Armed Australian 'black taxi' driver arrested in Phuket

[webfact]

Australian 'black taxi' driver arrested in Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob


Polting sits handcuffed in the road after his arrest yesterday

PHUKET: -- Patong Police arrested an armed Australian man yesterday afternoon (October 1) after he got into an argument with the taxi group who operate from the Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa.

The Australian, it is alleged, was working as an unlicensed taxi driver.

Veera Kerdsirimongkol, Kathu District Officer, named the Australian as Gary Polting. He told The Phuket News today, “The argument started when he went to pick up the guest from the hotel. When a woman taxi driver went to ask him what he thought he was doing, he said he worked for a timeshare company.

“The discussion ended when [Polting’s] customer arrived and they left for the new Tiger Kingdom.

“The incident came to a head when he returned to the hotel later in the day. Once again he was confronted by the woman taxi driver but this time he waved a push dagger at her.”

Mr Veera said when other drivers saw this they went over to stop him, but he went to his car and returned with a pistol, with which he threatened them. The taxi drivers told him they were calling the police, so he went away.

“The police were able to arrest him nearby soon after that.”

He was taken for questioning at the Police Station in Patong, where it was discovered that the pistol was a non-lethal BB gun, though Polting was also in possession of real bullets.

It is by no means clear yet whether Polting was trying to start a taxi business. If he was, he would be contravening the laws on at least four counts: operating an unregistered taxi, doing work that is reserved exclusively for Thai nationals, carrying a weapon in a public place, and issuing threats.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/australian-%E2%80%98black-taxi%E2%80%99-driver-arrested-in-phuket-42176.php

-- Phuket News 2013-10-02

[Redhawk]

Seeing only the jackboots of the BIB is a real pity!

[hanno]

Now even Aussie black taxi drivers on Phuket? Jeez, it is getting better and better!

[steelepulse]

>>carrying a weapon in a public place, and issuing threats

No different then the current batch of taxi, tuk tuk and black plates which never seem to get penalized for these offenses. The Aussie guy wasn't thinking too clearly when he admits he was picking these people up working for a timeshare company. It'll work out though as the timeshare bosses will make things right with the bib once an envelope is presented. I knew a Thai national that was working for a timeshare group and the local bib boss owned the hotel/building involved in the timeshare, so they worked under the impression that they were immune to the law.

[falkan]

i rather go by aussie and russian taxi then the local maffia, its cheaper!

[FritsSikkink]

Great 1 timeshare tout less, or will he continue to sell in jail?

[uty6543]

Deport him and stamp his passport persona non grata you don't own real bullets for a bb gun

[itchybum]

So you cannot pick up a friend or client from a hotel ?

[mrtoad]

Not exactly a taxi driver, but of course anyone picking somebody up that is not from the Phuket taxi mafia better watch out.

[LivinginKata]

Couple of things - no photo of the policemen. Must be the new police chief instruction at play. And clearly this sort of taxi service by a foreigner is strictly not allowed. I suspect this guy will be a heap of trouble, need much dosh to wriggle out of it.

[IrishIvan]

After he collects his commission at Tiger Kingdom I wonder if he kicks back with the other drivers for a bit of Kao Gaeng and a game of cards in the bamboo huts

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[stevenl]

So you cannot pick up a friend or client from a hotel ?

Friend yes, client no.

[webfact]

Aussie taxi driver intimidates other drivers with gun, blade
Phuket Gazette


Aussie Garry Porting was not charged for being an illegal taxi driver, as he had no customers in the vehicle when police arrested him. Photo: Kathu District Officer

PHUKET: -- An Aussie allegedly illegally working as a taxi driver in Patong attempted to intimidate a female taxi driver yesterday afternoon with a bladed weapon and a gun.

Garry Porting was arrested later in the day by Patong Police for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, explained Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol.

Mr Porting went to the Graceland Hotel and Spa in Patong to pick up a foreign guest who wanted to go to Tiger Kingdom at about 9am yesterday, said Mr Veera.

“While waiting for the guest at the hotel, Mr Porting got into an argument with a female taxi driver stationed there, who told him he could not work as a taxi driver and accused him of being a timeshare tout,” Mr Veera told the Phuket Gazette.

After returning his customer to the hotel, Mr Porting allegedly drove his car around searching for the woman he had argued with in the morning.

“At about 3pm he saw the woman back at the taxi station, pulled his car over and got out. He approached her wielding a bladed weapon. When he noticed that she was backed by other taxi drivers, he returned to his car and got the gun and rubber bullets. He started to approach the group, but people were shouting and yelling for police, so he ran away and drove off,” Mr Veera explained.

Patong police arrested Mr Porting not far from the hotel shortly after the incident.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Aussie-taxi-driver-intimidates-other-drivers-with-gun-blade-22393.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-02

[yougivemebaby]

Illegal taxi drivers in Patong? I don't believe it. Funny when a non Thai is working illegally, the police get involved.

[stevenl]

Illegal taxi drivers in Patong? I don't believe it. Funny when a non Thai is working illegally, the police get involved.

I'm pretty sure they would not have gotten involved had he not wielded 2 weapons.

[steelepulse]

Illegal taxi drivers in Patong? I don't believe it. Funny when a non Thai is working illegally, the police get involved.

I'm pretty sure they would not have gotten involved had he not wielded 2 weapons.

You're right. They would have let these legal and illegal taxi drivers beat the sh** out of him and never turn up. I wonder if the Graceland hotel is happy these clowns take over the real estate in front of their hotel and hassle every customer of the hotel that walks outside of it.

