been the stubburn person he is he refused and said no this is a parking space i can park where i like. The Taxi driver then went to a nearby parked taxi and took out a pistol, put it down his pants and then walked back to my friend and told him to move NOW!

He moved his car....

Just wondering if anyone else has had the pleasure of meeting this taxi driver?

well I don't live there but I am getting really worried about all the guns some one can optain,

yes I know, there is or should be a law in Thailand to carry a gun, just read a 19 year old shot some one else, how do those people get there guns? It must be easier then in the USA or for any country for that matter. How can you protect your self if you are a farang not married to a thai and you can not get a licence? It puzzels me

[agord]

Last Wednesday night imy friend and i where driving into Patong for a night out. My freind spotted a good parking and parked. when he got out of the car a taxi driver came over and told him to move as that space was reserved for taxi's only. i told my friend he should just move but been the stubburn person he is he refused and said no this is a parking space i can park where i like. The Taxi driver then went to a nearby parked taxi and took out a pistol, put it down his pants and then walked back to my friend and told him to move NOW!

He moved his car....

Just wondering if anyone else has had the pleasure of meeting this taxi driver?

Sadly you just described 99% of taxi drivers in Phuket mate not just 1 random guy. They have been shooting each other on nanai rd. over picking up fares in each others spaces. They sit outside my hotel to take guests around and we had to stop our shuttle because they threatened to shoot our drivers. This is the type of mafia mentality that exists here in Phuket. The govt. won't do a dam_n thing about it eh just lets it go. The rates in Phuket are out of control also and from reading guest comments they are saying they won't come back to Phuket because of this, just too dam_n expensive to get around.

[agord]

I've met many taxi drivers with the same attitude, but never had the gun shown. Just not worth the hassle, and getting your car kicked, tyre let down, or worse. Must be shocking for a newbie tourist hiring a car and trying to park on a public parking place.

Yeah you know the trick with the pebble in air stem that's a big one here. The guys in Karon are just plain thugs I stopped to run into a pharmacy at an unmarked spot and a guy came running over fists up yelling at me to move that that was his space. I quickly moved and then wished that by some twist of fate he would win a holiday to Canada someday and I would bump into him on the street. F****ng loser!

[LivinginKata]

how do those people get there guns? It must be easier then in the USA or for any country for that matter. How can you protect your self if you are a farang not married to a thai and you can not get a licence? It puzzels me

The youngsters make their own single shot sort of gun. I would guess that real guns are supplied by the people with easy access to guns = policemen & soldiers. I've read in another thread that you can buy a gun as cheap as 4,000 baht. I doubt that any farang even married to a Thai could get a gun permit. I've often wondered how difficult it would to be for my Thai wife to get a gun permit, or how difficult it would to buy an illegal gun (& ammo) for self protection. Trouble would be that fire meeting fire would end up with the farang in prison for a long time, and the Thai walks away, depending on who is left standing.

[geriatrickid]

Best advice given in this thread and others: Just walk away. Our lives are worth more than the simple indignity of backing down to a guttersnipe. At the end of it, at least we will go back to our happy lives and loved ones, unlike these wackos.

[phaethon]

:D

Always makes me laugh when people say I want a gun to protect myself - you know in any kind of situation where a gun might[.i] be useful they'll be too busy pissing themselves to use it, if they don't shoot themselves first.

[LivinginKata]

you know in any kind of situation where a gun might[.i] be useful they'll be too busy pissing themselves to use it, if they don't shoot themselves first.

Very true .....

[karlbkk]

not true mate if you got one use it before they do think about it later no problem

taxi whats that if its got white plates tell them to p off or call the cops he will get a nice big fine

and for all them who dont want to make a problem thanks its becuse of you lot the thais think they can do anything they like to us and get away with it

REPORT IT THATS WHAT THE COPS ARE FOR THE MORE WE DO THAT SOON THEY WILL LOOK AT THE PROBLEM

[RakJungTorlae]

Always makes me laugh when people say I want a gun to protect myself - you know in any kind of situation where a gun might[.i] be useful they'll be too busy pissing themselves to use it, if they don't shoot themselves first.

