DSI lands windfall in Phuket illegal taxi fines, no cars seized

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DSI lands windfall in Phuket illegal taxi fines, no cars seized
Phuket Gazette


Since the DSI opened its anti-organized crime center at Phuket Airport (pictured), officers have handed out 868,000 baht in fines to illegal taxi drivers. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Efforts to rein in illegal taxi drivers in Phuket has landed a windfall 868,000 baht in fines since the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) opened its anti-organized crime centers in Phuket on August 10.

The fines were garnered when officers stopped and fined illegal taxi drivers 434 times at six checkpoints across the island from August 10-29, Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI’s Bureau of Special Crime Unit 3, explained to the Phuket Governor at a meeting on Wednesday.

“The six checkpoints were set up at Phuket International Airport, Thung Thong, Patong, Karon, Kata and Cherng Talay… Each time, the driver caught was fined 2,000 baht,” Col Somboon said.

The checkpoints were set up and policed by officers from the Phuket Land Transport Office and local police officers in the six areas.

However, Col Somboon today told the Phuket Gazette that no illegal taxis were seized during the period.

“We will not seize any taxis. The illegal taxi drivers will be fined and the DSI will record the driver’s name and other details, and the license plate number of the car being used as a taxi,” he said.

“We will call the drivers in for questioning so we can move to arrest the people who are behind the illegal taxi business in Phuket,” Col Somboon said.

At the meeting at Provincial Hall on Wednesday, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut reiterated that the government is aiming to have all illegal taxi drivers in Phuket become legal.

“We now have 2,882 vehicles legally registered as taxis, but there are at least 1,133 illegal taxis that we are aware of,” Governor Maitri said.

“The owners of the remaining illegal taxis claim they cannot afford the cost of converting their cars to legal taxis. They say they are still paying off loans to finance companies,” he explained.

“We have worked hard to find sources of finance to help these drivers. The Government Savings Bank has offered its support by offering special low-interest loans, which the drivers at the Karon Taxi Association are now making use of,” Governor Maitri explained.

However, not all drivers are making honest attempts to become legal, Governor Maitri warned.

“Some of them are just making up excuses. They are not making any effort to become legal,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/DSI-lands-windfall-in-Phuket-illegal-taxi-fines-no-cars-seized-22188.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-09-06

[theblether]

That's the way to do it, keep milking the cow

[LivinginKata]

Interesting news article. DSI squeezing the taxi guys who then squeeze the tourists. Oh well - money merry-go-round

[eezergood]

They are still paying off loans, as they p!ss the miney up the wall on whiskey & shiny things! I, personally, dont need, 1000W sterio for my journey!

[GrantSmith]

Robbing Peter to pay Paul really..

[allan michaud]

Robbing Peter to pay Paul really..

Thainess in action.

[NamKangMan]

Seems like everyone wants a piece of the Phuket transport pie.

Edited September 6, 2013 by NamKangMan

[CiaranO]

of course if you wanted to put an end to illegal taxis seizing the vehicles would be the solution - bu then that big chunk of cash wouldnt be around to divvy out between them. I would say the DSI are having a great holiday here in Phuket.

[ChrisY1]

All piss and wind !......Nothing will change in the end.....the illegal taxis will not stop working as long as they keep paying the Baksheesh....they will prevail....mayor (probably on the take), police.(again...on the take)..DSI...(mouthing off about "huge" fines received......probably on the take too).......they will not stop!

[Songhua]

Should just about cover the rent on the premises at the airport.

[Ulic]

The illegal guys are not the problem, it is the legal guys. Once the DSI get rid of the competition what do you think

the prices will rise to. The DSI should be ticketing all taxis that do not have a proper working meter.

[NomadJoe]

Interesting news article. DSI squeezing the taxi guys who then squeeze the tourists. Oh well - money merry-go-round

Yep. It is truly amazing. So they catch 434 illegal taxi's, fine them, them let them continue. Unbelievable. 434 is going to be a small percent of the number of illegal taxi's operating on any given day in Phuket. It's the same way with the jet ski's. The only way these small number of jet ski guys are able to continue operating while creating such a bad image for Phuket is if they are passing a lot of money up the line, which is why they have to run the scams in order to be able to keep the heat off of them.

And they are going call in the dirvers to see who is behind it all..what a joke. The illegal taxi's are just individual drivers. What a farce. I was cautiously optimisitic about the BKK DSI being here, but now it's clear they have no intention to solve the problems here. Back to business as usual very soon. It's 800B to Kata from the airport now. More than 3 times a Bangkok metered taxi.

[NamKangMan]

Interesting news article. DSI squeezing the taxi guys who then squeeze the tourists. Oh well - money merry-go-round

Yep. It is truly amazing. So they catch 434 illegal taxi's, fine them, them let them continue. Unbelievable. 434 is going to be a small percent of the number of illegal taxi's operating on any given day in Phuket. It's the same way with the jet ski's. The only way these small number of jet ski guys are able to continue operating while creating such a bad image for Phuket is if they are passing a lot of money up the line, which is why they have to run the scams in order to be able to keep the heat off of them.

And they are going call in the dirvers to see who is behind it all..what a joke. The illegal taxi's are just individual drivers. What a farce. I was cautiously optimisitic about the BKK DSI being here, but now it's clear they have no intention to solve the problems here. Back to business as usual very soon. It's 800B to Kata from the airport now. More than 3 times a Bangkok metered taxi.

It just amazes me how a small sector of the tourism industry on Phuket, that is, public transport, can have such a major negative impact on the industry as a whole, to the point of forcing people to hire motorbikes and cars, or discouraging them from coming here all together, yet, the problem can not be fixed.

The "Phuket Brand" can only survive for so long, based on former glory, then, it's a downward spiral.

[andreandre]

Interesting news article. DSI squeezing the taxi guys who then squeeze the tourists. Oh well - money merry-go-round

Yep. It is truly amazing. So they catch 434 illegal taxi's, fine them, them let them continue. Unbelievable. 434 is going to be a small percent of the number of illegal taxi's operating on any given day in Phuket. It's the same way with the jet ski's. The only way these small number of jet ski guys are able to continue operating while creating such a bad image for Phuket is if they are passing a lot of money up the line, which is why they have to run the scams in order to be able to keep the heat off of them.

And they are going call in the dirvers to see who is behind it all..what a joke. The illegal taxi's are just individual drivers. What a farce. I was cautiously optimisitic about the BKK DSI being here, but now it's clear they have no intention to solve the problems here. Back to business as usual very soon. It's 800B to Kata from the airport now. More than 3 times a Bangkok metered taxi.

I wonder if these all clowns themselves making all these reports really believe the garbage they spout , let alone whether or not they think any other normal thinking people could believe it all...amazing but not surprising if they do..

Its just so bizzare, and never ending.....

[dudu]

Hmmm, can i see the receipts?

[Felt 35]

"move to arrest the people who are behind the illegal taxi business in Phuket"

I know quit a few, but no one behind them. Ordinary Thais with a degree who want to top up their income a bit after their ordinary work is finished for the day. How they can, well when was the last not announced checkpoint on this island!

[lee b]

No cars have been seized so they can be fined again, and again, and again...