Phuket Illegal Taxi Blitz Nets 194 Drivers On First Day

[webfact]

Phuket illegal taxi blitz nets 194 drivers on first day

Phuket Gazette

A Phuket Police officer checks the license and registration of one of the taxis passing through the checkpoint yesterday. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada points to the stickers that taxis must now display on the outside of their vehicles. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A total of 194 drivers were charged and fined yesterday for illegally operating a taxi or for not displaying the now-mandatory stickers that publicly identify the drivers on the sides of their vehicles.

The haul in arrests came on the first day of an island-wide crackdown on illegal taxi drivers in Phuket as officers from the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) joined forces with their Bangkok counterparts in setting up checkpoints on major roads across the island.

Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who inspected the checkpoint in front of the Thung Thong Police Station in Kathu late yesterday afternoon, told the Phuket Gazette that checkpoints were also set up at Muang Mai, in Thalang, and near Nai Yang Beach.

“We randomly checked vehicles and found people working illegally as taxi drivers or operating taxis not in accordance with our agreement. We fined them and warned them that they have to strictly abide by the law,” he said.

PLTO Chief Teerayut Prasertpol explained that drivers who had not applied to register their vehicles as taxis were charged and fined 2,000 baht each.

“Drivers who have already registered – or applied to register their vehicles – but were found not displaying the stickers on the sides of their cars were fined 500 baht,” he said.

Mr Teerayut explained that his office had received applications to register 2,882 vehicles that were previously being used as illegal taxis.

“That’s about 93 per cent of the 3,595 illegal taxis that our office found in operation in Phuket. However, that still leaves 713 vehicles that need to be registered as taxis, most of those are vans,” he added.

Mr Teerayut explained that the biggest remaining obstacle stopping taxi drivers from becoming legal was the cost in changing the registered use of their vehicles with their finance companies.

“The drivers have to the change their vehicles from being ‘personal use’ to ‘public use’. This process can cost up to 30,000 baht per vehicle.

“However, we have contacted several finance companies to ask for their help in reducing the fee. They are now considering it,” he said.

The checkpoints will continue to be set up at random locations around the island until May next year, as drivers now have until the end of February to apply to have their vehicles registered as taxis, said Mr Teerayut.

After that deadline, the process of becoming a legal taxi will be much more difficult, explained PLTO officer Jaturong Kaewkasi.

“After February, each application must be reviewed and approved by the PLTO and the application must be endorsed by an existing taxi company or taxi rank,” he said.

“Once all the taxis in Phuket are registered, it will help reduce crime. If passengers forget their belongings in a taxi, it will be a lot easier to find the taxi since we will have a database of all taxis on the island,” Mr Teerayut said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...-day-19248.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-10-25

[LivinginKata]

Good to see the authorities are treating this seriously.

[noob7]

"Mr Teerayut explained that his office had received applications to register 2,882 vehicles that were previously being used as illegal taxis.

“That’s about 93 per cent of the 3,595 illegal taxis that our office found in operation in Phuket. However, that still leaves 713 vehicles that need to be registered as taxis, most of those are vans,” he added?

Why, on my calculator, the 713 are 19.x% of the 3595? Plus the 93% (2882) , we have 112% in total? Batteries empty?

And the 'rest' from the estimated 10.000 illegal taxis? My neighbor is almost hiding, these days.

Drivers who have already registered – or applied to register their vehicles – but were found not displaying the stickers on the sides of their cars were fined 500 baht,” he said.

Why they can't understand this? Many people only wanna earn, as taxidriver, but don't wanna show on private shopping/show off drives, with the Camry/Fortuner/Sport Pajero/MUZ7, that they have to 'work' as a taxidriver, to afford this car. They will do, as soon the green plate is issued

And the use of magnetic signs is still not much known, methinks.

Amazing Thailand

[steelepulse]

Seems easy enough to get them to register, too bad it can't be as easy to get the fares in line. Too much tea money to go any farther as demonstrated by the new agreed upon fares which went up by a pretty substantial amount in some areas. At least it's a first step away from total lawlessness the taxis and tuk tuks have enjoyed.

[noob7]

At least it's a first step away from total lawlessness the taxis and tuk tuks have enjoyed.

You really think so?

Time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath!

[LivinginKata]

At least it's a first step away from total lawlessness the taxis and tuk tuks have enjoyed.

You really think so?

Time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath!

Well ... it's an unexpected start ...

[noob7]

At least it's a first step away from total lawlessness the taxis and tuk tuks have enjoyed.