LOL… Just like in 8mile when one dude shoots he #### off. yeah thailands just full of hard core gansters..!!!!! HAHAHA

[LivinginKata]

Here is a follow up Phuket Gazette article about gun supply on Phuket Island. Maybe of some interest to Forum Members .....

Over 30 guns seized at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint

TAH CHAT CHAI: Beefed up security at the Tah Chat Chai road checkpoint in Mai Khao has resulted in the seizure of more than 30 firearms in under two months and police are planning to invest a further 26 million baht to curb gun smuggling onto the island, according to the Manager online news service.

Last Friday at Phuket City Police Station, Phuket Governor Preecha Ruangjan, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong and Tah Chat Chai Police Superintendent Sakchai Limcharoen presented a wide assortment of seized firearms to the media including 9mm, 11mm. .357 magnum and .38 caliber weapons, a “glock” and even homemade firearms.

Gov Preecha told the press that stepped up security at the checkpoint had resulted in the seizure of 32 firearms being smuggled onto the island since the operation began in October, when control of the checkpoint passed from Region 8 Police to Phuket Provincial Police.

The drive to reduce the number of firearms being driven onto the island over the Thepkrasattri Bridge was to maintain Phuket’s image as a safe tourist destination, he was quoted as saying.

Potential visitors could be frightened away if the island develops a reputation as a wild and lawless country outpost, the report read.

Lt Gen Apirak told the press that while the number of guns intercepted seems large, it is in fact probably only a small fraction of the flow of firearms onto Phuket from the mainland.

For this reason, police will invest 26 million baht to further enhance security at the checkpoint. The funds will be used to purchase more advanced technology to detect weapons and other types of contraband.

Phuket will also see a massive expansion in the number of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, Lt Gen Apirak was quoted as saying.

The 48 police CCTV cameras now in place on the island are of very limited value in the fight against crime as some units are inoperable, while others have problems playing back the images they record, he admitted.

The 48 CCTV cameras installed under a 16-million-baht contract with telecommunications provider CAT Telecom Public Company Ltd were announced as fully operational in February 2007.

The network consists of sixteen cameras each in three locales popular with tourists: Phuket City, Patong and Karon.

Authorities will increase the number of CCTV cameras on the island to 500 in order to better meet security needs, he was quoted as saying.

There were no details in the report about who would actually pay for the cameras or when they would be installed. However, several local administrative bodies have announced plans to add large numbers of CCTV cameras in areas under their jurisdictions.

In another interesting development, Lt Gen Apirak was quoted as saying that he had hoped to declare Phuket as a “crime free zone” during this high season. Although the plan has been postponed because of the number of criminal cases that have occurred, he still hopes to declare Phuket as a crime free province in the near future in order to maintain tourist confidence in the island.

[aehn]

Best advice given in this thread and others: Just walk away. Our lives are worth more than the simple indignity of backing down to a guttersnipe.

But you have to remember, falangs also have the saving face issue.

Many falangs would go to great lengths, just to save their faces.

[patklang]

Phuket will get worse before it gets better.this is from somebody i know who does business with the baht bus mafia in pattaya and phuket and even he says dont mess with them because you can die very easy.you dont phone the police also.

[Samuian]

Phuket will get worse before it gets better.this is from somebody i know who does business with the baht bus mafia in pattaya and phuket and even he says dont mess with them because you can die very easy.you dont phone the police also.

On Samui the same..... just keep away from them, keep out of trouble!

What is ti worth to have a tombstone with the Inscription "He never backed off!" only other can admire?

[patklang]

I have a number to phone if i get into trouble but i never do as i am a polite guy who cannot fight a gun.

If these never back down guys want a fight,there are plenty of <deleted> farangs up for it.

[pothai]

Wow just like something in a movie....gun in pants showing off.....was it a real gun....bb look alikes can be bought in the market for 199 Baht....not worth waiting to find out and yes best to walk away but this guy has just got this for show????????

