Phuket Opinion: Coordinate Manpower To Corral Illegal Taxis

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Coordinate manpower to corral illegal taxis
Phuket Gazette -

Manaporn Likitmanon, a Highways Police Inspector covering Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. Photo: Irfarn Jamdukor

Manaporn Likitmanon, a 31-year-old Songkhla native, was a Police Investigator at Samut Sakhon Immigration from 2008 to 2012 before returning south last year to become a Highways Police Inspector covering the tri-province area of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. Here he talks about how to solve the problem of metered and illegal taxis in Phuket.

PHUKET: We have received many complaints about taxis – about drivers who refuse to pick up passengers; who don’t turn on the meter; who abandon passengers during the trip; who are impolite to passengers; and who drive illegal taxis.

The problems are ongoing in Phuket, but I’m confident they won’t be hard to solve if relevant organizations work together to tackle them. I’m absolutely sure we can stamp out these problems, but we need the cooperation of the taxi companies and we also need to strictly enforce the law in order to control the drivers.

The first thing we need to do is have all concerned organizations meet together to improve our understanding of what each groups’ plan for attacking the problems is and how those plans can be coordinated to improve efficiency.

Secondly, the taxi company owners have to train their drivers better. The drivers need to be taught the right way to behave when dealing with customers.

Penalties are also an important way to force taxi drivers to follow the law. Currently, penalties are marginal compared to the amount of money drivers make. Drivers aren’t worried about the penalties for breaking the law because they can earn a lot of money in a short time serving tourists and can pay the fines easily.

The maximum fine for drivers who refuse to turn on their meters is 1,000 baht and the maximum fine for drivers who operate illegal taxis is 2,000 baht.

The penalties must be higher and have a more significant impact on the drivers who are caught breaking the law.

We use checkpoints to catch taxi drivers illegally conducting business, but the way we’ve set them up – once a day for two hours in fixed locations – is not very effective. Drivers who have been caught let other drivers know about the checkpoint by calling, radioing or chatting on social networks.

This is why we catch only a few drivers at a time at checkpoints.

Last month at our checkpoint we caught between 10 and 20 drivers who hadn’t turned their meters on and five drivers operating “black” taxis – not properly registered vehicles. I think this number is very low when compared to the number of taxi drivers actually violating laws in Phuket.

What we need to do is have checkpoints more than once a day, and we need to set them up at different locations, so drivers won’t know about them in advance.

Some people think we should set up checkpoints at the airport itself, but I disagree for two reasons. First, we can’t do it unless the airport asks for it, and second, if the taxi drivers know we are there, they’ll all follow the rules – I’d rather use a checkpoint to catch the drivers who are the rule-breakers.

I’d also like to send in undercover officers to pose as passengers.

However, like many organizations, we have insufficient manpower to do everything we want to do. In addition to catching traffic-law violators on the road, we’re responsible for taking care of special guests who come to the area. This three-province area is very popular and has a lot of special guests, such as those who attended the World Buffalo Congress in early May.

This is another reason we need to cooperate with other departments, to pool our manpower.

We are working with the Phuket Land Transport Office and we also have 30 volunteers helping us with checkpoints and various other projects.

It’s important for Phuket’s tourist image for taxi drivers to turn on their meters every time and to follow the law.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Opinion-Coordinate-manpower-to-corral-illegal-taxis-21270.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-06-09

[LivinginKata]

Dream on - if only 10% of what is being promised actually materialised, then that would excellent. Makes it sound like all taxis have a meter

[stevenl]

Dream on - if only 10% of what is being promised actually materialised, then that would excellent. Makes it sound like all taxis have a meter

Illegal taxis are not the problem, they are the result of the problem: the taxi cooperations and their position, rules and pricing.

[Phronesis]

Hmm...listed many of the problems but not the most significant one.

Fare prices.

[JetsetBkk]

we also need to strictly enforce the law

Is he really Thai? If so, where's he been the last 15 years?

[Shot]

Looks like he had a bad hair day.

[belg]

so the obvious, police doing their work, is out of the question... did he not state: if they know we are there, they all follow the rules , hence, no more fines (bribes) to be collected...

1000 or 2000 baht is nothing for a scammer who picks and plucks the tourists for small trips, 2000 baht, will please to corrupted bib...he can go entertain is mia noi with it

[stevenl]

so the obvious, police doing their work, is out of the question... did he not state: if they know we are there, they all follow the rules , hence, no more fines (bribes) to be collected...

