Old taxi terror culture lingers on in minds of Phuket’s drivers

[Lite Beer]

Old taxi terror culture lingers on in minds of Phuket’s drivers
Suthicha Sirirat

 

Jaturong Kaewkasi: 'If influential people try to stop them doing their job, drivers can call 1584.'

 

PHUKET: The old Phuket system of taxi territories fiercely – and sometimes violently – defended against outsiders may have been destroyed, but in the minds of many of the island’s drivers it apparently still exists.

So far not one driver has followed the urgings of the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO) to convert to driving a meter taxi, Jaturong Kaewkasi, academic officer of Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office said today (August 1).

After talking to many drivers, he said, the PLTO had discovered widespread fear that those who converted to meter taxis would not be able to roam the island at will – which is the PLTO’s aim – due to the old taxi culture of exclusive territories.

But, Mr Jaturong said, Phuket has changed in the past couple of months with the crackdown on taxi mafia activities and the arrests of some of the influential people behind them. People must change the perspectives, too, he said.

“If influential people try to stop them doing their job, drivers can call 1584 and the police will take care of the matter,” he said.

Registration for meter taxis is now open, and will run until the end of this month (August 31).

Drivers’ cars must not be more than six years old (a relaxation of the rule that stated they must be no more than two years old). If drivers cannot initially afford to paint their cars yellow and red, they can drive for the first year with yellow and red stripes along the side of their cars.

To register, drivers must bring to the PLTO a copy of their house registration book (samnao tabien baan), a copy of their ID card, a copy of the car registration book, and a copy of their license to drive a public vehicle.

Once they have registered, and provided that the car has been fitted with the necessary equipment, they can start work the following day.

He added that from August 9 to 12, there will be a fair at the PLTO selling equipment for meter taxis such as the meters themselves, roof lights and free/not free lights.

The only place on the island where the taxi mess has yet to be sorted out the airport, Mr Jaturong said, but this is being worked on.

The fares for meter taxis are currently awaiting approval from the National Council for Peace and Order. Once these are set, Mr Jaturong said, he believes they will provide the incentive to draw many drivers into becoming meter taxi operators.

 

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/old-taxi-terror-culture-lingers-on-in-minds-of-phuket%E2%80%99s-drivers-47651.php

 

[pn]2014-08-01[/pn]

[impulse]

“If influential people try to stop them doing their job, drivers can call 1584 and the police will take care of the matter,” he said.

 

Like the police take care of jet ski scams?  

 

Here's a suggestion:  Call 1584 and a squad of soldiers will show up- and they will take care of the situation.

[KarenBravo]

Sounds like the taxi associations are warning off their members......

[starkey_rich]

Call 1584 and the police will sort it out.?

The police recently  said they even need help with the taxi and tuk tuk scum on the streets of Pootong sio what chance have they got with influetial people?

[LivinginKata]

"Registration for meter taxis is now open, and will run until the end of this month (August 31)"

 

All the guys who registered for green plates will not be happy about this. I wonder if the green plate guys can change to metered taxi status ?

[Tatsujin]

Despite all the negativity, kudos to both the Army and the Police for finally starting to do something about this and other areas of corruption. Good job so far. Hope it continues, hope it lasts.

[jpeg]

Paint their cars yellow and red? Orrrr, place a yellow and red sticker along the side? Bung some lights on top of the roof, and make room on the dash for a meter? This is not going to go down well with my local limo, er taxi guys, and their spiffy gold Solunas 

[PattayaPhom]

And the meters they will use will only work in months that start with a W

[AJBangkok]

The government should leave the taxi registration period open similar to what they did in Bangkok in the 90's. Within a year of Bangkok doing that the backbone of the taxi conglomerates was broken and meter taxi's became pretty much the only taxi service the public would use. If the government did that in phuket it would eventually break the back of the taxi mafia. Green plate taxi's would all but disappear. If the market was open and the fares double that of Bangkok like they are proposing then I wouldn't be surprised to see hundreds if not thousands of Bangkok taxis relocate to phuket. The green plate guys wouldn't stand a chance.

[hobz]

If they can't remove the taxi mafia now, imagine how it will be once the military gives back power to whoever gets elected in the next election... Hope i'm wrong.

[mok199]

it just keeps getting better and better...

[stevenl]

Apparently the NAVY has made very claer that the police has to take action here, see PG, http://www.phuketgazette.net/articles/articles/get_article_detail/32399

Edited August 2, 2014 by stevenl

[razer]

“If influential people try to stop them doing their job, drivers can call 1584 and the police will take care of the matter,” he said.

