Military and Bangkok Metropolitan Police to reorganize motorbike taxi services

[webfact]

Military and police to reorganize motorbike taxi services

BANGKOK, 17 June 2014 (NNT) - The military is cooperating with police to reorganize motorcycle taxi services in Bangkok and its suburbs within the month.

Pol Maj Gen Jitti Rodbangyang, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Col Narongphan Jitkaewtae, Deputy Commander of the 1st Division, King's Guard, finalized proposed solutions in a meeting to manage motorcycle taxi services in the capital and suburbs as part of the National Council for Peace and Order's prioritized policy in June.

The result of the meeting is a three-phase resolution. The first phase focuses on providing convenience for passengers by setting up standard motorcycle taxi operator signs, agreeing on a fair price, wiping out mafia gangsters who take advantage of motorbike taxi riders and eradicating illegal operators.

The second phase is to provide more motorbike taxi operators in areas with high demand, and the last phase is to issue an operators license. At present, there are 6,300 authorized motorbike taxi service groups while the another 500 are operating illegally.

In addition, police officers, soldiers and politicians who are suspected mafia figures benefiting from the service will be called in for an explanation, while the standard price will be established by the Department of Land Transport.

-- NNT 2014-06-17

[TVGerry]

Man another winner for the junta if this succeeds! No one has bothered to try all these years. It's great they're doing something about this here in Bangkok.

[terryp]

its all about the money..just like the monthly fee for taking care of drinking places in Bangkoks nightlife areas ..some are police protected others are army and navy

[chainarong]

There is a lot of noise happening , but is it really going to make a ounce of difference,you have to maintain the rage 24/7, 365, not for two weeks.

[transam]

Man another winner for the junta if this succeeds! No one has bothered to try all these years. It's great they're doing something about this here in Bangkok.

Weeeeeeeeeeell, lots of "fingers in pies", lots of "Toes to be trodden on", lets see the outcome...........

[Lakegeneve]

In addition, police officers, soldiers and politicians who are suspected mafia figures benefiting from the service will be called in for an explanation, while the standard price will be established by the Department of Land Transport.

In the PR to fix everything at once, the likelihood is that not much will actually change.

If there is going to be real change to these established practices then don't just call people "in for an explanation", prosecute the police, soldiers and politicians and then confiscate their assets! That would send a message to everyone.

The real test of anyone who power that wants to genuinely purge the country of corrupt and mafia elements is if they target their own in an impartial and transparent manner without fear of favour. Only then will anti-corruption policies be truly effective. How likely is that? Not very.....

There are some 300 000 motorbike taxi operators in BKK province so a real effort to stamp out the mafia gangsters who extort money from them will have a huge impact on the motorbike drivers and earn the junta some goodwill from a group in society who obviously in general supported the PT govt.

The DLT already has a standard price, they just need to publicise that fact more and inspect ranks for complicance.

a motorbike taxi driver is not allowed to charge more than 25 baht per kilometre for the first two kilometres and no more than five baht per kilometre after that. If the total distance of travel exceeds five kilometres, the service rate must be based on mutual agreement between the driver and the passenger. Those who do not comply can be fined up to 5,000 baht and have their driver’s license suspended for up to six months.

Edited June 17, 2014 by Lakegeneve

[ozvenison]

wish in one hand, piss in the other, see which one gets full first.. won't happen

[dinger]

When they take on the boys in Pattaya, then I will sit up and take notice that they are for real

[ratcatcher]

wish in one hand, piss in the other, see which one gets full first.. won't happen

Thank Christ there are some optimists still on TVF.

[jcisco]

How do they propose a standard free structure, when the price currently rises at log 10 against distance

[millwall_fan]

So the police are going to lose another nice little earner to the military. At this rate the army's coffers will be full more quickly than expected and we can return to civilian rule earlier.

[gemini81]

wish in one hand, piss in the other, see which one gets full first.. won't happen

They've gotten a lot done in a short period of time there, keyboard critic.

Why don't you take that don't you take that spliff out of one hand, booze bottle out of the other, and look around & you'll see!

[chotthee]

Man another winner for the junta if this succeeds! No one has bothered to try all these years. It's great they're doing something about this here in Bangkok.

New tax collector in town.

Police, please step aside.

[surangw]

who will get the concession selling the new approved vests ?

[Basil B]

I hope insurance is also going to be sorted out too, if no one will insure these guy's then government or local authority need to set up a fund for compensating passengers with a levy on the taxis.

[sjaak327]

This will without a doubt lead to higher prices. And tea money will flow in a certain direction no doubt. Some posters on here apparently have no idea in which country they live. Quite amusing.

[northernjohn]

In addition, police officers, soldiers and politicians who are suspected mafia figures benefiting from the service will be called in for an explanation, while the standard price will be established by the Department of Land Transport.

In the PR to fix everything at once, the likelihood is that not much will actually change.

