Suvarnabhumi Airport To Crack Down On Rogue Taxi Drivers

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi Airport to stamp out rogue taxi drivers

BANGKOK, 23 September 2011 (NNT)-The Airports of Thailand (AoT) Public Company Limited has boasted its security measure against illegal taxi drivers around Suvarnabhumi Airport by holding a seminar for police, hoping their operation would stamp out rogue taxi drivers completely.

With a new batch of police force who came to work at the airport since 2 July this year, training was necessary to prepare them to work on the airport compound, which is in a commercial and transport environment. The seminar was held yesterday to assure the efficiency of the operation and to make sure AoT staff and the police officers are working in the same direction.

Other efforts by the AoT include signs and posters to remind passengers or tourists to use the taxi service in the designated zone outside of the passenger terminal on the ground floor. The record on taxi drivers and destinations will be kept each time the passenger is using the service for easy tracking.

Tourists are warned not to trust anyone who approach them and claim to provide a taxi service as they are not registered taxi drivers. Since 2009, 8 suspects have been arrested where 5 of them have already been jailed.

To prevent illegal taxi drivers, the AoT has also forced any sign holders to get their signs inspected and approved under a precautionary measure to prevent a rogue business operation from preying on the tourists.

In addition, a new technology will be introduced in the near future in which the vehicle’s license will be examined. Those that are not authorized vehicles will be notified to authorities.

-- NNT 2011-09-23

[vediovis]

I already noticed the trick last year : no more "independant" taxi, so "official" taxi can improve rate and charge a lot more.

Kill the concurrence to raise benefits, somebody intended a good business school there

[Crushdepth]

Why is this so hard?

[davejonesbkk]

In addition, a new technology will be introduced in the near future in which the vehicle’s license will be examined.

'a new technology' lol, could this be any more vague? Has it been invented yet?

[Chang_paarp]

In addition, a new technology will be introduced in the near future in which the vehicle's license will be examined.

'a new technology' lol, could this be any more vague? Has it been invented yet?

Numberplate recognition software has been around for years, employing it in the manner they want and have people capable of doing something with the information may prove a larger task.

[crusader79]

They also need to make the official taxi queue much easier to find. At the moment it's a nightmare, with those confusing escalators, and 'taxi' signs pointing every which way.

[looping]

Nice to see the govt dealing with an important issue...yawn! Can we link this to Thaksin somehow? Much more interesting!!!

[lazygourmet]

On arrival, I am always taking a taxi from the departure gates upstairs.

Not because I want to save a few baht on their booking fees... but just because I hate to wait!

[scorecard]

Flew in about 10 days ago, domestic flight. The rogue taxi drivers were even in the baggage claim area harassing passengers standing at the luggage carousel.

[Richard4849]

Flew in about 10 days ago, domestic flight. The rogue taxi drivers were even in the baggage claim area harassing passengers standing at the luggage carousel.

And you know they were rogue...how?

[CHANGOVER]

Flew in about 10 days ago, domestic flight. The rogue taxi drivers were even in the baggage claim area harassing passengers standing at the luggage carousel.

And you know they were rogue...how?

errrr because they shouldn't be there! They should be at the taxi rank

[Richard4849]

Flew in about 10 days ago, domestic flight. The rogue taxi drivers were even in the baggage claim area harassing passengers standing at the luggage carousel.

And you know they were rogue...how?

errrr because they shouldn't be there! They should be at the taxi rank

There were taxi drivers in the secure baggage delivery area?

You're not talking about representative of the authorized limo services, right?

[chiang mai]

The kickback/payments scheme at the airport is now firmly rooted in history, nothing less than bulldozing the terminals, complete with the entire management structure of AOT will eradicate the problem of "illegals" working there.

[dinger]

Last time I took a taxi from the offical taxi stand, I asked the driver to turn on the meter, problem meter broken, pull over I walked back to taxi stand.

I now go upstairs to departure level, never had a problem there

Flew in about 10 days ago, domestic flight. The rogue taxi drivers were even in the baggage claim area harassing passengers standing at the luggage carousel.

And you know they were rogue...how?

errrr because they shouldn't be there! They should be at the taxi rank

There were taxi drivers in the secure baggage delivery area?

You're not talking about representative of the authorized limo services, right?

[soi41]

Just this week most of the boardmembers of AoT were changed to reflect to new ruling party, so it is only normal to change the godfathers of the taximafia, so even they get their politically correct share of the cake.

