Phuket officers take down taxi drivers for intimidation

[Costas2008]

LivinginKata, on 30 Dec 2013 - 14:50, said:

Costas2008, on 30 Dec 2013 - 14:27, said:

Yes, Well done with the Police.

What worries me is for how long will they carry on with their efforts?

Or is done today......forgotten tomorrow?

Usual BIB and Thai attitude.

Yes, that is the problem. Done today ... forget about tomorrow

Thank you very much for your correction.

I should have learned English from "a better book"

[connda]

Now just keep that up guys! Nice first baby step. Put the taxi mafia on notice then start working on the Jet Ski and Tuk Tuk scams. Heck, give me a work permit and I'll volunteer to help in Sting Operations for free.

[Ulic]

Lets just hope they get the maximum sentence to send a message. Somehow I think it will be a 500 baht

fine and send a very different message.

[bangarang]

You won't see me in Phuket. I used to go 3 times a year.. too many problems. Not been for 5years now. Long long way to go to sort things.

Same as myself, except it's been four years since we visited Phuket, having been regular visitors for many years.

Andre asks what are the problems which seems a rather naive question at best but you can start with the prices, the attitude and the lack of usable public transport. Not everyone, including my wife and I, want to ride a motorbike.

Vietnam is now our holiday destination of choice with the added benefit of being one hour less flying time than to Phuket.

Actually I agree with Andre... I have been living here in phuket for 2.5yrs straight. I really don't have any real problems here.

Here are some solutions for you:

Taxis.... Renting a car much cheaper in the end than taking a taxi any where

From the Airport... Take the minibus which is super cheap if you dont mind sharing it with a full load but atleast they drop you off at your hotel

Prices... Any tourist destination in Thailand is going to have high prices. You just need to know where to go or get off the beaten path. Look around and ask for prices dont settle for the first thing you see.

Skin Tax... Cant avoid it

Overall I avoid taxis at all cost and drive myself. You will also find exploring the small roads especially some that go through the mountains to have spectacular views that you would have missed just taking a taxi. The bend around Ao Po near the Supali Resort east of the heroines monument (pakhlok) has some spectacular views on a road thats hardly used so you can just pull off to the side and take it all in.

Found a new one I havent seen before recently in a Phaklok mountain. Just drive yourself, you will thank me later.

[diehard60]

Wow! A real big bust for them. When are they going to arrest the moffia there?

[NamKangMan]

You won't see me in Phuket. I used to go 3 times a year.. too many problems. Not been for 5years now. Long long way to go to sort things.

Same as myself, except it's been four years since we visited Phuket, having been regular visitors for many years.

Andre asks what are the problems which seems a rather naive question at best but you can start with the prices, the attitude and the lack of usable public transport. Not everyone, including my wife and I, want to ride a motorbike.

Vietnam is now our holiday destination of choice with the added benefit of being one hour less flying time than to Phuket.

Actually I agree with Andre... I have been living here in phuket for 2.5yrs straight. I really don't have any real problems here.

Here are some solutions for you:

Taxis.... Renting a car much cheaper in the end than taking a taxi any where

From the Airport... Take the minibus which is super cheap if you dont mind sharing it with a full load but atleast they drop you off at your hotel

Prices... Any tourist destination in Thailand is going to have high prices. You just need to know where to go or get off the beaten path. Look around and ask for prices dont settle for the first thing you see.

Skin Tax... Cant avoid it

Overall I avoid taxis at all cost and drive myself. You will also find exploring the small roads especially some that go through the mountains to have spectacular views that you would have missed just taking a taxi. The bend around Ao Po near the Supali Resort east of the heroines monument (pakhlok) has some spectacular views on a road thats hardly used so you can just pull off to the side and take it all in.

Found a new one I havent seen before recently in a Phaklok mountain. Just drive yourself, you will thank me later.

"Taxis.... Renting a car much cheaper in the end than taking a taxi any where" - true, but parking can be problem.

"From the Airport... Take the minibus which is super cheap if you dont mind sharing it with a full load but atleast they drop you off at your hotel" - true, it's a cheaper option, but be prepared for the van to stop about halfway, and everyone to be ordered out and into a travel agent shop, where you will be told your hotel is no good, closed or burnt down. You will then get the hard sell for another hotel and/or tours etc. This whole process takes around an hour. Then back on the minivan and to the various hotels. Even if you refuse to go in the shop, as I have done, you must wait around an hour for the others.