You really think so?

Time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath!

Well ... it's an unexpected start ...

After how many 'deadlines'?

And for how long they will do so?

My guess: After green plates are on the cars, still 'hiding' white plate cars in line.

And, like always, police is passing and can't see 'em!

And more TUK TUK / Taxi spaces needed. Protected by thugs!

We should create you tube videos, like that in the Krabi case.

[steelepulse]

At least it's a first step away from total lawlessness the taxis and tuk tuks have enjoyed.

You really think so?

Time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath!

At least now if you get beat up after an argument with the driver, you can hopefully remember his name or plate number. I wonder if that new 1714 number or whatever it is is manned with an English speaking semi authoritative person/gov't office.

[noob7]

I wonder if that new 1714 number or whatever it is is manned with an English speaking semi authoritative person/gov't office.

[pistachios]

Maybe this is just a clever plot to get all the illegal taxis to be registered with basically no requierements whatsoever, and then to backstab them by forcing them to get meter or apply reasonable fares... who knows

[noob7]

Maybe this is just a clever plot to get all the illegal taxis to be registered with basically no requierements whatsoever, and then to backstab them by forcing them to get meter or apply reasonable fares... who knows

ROFLMAO

That's a real good one!

And the Tuk Tuk can's get recycled, right?

[Valentine]

Maybe this is just a clever plot to get all the illegal taxis to be registered with basically no requierements whatsoever, and then to backstab them by forcing them to get meter or apply reasonable fares... who knows

Maybe, but I am sure this will be a good earner for some as no doubt ongoing renewal fees will need to be paid.

[jerrysteve]

Fine them the first time, and the second time IMPOUND THEIR TAXIS...and make the impound charges to bail the Taxi Cabs out of impound, 50,000 baht + accrued interest at 25% per/day.That should get their F_ _ _ing attention. Hit them hard in their wallets where it hurts the worst. The reason these people break the law, is because the penalties are not Stiff enough! They really need to get the attention of the Big bosses, otherwise they are just PISSING in the Wind.

[steelepulse]

Maybe this is just a clever plot to get all the illegal taxis to be registered with basically no requierements whatsoever, and then to backstab them by forcing them to get meter or apply reasonable fares... who knows

Maybe, but I am sure this will be a good earner for some as no doubt ongoing renewal fees will need to be paid.

Yep, this will make bookkeeping and accounting easy for those in the collections department.

[MyFriend You]

Maybe this is just a clever plot to get all the illegal taxis to be registered with basically no requierements whatsoever, and then to backstab them by forcing them to get meter or apply reasonable fares... who knows

Works for Me..................then the only argument is "Turn the Meter On Please!!"

[chiang mai]

It was inevitable that the BIB would need to find another source of daily income following the drop in motorcycle fine revenue. We have a similar syndrome here in CM where the BIB now target drunk drivers big time, all the motorcyclists are wearing helmets, win win I say.

[Tanaka]

" We fined them 2000B and warned them that they have to strictly abide by the law.

I am sure they will abide by the law from now on, especially with the hefty fine. Oh dear.

[starkey_rich]

At least it's a first step away from total lawlessness the taxis and tuk tuks have enjoyed.

You really think so?

Time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath!

At least now if you get beat up after an argument with the driver, you can hopefully remember his name or plate number. I wonder if that new 1714 number or whatever it is is manned with an English speaking semi authoritative person/gov't office.

Ok if you can read Thai script as everything is in thai except the number to call and whats the betting you call it and No Speak English.Yes step in the right direction but still b-llox.Why not number the cabs so tourists can quote it if problems

[stevenl]

" We fined them 2000B and warned them that they have to strictly abide by the law.

I am sure they will abide by the law from now on, especially with the hefty fine. Oh dear.

Well, for Thai standards 2000 Baht is a very hefty fine.

[Soupdragon]

" We fined them 2000B and warned them that they have to strictly abide by the law.

I am sure they will abide by the law from now on, especially with the hefty fine. Oh dear.

Well, for Thai standards 2000 Baht is a very hefty fine.

To someone earning the minimum wage it would be a heavy fine but for taxi drivers earning many multiples of that, it isn't really.

[Udox]

Does this registering of the 'taxi' and displaying the 'official' stickers also apply to tuk-tuks ?

I can't remember seeing one tuk with with any kind of sticker (apart from Jungle tours and elephant rides).

Seems like they are the biggest problem of all.

Don't hear many stories of tourists getting cheated or beaten up by a Fortuner / Camry driver.