If there is going to be real change to these established practices then don't just call people "in for an explanation", prosecute the police, soldiers and politicians and then confiscate their assets! That would send a message to everyone.

The real test of anyone who power that wants to genuinely purge the country of corrupt and mafia elements is if they target their own in an impartial and transparent manner without fear of favour. Only then will anti-corruption policies be truly effective. How likely is that? Not very.....

There are some 300 000 motorbike taxi operators in BKK province so a real effort to stamp out the mafia gangsters who extort money from them will have a huge impact on the motorbike drivers and earn the junta some goodwill from a group in society who obviously in general supported the PT govt.

The DLT already has a standard price, they just need to publicise that fact more and inspect ranks for complicance.

a motorbike taxi driver is not allowed to charge more than 25 baht per kilometre for the first two kilometres and no more than five baht per kilometre after that. If the total distance of travel exceeds five kilometres, the service rate must be based on mutual agreement between the driver and the passenger. Those who do not comply can be fined up to 5,000 baht and have their driver’s license suspended for up to six months.

You say and I tend to agree with you on it

In the PR to fix everything at once, the likelihood is that not much will actually change

They are doing a good job in publically acknowledging these problems but I believe that they are trying to fix to many all at once. I think to many people (myself included) are not being patient enough. They have only been in power for less than a month and it is not a job they trained for.

I for one am interested in if they are going to give the Police decent salarie's. Time will tell. It would attract a better class of potential officers. I think.

Of course I could be wrong if the civil servants are behind them. That would greatly simplify solving some of the problems.

[northernjohn]

This will without a doubt lead to higher prices. And tea money will flow in a certain direction no doubt. Some posters on here apparently have no idea in which country they live. Quite amusing.

You think that is amusing how about the posters who think it is the same government as before May 22. Then again I guess a Thai basher doesn't care who is in charge of the country. They are going to bash any way and not give any one a chance.

[sjaak327]

This will without a doubt lead to higher prices. And tea money will flow in a certain direction no doubt. Some posters on here apparently have no idea in which country they live. Quite amusing.

You think that is amusing how about the posters who think it is the same government as before May 22. Then again I guess a Thai basher doesn't care who is in charge of the country. They are going to bash any way and not give any one a chance.

maybe, just maybe the history and background of the people running the show now has something to do with it. If you think this lot isn't corrupt, you are well and truly dreaming.

[gilliam]

its all about the money..just like the monthly fee for taking care of drinking places in Bangkoks nightlife areas ..some are police protected others are army and navy

Huh?

Which motorcycle taxi stands in Bangkok are protected by the Navy?

[kamahele]

Gosh, the motorcycle taxi drivers in my neighborhood are the mafia, they aren't being threatened, they are the ones doing threatening. The taxi drivers are afraid of them.

Edited June 18, 2014 by kamahele

[belg]

no maffia here please, sign maker, will be rich soon

[iReason]

"In addition, police officers, soldiers and politicians who are suspected mafia figures benefiting from the service will be called in for an explanation, while the standard price will be established by the Department of Land Transport."

Excellent. Hopefully these "mafia figures" will also get an explanation as to what will happen to them if they continue their illegalities...

[makkam]

There is a lot of noise happening , but is it really going to make a ounce of difference,you have to maintain the rage 24/7, 365, not for two weeks.

It's only been a couple of months man.

It's going to take years to clean up the mess, decay and institutionalised corruption the Shinawatra family have left behind.

Give them a chance. They've done more good in a couple of months than just about any other thai regime ever achieved

With attitudes like yours we'd still be dragging women around by their hair and living in caves

[HerbalEd]

wish in one hand, piss in the other, see which one gets full first.. won't happen

Don't be such a pessimist. Look at what's actually happened with illegal taxi stands in Phuket and dare to hope for some positive change.

[HerbalEd]

its all about the money..just like the monthly fee for taking care of drinking places in Bangkoks nightlife areas ..some are police protected others are army and navy

Huh?

Which motorcycle taxi stands in Bangkok are protected by the Navy?

How would you know either way?

[oldsailor35]

OMG! Do not let the police have any say in this or it will be doomed from day one !

Edited June 18, 2014 by oldsailor35

[NanLaew]

Man another winner for the junta if this succeeds! No one has bothered to try all these years. It's great they're doing something about this here in Bangkok.

Another what for the junta?

In addition, police officers, soldiers and politicians who are suspected mafia figures benefiting from the service will be called in for an explanation, ...

Note that the professions of these 'mafia gangsters' has been clearly defined but there's no mention of any legal action. Just come by the police station and lets discuss how we can share the pie.

[taony]

Shouldn't the military be concentrating on getting a new government in place?

[Bpuumike]

My BKK local group of 5 or 6 motocai taxis were taken off the street yesterday. Can't quite understand if they were 'unauthorised' or they simply didn't have motorcycle driving licences.

Whichever the case, this will have been known to the police for many a year.