[NamKangMan]

Wow! A real big bust for them. When are they going to arrest the moffia there?

They are the mafia, and even then, there are a few more links up the food chain from them.

[lucifer666]

I love how in these stories the Thai Police always "RUSH in" to make the arrests. i have never seen the Police, rush to do anything

[gopis108]

Keep up the great work chaps-now please get started around Chiang mai as well,the bus stations and Airport in Particular and get this industry out of the hands of the mafia like characters and have it properly regulated.Oh well we do know that nothing will be done, but just saying.

[LivinginKata]

A number of off topic posts have been removed. I remind members that this new topic is about taxi driver intimidation of folks (friends/other drivers) collecting guests from hotels. Let not regurgitate the usual complaints about lack of public transport/high taxi fares/rude taxi drivers and the like. There are plenty other topics covering those issues. Thank you.

[hellodolly]

Well done - let's hope this continues.

Yes; I second that. The Thai police are by no means all corrupt, my brother-in-law is a hard working station commander who really puts the hours in and hardly sees his family.

Might I remind you that this is Thai Visa and most posters don't want to hear any thing good about the BIB You are taking away people that they can feel better than. Leaving therm selves with just them selves.

[hellodolly]

You won't see me in Phuket. I used to go 3 times a year.. too many problems. Not been for 5years now. Long long way to go to sort things.

"Long long way to go to sort things." - it may never be sorted out.

Where do you go now?

He can come to Chiang Mai and watch the cheap charlies complain about getting ripped off for 20 baht by a tuck tuck or songthaew

[spidermike007]

It appears to be a step in the right direction. Let us see if a judge of great character, with some courage can be found, to convict and send these insects to prison. That might send a message to the insect farm. That may be the only thing that can compel change. There seems to be too much money at stake.

[mok199]

i hate to be a pesamist but,another big show....ready...set....action.!!!!

[Lite Beer]

Police stings net five Phuket taxi drivers on threat charges
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

Col Paisarn (back to camera) explains to the two taxi drivers at the Avista Hideaway Resort (in white shirts) that they are in trouble. Photo Kathu Police

PHUKET: Police in Patong have arrested five taxi drivers after police officers posing as taxi drivers were threatened when they tried to pick customers up from two hotels, the Avista Hideaway Resort and the Citin Plaza Hotel.

Col Paisarn Sangthep, Deputy Superintendent of Kathu Police told The Phuket News, “On December 27 at around 4.30 pm, Pol Lt Seksan Prakapsin posed as a taxi driver driving a green-plate taxi, and tried to pick up customers from the Avista Resort.”

“When Lt Seksan arrived in front of the resort, two black [illegal] taxi drivers blocked his way. They would not let him go inside to pick up customers. They questioned the plainclothes police [Lt Seksan] to see if he had a voucher or a job card [from a tour company].

“[Finding he did not], the black taxi drivers threatened the police officer, saying that this was their territory and no one else was allowed to pick up customers there.

“When Lt Seksan was threatened, Sub Lt Chusak Tussanaphom, seeing the situation looked like getting out of hand, gave the signal to other police to move in.”

Pamorn Maiphuak, 40, and Narathit Wangaree, 27, were arrested and charged with conspiring to utter threats and coerce others into complying with what they wanted.

Col Paisarn told The Phuket News, “I am not sure how much the fine will be, but the Phuket court can impose a maximum sentence of three years.

“At the scene, there were three black taxi drivers, but the other one did nothing, so we did not arrest him. Usually, there are about 10 taxi drivers there, but the others were out taking passengers elsewhere.

Col Paisarn said that this was the second time police from Patong had mounted this kind of exercise. On December 20, three black taxi drivers – Pitak Noonun, 36, Chaiwut Noonun, 34, and Kittikorn Jaripak, 32, were arrested in front of Citin Plaza Hotel on Prachanukhro Rd, Patong. On the same charge.

“With these two cases, we used the same method to arrest them. I think the taxi system is already improving. Now, misbehaving taxi drivers are starting to worry about our activities.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/police-stings-net-five-phuket-taxi-drivers-on-threat-charges-43760.php

-- Phuket News 2013-12-31

[LivinginKata]

Good - I really hope the police keep up this sort of action. Full credit to the police.

[simon43]

Excellent work - pity the police did not have the 'balls' to implement these sting operations years ago, but better late than never.

Simon

[eezergood]

Lets hope this continues