Military to get tough with motorcycle taxies and passenger vans

[webfact]

Military to get tough with motorcycle taxies and passenger vans



BANGKOK: -- Mafia-type figures who are behind all the dirty tricks employed against passengers by motorcycle taxi drivers and passenger van operators were warned today that they better stop the malpractices or face legal actions from the junta.

Lt-Gen Thirachai Narkvanich, commander of the First Army Region, who was assigned by the National Council for Peace and Order to deal with the problems of overcharging and illegal parking by motorcycle taxies and passenger vans, said today that anyone who refuse to cooperate would be summoned to report to the junta.

“I guarantee that we mean business,” said Lt-Gen Thirachai affirmatively.

The NCPO has received many complaints from passengers and motorists of overcharging by motorcycle taxi drivers and illegal parking by passenger vans causing traffic gridlocks at various busy roads.

Lt-Gen Thirachai today chaired a meeting with representatives of the police and Land Transport Department for a discussion on the twin problems of fare overcharging and illegal parking and to work out measures to deal with them.

A panel has been set up to look into the problems to ensure fairness to all parties concerned, both the passengers and the operators, said the general, adding that he expected results within a month.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/military-get-tough-motorcycle-taxies-passenger-vans/


-- Thai PBS 2014-06-12

[Basil B]

Actions are better than words...

But then the Junta has a marvellous track record, watch this space.

[JensKjerSommer]

Good! Looking forward and following the long needed action and the progress

“I guarantee that we mean business,” said Lt-Gen Thirachai affirmatively, ..... that's a statement to believe, not so much talk talk talk, just do! (y) (y) (y)

[CiaranO]

Just see what they have been doing in Phuket - they mean business

[swissie]

After months of careful research the "Panel" will conclude, that there are not enough legal parking spaces for all the passenger vans and therefore half of them HAVE to park illegally.

Cheers.

[davejones23]

I hope the army can get the taxis outside Hua Lamphong train station to use their meters. Some do, but sometimes all I get are fixed rate quotes. I've heard both tourists, Thai people and honest taxi drivers complain about them.

[EricBerg]

Woohoo... cracking down on the taxi maffia!!!

So far the military have been doing extremely well in slightly more than two weeks time. I trust they will show results on this tough one too. They will get public support. Go Prayuth go!

[ekkamai]

And how about the Bangkok taxis while they are at it?

They very often refuse rides or demand ridiculous prices.

Edited June 12, 2014 by ekkamai

[Rob8891]

Crack down on crazy driving, while you're at it, please!

[bkkstooge]

About 7 or 8 soldiers on Asoke were giving a firm talking to those orange vest wearing scallywags around 3-3:30.pm today.

[angsta]

And EXACTLY how do they intend to do this?

What complete and utter <deleted>.

Thai PBS: The Broadcaster You Can Trust

[FangFerang]

It sadly seems another peak in a cycle that will not be interrupted for more than one turn of the wheel. I am glad for it, but have no belief in its longevity.

[bluebluewater]

. . . "were warned today" . . .

OK then, one more last chance!

[Now or Never]

"Attitude adjustment " for the taxi mafia is definitely the way to go.

Congratulations on the excellent work General.

[332]

Are there 'I love the Junta' or 'Junta Forever <3' T-shirts available yet?

[PattayaPhom]

More good done in the past few weeks than the past decade......keep up the good work guys.

[peterb0576]

Now all the need to do is get rid of that negative dick Head from the BBC

[DrTuner]

Run the illegally parked vans over with a tank, that should work.

[love1012]

Good! Looking forward and following the long needed action and the progress

“I guarantee that we mean business,” said Lt-Gen Thirachai affirmatively, ..... that's a statement to believe, not so much talk talk talk, just do! (y) (y) (y)

Like Pheu Thai did did did?

[love1012]

I hope the army can get the taxis outside Hua Lamphong train station to use their meters. Some do, but sometimes all I get are fixed rate quotes. I've heard both tourists, Thai people and honest taxi drivers complain about them.

So don't get into a taxi till they agree to use their meter.............simple

[Luk Mhee]

They can also start curbing all the red and white poles that are placed on the public roads that motorist put there to book their private parking. Some at the expense of causing huge traffic congestions, and furthermore, they can also put a stop to delivery vehicles before 9am on weekdays which also causes more traffic congestion on our packed roads.

[HeavyDrinker]

And how about the Bangkok taxis while they are at it?