1000 or 2000 baht is nothing for a scammer who picks and plucks the tourists for small trips, 2000 baht, will please to corrupted bib...he can go entertain is mia noi with it

Huh? The obvious is not possible is what he is stating: if they know we are there they all follow the rules, hence no more fines.

[Songhua]

He can be forgiven. He's just new.

[Neilly]

It was reading oh so well until I got to this bit

This three-province area is very popular and has a lot of special guests, such as those who attended the World Buffalo Congress

Would that be the world famous World Buffalo Congress

[winstonc]

loved the part when he said,,,,if they know were here theyl follow the rules,i know im not the brightest star but i thought that was the whole point,

[SOTIRIOS]

....where is the difficulty in arresting ilegal operators......and confiscating their vehicles.....

[drdoom6996]

Only in Phuket? What about the rest of us?

[stevenl]

....where is the difficulty in arresting ilegal operators......and confiscating their vehicles.....

The difficulty is in the proof, you have to catch them red handed.

[pistachios]

Once the "metered" taxi "problem" is solved, he will be able to tackle the rest of the taxis, the so called limousines, which are probably 50 to a hundred times more numerous.

Nice effort man, but please get some sense of prioritities before working for nothing.

[madmitch]

It was reading oh so well until I got to this bit

This three-province area is very popular and has a lot of special guests, such as those who attended the World Buffalo Congress

Would that be the world famous World Buffalo Congress

"A lot of special guests". Basically what he is saying is that the job of escorting VIPs unhindered to their destinations is much more important than upholding the law or protecting the regular citizen.

So regardless of what he might say, the taxi issue is way down their list of priorities.

[NamKangMan]

....where is the difficulty in arresting ilegal operators......and confiscating their vehicles.....

The difficulty is in the proof, you have to catch them red handed.

Maybe they could try like the Thai Navy did with the Samui to Koh Phangan speed boats that were killing people on full moon party night.

The boats would have to pull up and the spot light shined in to check to see the boat wasn't overloaded and the driver spoken with to check on his sobriety, then, allowed to pass.

They may need check points where every taxi pulls in, the meter is checked to see it's reading and the passengers asked, "are you on the meter?" If so, the taxi is allowed to pass.

Sure, sounds ridiculous, but it's got that bad here that maybe it's come to that.

[stevenl]

....where is the difficulty in arresting ilegal operators......and confiscating their vehicles.....

The difficulty is in the proof, you have to catch them red handed.

Maybe they could try like the Thai Navy did with the Samui to Koh Phangan speed boats that were killing people on full moon party night.

The boats would have to pull up and the spot light shined in to check to see the boat wasn't overloaded and the driver spoken with to check on his sobriety, then, allowed to pass.

They may need check points where every taxi pulls in, the meter is checked to see it's reading and the passengers asked, "are you on the meter?" If so, the taxi is allowed to pass.

Sure, sounds ridiculous, but it's got that bad here that maybe it's come to that.

Taxi meters on the meter or not are not the problem.

[NamKangMan]

....where is the difficulty in arresting ilegal operators......and confiscating their vehicles.....

The difficulty is in the proof, you have to catch them red handed.

Maybe they could try like the Thai Navy did with the Samui to Koh Phangan speed boats that were killing people on full moon party night.

The boats would have to pull up and the spot light shined in to check to see the boat wasn't overloaded and the driver spoken with to check on his sobriety, then, allowed to pass.

They may need check points where every taxi pulls in, the meter is checked to see it's reading and the passengers asked, "are you on the meter?" If so, the taxi is allowed to pass.

Sure, sounds ridiculous, but it's got that bad here that maybe it's come to that.

Taxi meters on the meter or not are not the problem.

Really. That's strange, because none of them use them and most tourists do not understand why. :)

Get into a taxi and your are given a price - but you can see a meter attached to the dash board - what would any tourist think????

[pistachios]

Taxi meters on the meter or not are not the problem.

Really. That's strange, because none of them use them and most tourists do not understand why.

Get into a taxi and your are given a price - but you can see a meter attached to the dash board - what would any tourist think????

They are not the problem because there are 50 taxi meters in phuket and at least 5000 taxi no-meter or "limousine" plus countless tuktuk...

[stevenl]

The difficulty is in the proof, you have to catch them red handed.