[ozzieman05]

They have the technology to place a camera at the outgoing of the airport and with in seconds it will say if the taxi is registered and if the driver who should be driving is licenced

Place the police just down the road abit and soon the problem is solved

with a little updating it can also give ant information from a data base you want

Guess no money in it for the big boys so they will not use a proven system

[JAG]

Nice to see the govt dealing with an important issue...yawn! Can we link this to Thaksin somehow? Much more interesting!!!

It has taken 15 posts but were nearly there!

[ginjag]

Nice to see the govt dealing with an important issue...yawn! Can we link this to Thaksin somehow? Much more interesting!!!

It has taken 15 posts but were nearly there!

not there yet--No 16.......................I would think to save confusion that taxis only operate at Arrivals. All taxis taking passengers to departures either go home (if no permit to pick up )-or go to arrivals to join the rank. AND a proper rank with a queue like at European Rail stations............1st come first serve. NO DESK MANNED BY THE DAUGHTER of a top airport official--giving tickets out at inflated prices, These mafia desks are a rip off as are rouge, and AOT limo's. example--Pattaya to airport 850 bht registered taxis--airport to Pattaya 1,500.

If they are getting rid of what they call rouge-then get rid of the lot, they are all rouge............some of the rouge taxis are good and reasonable BUT you take a big chance-as they are not controlled. If the airport were charging reasonable fares maybe there would not be so many rouges around. SO to sum up--GET RID OF YOUR DESK SET UP.....and join the queue orderly with security informing the queue -NEXT.... post office style.. easy.

If you want a taxi go to arrivals as the taxi's are there waiting.

[TAWP]

Came back on int flight a week ago, no problems getting a taxi and only one person - a co-worker - ahead of me in the taxi queue. And never had a 'meter broken' issue.

*knock on wood*

Edited September 23, 2011 by TAWP

[Cuchulainn]

^^^

If the driver were Cambodian, would he be a Khmer Rouge?

[Tokay]

I always go up the the departure area for a taxi. Never a single problem there.

[IAMSOBAD]

Seems the Jet ski mafia and tuk tuk mafia are sick and tired of the airport taxi mafia getting first stab at the tourists money.

There is never enough farang ATMs visiting Miracle Scamland!

Edited September 23, 2011 by IAMSOBAD

[ginjag]

^^^

If the driver were Cambodian, would he be a Khmer Rouge?

55555555555555555555555 Ha Ha . sorry You rogue.......................big head for noticing I only typed it 20 times ---I'll do my lines teacher-promise :jap::jap:.

[Rumpole]

Flew in about 10 days ago, domestic flight. The rogue taxi drivers were even in the baggage claim area harassing passengers standing at the luggage carousel.

And you know they were rogue...how?

errrr because they shouldn't be there! They should be at the taxi rank

There were taxi drivers in the secure baggage delivery area?

You're not talking about representative of the authorized limo services, right?

Regardless of their status, allowing them to hassle passengers at the baggage carousel is pretty poor form and does not present a very favourable first impression of the country for visitors. I can't recall being approached by taxi touts (whether or not they are given grandiose titles such as 'representative of authorized limo services') in the baggage reclaim area in any other country; though in fairness I should state that I haven't yet experienced this at Suvarnabhumi either. Of course, as soon as you pass through the customs barrier it is a different story. Running the gauntlet of all the predators and scam artist as you are trying to exit the terminal building is always a joyful occurrence, and all part of the rich 'Miracle Thailand' experience.

Edited September 23, 2011 by Rumpole

[Tropicalevo]

I always go up the the departure area for a taxi. Never a single problem there.

But this is taking the 'easy way out'.

Sure - no problem - 'cos the taxi is picking up illegally!

Go to the official rank and insist on the meter - before you leave. Works for me.

[ES1]

This is why I will ALWAYS now and forever take the train to/from the airport. Just so I can avoid all this BS all together.

[sfbandung]

I must be a rarity but I've never had a problem with a taxi driver in terms of fares. I've told a few of them to slow down though and they have always complied.

I only grab the meter taxis of course and just ignore the touts in arrivals.

[bangkokburning]

Thailand is so venal.

Brand new airport - same old scams.

[Payboy]

Crack Down

And another one cracks me up!

[ginjag]

I always go up the the departure area for a taxi. Never a single problem there.

Good that's fine for you and anyone who knows the ropes, I do the same.

But the main problem being that taxi's should be stationed on the arrivals floor, I would think thats where majority want them. The Pattaya bus is taken from the floor Below arrivals... What t f ,,are the brainy thinking of---I am nearly convinced that it's done to F the tourist up, (Thailand joke on foreigners )---sorry if my idea is a poor one. even if it makes sense.