They very often refuse rides or demand ridiculous prices

No they don't

Poppycock.What a silly comment.

Rarely they might refuse a fare if it's a long distance,in general it's an excellent service many other areas of the country would love to have.

[Bwanatickey]

Just wait for Uber smart phone app to be introduced in Thailand, that will sort it all out.

London Black Cabs protesting over the Uber taxi app.

Big trouble for English Cabbies thanks to the Uber app.

[Tokay]

We've all heard this before, 100s of times. Actions will speak louder than words. I hope they clean all the bottom feeders out of every city. Thailand could be a GREAT country, much, much better than it is. They just need to get rid of the rift raft.

[webfact]

Passenger woes to be tackled 'in one month'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has given itself a month to tackle exploitation of passengers by taxi, motorcycle taxi and van drivers - with soldiers set to be deployed at terminals and queues to monitor operators along with police.

An NCPO subcommittee has also been set up to tackle overcharging while some traffic regulations will be updated to improve enforcement efficiency, said Lt-General Teerachai Nakvanich, the commander of the First Army Region and the chief of maintaining peace and order under the NCPO.

Taxi-motorcycle fares must be declared openly on signs at queues, while taxis must not reject passengers or accept a fare when the metre has been turned off, he said.

Buses and vans cannot carry passengers in numbers exceeding legal limits and must have seatbelts for all seats and must not overcharge passengers by exploiting the curfew, he added.

Traffic policemen must enforce regulations fairly and focus on parking violations while the issuance of licences to vans or buses must be sped up to discourage corruption by traffic policemen or officials who demand kickbacks from operators.

Teerachai said the licence-delay issue would be looked into at a later stage under the entire NCPO guideline policy. He called on police and civilian authorities to strictly tackle other crimes including gambling, narcotics, holding war weapons while also cracking down on crime bosses and other influential figures.

Deputy national police chief General Aek Angsananont said police supported the NCPO's crime suppression move.

The NCPO has called two meetings of operators of public transport, and along with Bangkok it is planning to impose strict measures to tackle traffic congestion in large provinces including Chon Buri and Songkhla.


-- The Nation 2014-06-13

[jaltsc]

Woohoo... cracking down on the taxi maffia!!!

So far the military have been doing extremely well in slightly more than two weeks time. I trust they will show results on this tough one too. They will get public support. Go Prayuth go!

Whether we agree with it or not, some societies function better under dictatorships. Case in point...Iraq. Although Saddam Hussein's rule was brutal, it appears that was the only way to have stability among all the warring factions. There are more civilian deaths, people being displaced and inflation today than at any time under his rule. Was his the most desirable option? Probably not, but it was the only effective one with the population of the region.

Although Thailand is not in the same category as Iraq in terms of brutality, killings, number of warring factions, etc., it does appear unable to function at its optimum level under democratic rule. The electorate votes for the candidates who promise them some sort of payback, without thinking how those schemes will affect the entire nation. At this point in time, it appears military rule is addressing social, legal and financial issues more effectively than the previous elected administrations. Most people like to think that democracy is the best form of government. However, an educated, informed and fairly objective population must be in place before democracy can work effectively.

"Effectively" doesn't mean perfect. Although the nations that are classified democracies/republics are not perfect, they appear to be somewhat stable and usually work through crises without having their governments overthrown on a regular basis.

Only time will tell which system will benefit Thailand the best.

[chainarong]

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Good! Looking forward and following the long needed action and the progress

“I guarantee that we mean business,” said Lt-Gen Thirachai affirmatively, ..... that's a statement to believe, not so much talk talk talk, just do! (y) (y) (y)

The problem with Thai's, is to maintain the momentum and continue this for twelve months of the year not one month , and that alas will be the result, the soldiers have to move on, the police will take over and the sleeping will begin, we've been through this time and again, it all becomes a yawn

[yankee99]

Motorcycle taxis in pattaya have always seemed reasonable. I never knew how they determine their fares and would really like to see them posted.

[IamNoone88]

More great steps by the NCPO. If they continue at this rate and get things done across all levels, it could signal the end to what was fast approaching a lost decade.

[EricBerg]

And how about the Bangkok taxis while they are at it?

They very often refuse rides or demand ridiculous prices

No they don't

Poppycock.What a silly comment.

Rarely they might refuse a fare if it's a long distance,in general it's an excellent service many other areas of the country would love to have.

They do! Have a look at Ekkamai's pic. No driver wants a fat smoking cigar in his car.