[patklang]

these guys have real guns,they dont mess about,

[pothai]

these guys have real guns,they dont mess about,

Do they ever use them...??? how many shootings are there a day involving taxi drivers....???

[patklang]

not here to argue with you.up to you if you want to fight a thai with a real gun or not.if its not real you will have another 10 slapping you.there are hundreds of shootings in thailand but mainly thai on thai.not worth the risk,but you are obviously a lot tougher than me and very thick skin too.

[pothai]

I agree with you, best walk away, just wondered if they ever use them and if there were any recent shootings in Phuket by taxi drivers.....not worth finding out though!!!

[JimmyTheMook]

Thing is the moron probably paid someone off to get that parking spot and that is why he guards it same crap in Pattaya.

[mogster]

here's what to do:

kung foo chop to the arm, fingers in the eyes, grab the piece and smash his teeth out with it. shoot the first man that comes towards you to intervene and once the furore dies down, retire to a bar in soi bangla to enjoy a san miguel light and watch the football.

[phuketrex]

Tuktuk drivers carry too. My last ride 3 years ago now...fare was 150baht and we had an argument at the other end about him not having any change when I paid with 200baht. While he was supposedly "looking" for change he opened his glove box and I clearly saw a gun there. I ended up telling him to forget it. Walked away and have never used a tuktuk since.

[junkofdavid2]

here's what to do:

kung foo chop to the arm, fingers in the eyes, grab the piece and smash his teeth out with it...

Don't forget the fireball-out-of-the-palms trick too!

[Syl]

I agree with you, best walk away, just wondered if they ever use them and if there were any recent shootings in Phuket by taxi drivers.....not worth finding out though!!!

Never read any news about taxi or tuk tuk drivers shooting any farang in phuket... but a tuk tuk driver did stab a farang over a far dispute last year. Fฌษk-um.

[LivinLOS]

Motocy taxis shooting each other (not farangs) at the end of Banzaan this year..

[DragonQuest]

during the pad movement last year me and friend got into a taxi, this taxi had red in it, on the seat covers too, he was listening to the radio, my friend wanted to hear something else, taxi said no, i gave him my cell phone which had a radio in it, as soon as we turned it on, he kicked us out, the meter was @75 baht, once on the steert he demanded our money, we didnt give him and slowly walked away, after some bitching and peolpe staring from afar he got out a big ass knife stuffed it in his pants and said THIS IS THAILAND THIS IS THAILAND, he tried to scare us, but almost killed us, I will refuse to pay anything if he kicked us out, he should of told us nicely, he was then asking for half, we still said no, but this was a close call, he could us swung his blade at us at anytime, for future reference dont MESS WITH TAXI'S.

[Samuian]

during the pad movement last year me and friend got into a taxi, this taxi had red in it, on the seat covers too, he was listening to the radio, my friend wanted to hear something else, taxi said no, i gave him my cell phone which had a radio in it, as soon as we turned it on, he kicked us out, the meter was @75 baht, once on the steert he demanded our money, we didnt give him and slowly walked away, after some bitching and peolpe staring from afar he got out a big ass knife stuffed it in his pants and said THIS IS THAILAND THIS IS THAILAND, he tried to scare us, but almost killed us, I will refuse to pay anything if he kicked us out, he should of told us nicely, he was then asking for half, we still said no, but this was a close call, he could us swung his blade at us at anytime, for future reference dont MESS WITH TAXI'S.

Well, could have been heavily mutilated for 75 Baht, lucky you!

Whenever I smell something odd, I won't get inside in the first place, or if I am inside and the guy seems somewhat weird I get off!

[LyceeIceCream]

Wow, I had no idea taxi drivers were such gun enthusiasts! But I guess it makes sense. I was once taking a taxi and saw an old taxi driver getting chewed out by this young kid and his girlfriend, I mean the kid looked like he was this close to swinging on the old guy. Thai should remake that Robert Deniro gem...can't quite remember the name of the movie haha...