....where is the difficulty in arresting ilegal operators......and confiscating their vehicles.....

Maybe they could try like the Thai Navy did with the Samui to Koh Phangan speed boats that were killing people on full moon party night.

The boats would have to pull up and the spot light shined in to check to see the boat wasn't overloaded and the driver spoken with to check on his sobriety, then, allowed to pass.

They may need check points where every taxi pulls in, the meter is checked to see it's reading and the passengers asked, "are you on the meter?" If so, the taxi is allowed to pass.

Sure, sounds ridiculous, but it's got that bad here that maybe it's come to that.

Taxi meters on the meter or not are not the problem.

Really. That's strange, because none of them use them and most tourists do not understand why.

Get into a taxi and your are given a price - but you can see a meter attached to the dash board - what would any tourist think????

All tourists know they don't use the meters, because they have already agreed a price at the booth at the airport.

And that is part of the proble, the territories, and taxi's/tuktuks are the same. The taxi cooperations and their position, rules and pricing are the problem.

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

Why have meters at all then????????

Why not just leave the price completely in the hands of the Phuket taxi cartel, because that's exactly what we've got, and it's only going to get more, and more expensive.

[stevenl]

@ stevenl

Why have meters at all then????????

Why not just leave the price completely in the hands of the Phuket taxi cartel, because that's exactly what we've got, and it's only going to get more, and more expensive.

Again, this is not about the taxi meters. Them not using the meters is, just as the illegal taxis are, a result of the real problem. That problem should be sorted, illegal taxis and no meters will be done with automatically then.

[eezergood]

No changes here then

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

Why have meters at all then????????

Why not just leave the price completely in the hands of the Phuket taxi cartel, because that's exactly what we've got, and it's only going to get more, and more expensive.

Again, this is not about the taxi meters. Them not using the meters is, just as the illegal taxis are, a result of the real problem. That problem should be sorted, illegal taxis and no meters will be done with automatically then.

Have you considered that the illegal taxis exist because of the legal taxis overcharging and/or not using the meter????

[stevenl]

@ stevenl

Why have meters at all then????????

Why not just leave the price completely in the hands of the Phuket taxi cartel, because that's exactly what we've got, and it's only going to get more, and more expensive.

Again, this is not about the taxi meters. Them not using the meters is, just as the illegal taxis are, a result of the real problem. That problem should be sorted, illegal taxis and no meters will be done with automatically then.

Have you considered that the illegal taxis exist because of the legal taxis overcharging and/or not using the meter????

Have you read my previous post, or any other of my posts here? "Illegal taxis are not the problem, they are the result of the problem: the taxi cooperations and their position, rules and pricing.". Just as meter taxis not using the meter are the result of the problem.

Please read before you ask me a question that I have answered already in the same thread.

Edited June 12, 2013 by stevenl

[Wavefloater]

"Secondly, the taxi company owners have to train their drivers better. The drivers need to be taught the right way to behave when dealing with customers."

Civility and honesty have to taught? Is this man saying that these taxi drivers didn't learn the essence of right and wrong from their parents, teachers, and other influential figures in their lives as they were growing up?

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

Why have meters at all then????????

Why not just leave the price completely in the hands of the Phuket taxi cartel, because that's exactly what we've got, and it's only going to get more, and more expensive.

Again, this is not about the taxi meters. Them not using the meters is, just as the illegal taxis are, a result of the real problem. That problem should be sorted, illegal taxis and no meters will be done with automatically then.

Have you considered that the illegal taxis exist because of the legal taxis overcharging and/or not using the meter????

Have you read my previous post, or any other of my posts here? "Illegal taxis are not the problem, they are the result of the problem: the taxi cooperations and their position, rules and pricing.". Just as meter taxis not using the meter are the result of the problem.

Please read before you ask me a question that I have answered already in the same thread.

We all know the problem. I have offered one solution that is designed to have metered taxis use the meter.

Do you have any possible solutions to the problem????

[pistachios]

NamKangMan, have you ever been to phuket at least once in your life?

Clearly not, otherwise you would have realized your solution would solve nothing.

99% of taxis are not metered taxis and don't have a meter on board. And I'm not even talking about tuktuks and illegal taxis.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand that you need to put meters inside taxis before enforcing their usage.

[LivinginKata]

As far as I know NKM stays here on Phuket Island most of the year ????