 

Anyone believe this? It is a foregone conclusion there will be a press conference about the anonymous  "influential person" 24 hours in advance of any action. SOP

 

 

 

[madmitch]

"Registration for meter taxis is now open, and will run until the end of this month (August 31)"

 

All the guys who registered for green plates will not be happy about this. I wonder if the green plate guys can change to metered taxi status ?

I know one green plate car owner and she is not unhappy about this. She doesn't want her car painted red and yellow, nor does she want a meter installed.

 

Green plate drivers can charge higher fares but can of course reduce their fares to be competitive with the meter taxis. I suppose the difference is that meter taxis can in theory drive around looking for trade, so it's a similar situation to the black cab/minicab in London. 

 

The good thing is that the industry is currently being reorganised and in theory controlled and if it's done properly it's beneficial for tourists and Phuket tourism and for the non-mafia drivers.

 

But obviously there are concerns pertaining to the old guard so let's wait and see.

[gwynt]

Didn't see any mention of producing appropriate insurance cover at time of registration??

[steelepulse]

 

"Registration for meter taxis is now open, and will run until the end of this month (August 31)"

 

All the guys who registered for green plates will not be happy about this. I wonder if the green plate guys can change to metered taxi status ?

I know one green plate car owner and she is not unhappy about this. She doesn't want her car painted red and yellow, nor does she want a meter installed.

 

Green plate drivers can charge higher fares but can of course reduce their fares to be competitive with the meter taxis. I suppose the difference is that meter taxis can in theory drive around looking for trade, so it's a similar situation to the black cab/minicab in London. 

 

The good thing is that the industry is currently being reorganised and in theory controlled and if it's done properly it's beneficial for tourists and Phuket tourism and for the non-mafia drivers.

 

But obviously there are concerns pertaining to the old guard so let's wait and see.

 

 

Why not get rid of green plate private cars as taxis, and just have taxi meters like BKK?  Solution seems simple enough.  Green plates ( black plates too) can just keep their personal vehicle for personal business, and either rent or buy a metered taxi. I recall in Singapore 20 years ago the gov't phased out personal private taxis and gave the drivers the option of renting a cab from a few different companies, or finding another trade.

 

[AJBangkok]

The government won't get rid if the green plates they will let market forces do the job for them. When the green plate drivers see how much they are losing out to the meter taxis then they will be forced to get with the program or get another occupation.

Initially we'll probably see some turf battles but after a bit when they have a multitude of meter taxis prowling their neighborhoods they won't be able to protect their turf even if they wanted too.

[BestBitterPhuket]

Everybody knows who these "influential" people are, and they should be JAILED and have their assets confiscated, and they would lose all their influence.

[Yann55]

And the meters they will use will only work in months that start with a W

 

Wanuary, Webruary, Warch, Wapril, May, Wune, Wuly, Waugust, Weptember, Woctober, Wovember, Wecember. See ? only one month without meter, then. Customers can handle that, no PHAM BHEM, why are you so negawative ?

[iReason]

"So far not one driver has followed the urgings of the Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office (PLTO) to convert to driving a meter taxi..."

 

"the urgings"??

   

 

As I've said on another post, once this current circus folds it's tents, it's back to business as usual. (with everything.)

 

 

Edited August 2, 2014 by iReason

[belg]

just impound and sell any taxi that is not willing to have a meter & use it ...

 

and put the driver in jail for a while

 

 

but how many policemen / politicians are "silent" partners or owners of this whole scam / system ?

[Benmart]

Call 1584 and the police will sort it out.?
The police recently  said they even need help with the taxi and tuk tuk scum on the streets of Pootong sio what chance have they got with influetial people?

Perhaps backup by uniformed and armed Thai Marines?

[Oziex1]

 

Call 1584 and the police will sort it out.?
The police recently  said they even need help with the taxi and tuk tuk scum on the streets of Pootong sio what chance have they got with influetial people?

Perhaps backup by uniformed and armed Thai Marines?

 

 

Perhaps replace the lot with police who know how and are motivated to do the job they are paid to do. Seriously clear them out, all of them or nothing will change, and thats the first time I've used the nothing will change line since the NCPO arrived.

[N47HAN]

Just came back from pattaya this week.

Songtel from beach side of central to second road 10thb.

Last weekend from the 9th floor restaurant to bangla road 200thb.

Mmmmmmmm

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