[Chicog]

Illegal taxi drivers in Patong? I don't believe it. Funny when a non Thai is working illegally, the police get involved.

I'm pretty sure they would not have gotten involved had he not wielded 2 weapons.

I'm pretty sure they would. But just a different venue for the arrest, the nearest hospital.

[chooka]

So you cannot pick up a friend or client from a hotel ?

Some taxi drivers don't like it. About 18 months ago my wife and I went to a hotel in Chiangmai to pick up 3 friends (Aussies) from outside a their hotel. My wife stopped outside and whilst they were getting in a taxi driver in front started ranting and raving at the wife. When we drove off she said that the taxi driver accused her of stealing business as he had already asked the friends if they wanted a taxi.

[MK1]

<deleted>. Send him off to the tourist court for his 1K baht fine.

A date with Phuket Provincial Court I’d say but depending upon how ‘DH’ pleas, as most Aussies new to here are usually in denial from the very beginning, unlike Thais who general accept their fate and move on.

[animatic]

Even if the client was from the time share company,

there is no 'plausible reason' any person farang or Thai from the

time share company can not drive someone around.

If he is NOT taking money for picking someone up, then he is not a taxi service.

Are only Thais allowed to drive people around now?

If someone has misinterpreted the law that way... then they are both mighty dumb and greedy.

[stevenl]

Even if the client was from the time share company,

there is no 'plausible reason' any person farang or Thai from the

time share company can not drive someone around.

If he is NOT taking money for picking someone up, then he is not a taxi service.

Are only Thais allowed to drive people around now?

If someone has misinterpreted the law that way... then they are both mighty dumb and greedy.

We're not talking about taking somebody from their hotel to the timeshare presentation here. That is already a hot subject with the taxi drivers, but here we're talking taking a hotelguest to a major attraction. That means no connection to the timeshare at all, and missed taxi fare and more importantly missed commissions for the taxi drivers. I'm surprised the taxi drivers let him continue with his guests, I'm pretty sure that had he been Thai he would not have made it that far.

Whether or not he gets a direct payment for the transfer services is immaterial, think e.g. also about the complimentary airport services offered, these are not allowed if not done by legal taxi (green plate) or tourist (yellow plate) transport.

[jmccarty]

The guy is an idiot for making a scene and trying to be a tuff guy. But a taxi driver he is not. Plenty of falangs working here that pick up clients out of convenience to do business. Property agents can't show clients properties by car?

[stevenl]

The guy is an idiot for making a scene and trying to be a tuff guy. But a taxi driver he is not. Plenty of falangs working here that pick up clients out of convenience to do business. Property agents can't show clients properties by car?

Property agents can not transport their clients to Siam Naramit, Tiger Kingdom or Phuket Fantasea, etc.

[MK1]

Even if the client was from the time share company,

there is no 'plausible reason' any person farang or Thai from the

time share company can not drive someone around.

If he is NOT taking money for picking someone up, then he is not a taxi service.

Are only Thais allowed to drive people around now?

If someone has misinterpreted the law that way... then they are both mighty dumb and greedy.

That might be so but he completely forgot about the basic principle of ‘remain calm and carry on’ and since he intimated others with what was thought to be a deadly weapon, it’s all over red rover and bon voyage.

[needforspeed]

Dont understand he is "WHITE"

[EveryDayTheSame]

Work reserved for Thai nationals?........<deleted>?...... Blatant racism rears it's ugly head!

[jmccarty]

The guy is an idiot for making a scene and trying to be a tuff guy. But a taxi driver he is not. Plenty of falangs working here that pick up clients out of convenience to do business. Property agents can't show clients properties by car?

Property agents can not transport their clients to Siam Naramit, Tiger Kingdom or Phuket Fantasea.

And the prize for sitting through my time share pitch is? An afternoon at the Tiger Kingdom! Yaayyy!! I will pick you up at 3:00, take you there, pay for it and fetch you home!

Does not sound like a package that any taxi driver would offer. The argument that working for pay or not also does not apply. This guy or his boss paid for the service.

What other plausible reason would a time share touter have for this?

[steelepulse]

The guy is an idiot for making a scene and trying to be a tuff guy. But a taxi driver he is not. Plenty of falangs working here that pick up clients out of convenience to do business. Property agents can't show clients properties by car?

Property agents can not transport their clients to Siam Naramit, Tiger Kingdom or Phuket Fantasea.

And the prize for sitting through my time share pitch is? An afternoon at the Tiger Kingdom! Yaayyy!! I will pick you up at 3:00, take you there, pay for it and fetch you home!

Does not sound like a package that any taxi driver would offer. The argument that working for pay or not also does not apply. This guy or his boss paid for the service.

What other plausible reason would a time share touter have for this?

This is exactly what I was thinking also. The guy's prize for sitting through a presentation was a round trip and tickets to the show.

[stevenl]

The guy is an idiot for making a scene and trying to be a tuff guy. But a taxi driver he is not. Plenty of falangs working here that pick up clients out of convenience to do business. Property agents can't show clients properties by car?

Property agents can not transport their clients to Siam Naramit, Tiger Kingdom or Phuket Fantasea.

And the prize for sitting through my time share pitch is? An afternoon at the Tiger Kingdom! Yaayyy!! I will pick you up at 3:00, take you there, pay for it and fetch you home!

<snip>

Not allowed. You have to use legal transport for this, so green or yellow plates cars. As soon as the timeshare company has those they can offer this, if not they can not.

[jmccarty]

Am I taxi driver if I pick up my client in Bangkok, take him to dinner, then take him home?