Can someone explaing the taxi mafia?

[loofa]

I'm curious about how all over Thailand I hear the terms "taxi mafia" and "tuk tuk mafia". I can see from recent articles how the drivers being arrested in Phuket do seem to fit the definitition of "mafia" (organized crime mostly dealing with protection rackeering and product trafficking), but is this really the case with drivers all over Thailand? I've had friendly taxi drivers call themselves taxi mafia laughingly while pulling a blatant illegal driving move (yes, even more blatent than most here), but from my nieve foreigner view of course the only ongoing crime I see them commit is overcharging - which if that's the reasoning for the term then we need to start calling much of the country mafia (as in, damn papaya seller mafia!).

Okay, thanks for any illumination. Oh, and I know rules are being more strictly adhered to here these days, so if mentioning mafias isn't allowed for any reason, then feel free to delete my post- I was just curious.

[ATF]

Ask Sandman.

[namdocmai]

By law they have to use the metre but in places like Phuket they won't do that. There they ask at least 100 or more for any ride.

How can they not obey the law in Phuket? How does that work?.