Phuket: Karon police crack down on illegal taxis

[webfact]

PHUKET: Karon police crack down on illegal taxis
Darawan Naknakhon


Karon set up security check points on Karon-Patong Rd.

PHUKET: -- Karon police are cracking down on illegal taxis (black plate taxis) and have made four arrests since Wednesday (October 1). Karon police followed the order from the NCPO and Police Region 8.

Lt Col Pornnarong Karnorratai revealed today (October 6) that Karon police have been using security check points on the hill on Karon-Patong Rd as a way of searching for any illegal taxis.

In the case of an arrest while a tourist is in the taxi, they will be subject to brief questioning and police will escort them back to their destination after.

Lt Col Pornnarong said that the four suspects are currently being investigated at Karon police station. Police seized each of their vehicles.

Col Nattapakin Khawnchaiyaperng, Karon police superintendent said, "Karon police are serious on cracking down on all illegal taxi operations in the area. We are teaming up with the Royal Army, Tourist police as well as Phuket Office of Transportation.

“We fully understand that by carrying out this operation, it may cause an inconvenience to tourists, but it must be done,” he said.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/karon-police-crack-down-on-illegal-taxis-in-phuket-49014.php

-- Phuket News 2014-10-06

[Anthony5]

Again?

I thought the good general had solved that issue a few months ago.

[Chang_paarp]

Good to see the powers that be are making sure it is not of case of crackdown followed by business as usual. This follow-up might help convince some that the rules are being enforced.

Keep up the good work.

[Pomthai]

Meanwhile robberies, beatings, shootings, rape and murder continue unabated.

Priorities twisted yet again...

[NomadJoe]

Meanwhile robberies, beatings, shootings, rape and murder continue unabated.

Priorities twisted yet again...

Since much of that is committed by Phuket's taxi mafia, the priorities are right on.

I always find it funny how people will use the "there's worse things going on" arguement when the police want to tackle an issue. "Unabated"? Lol. That is just pure fiction.

The poor transport on this island is it's number one problem. Rapes, murders, robberies, beatings and shootings are not, however you will be pleased to know that the police will still be working on those crimes too.

Edited October 6, 2014 by NomadJoe

[NomadJoe]

Phuket Police defend snaring foreign tourists in illegal taxi raids

David and Cheryl Bowyer on holiday in Phuket.

PHUKET: Police have defended their actions in a raid that saw officers and military personal, clad in flak jackets and carrying assault rifles, besiege an illegal Phuket taxi carrying a family of foreign tourists.

“We flagged down a taxi with the assistance of the security guard in front of our hotel at Karon Beach. The driver agreed to take us [to Patong] for 300 baht,” David Bowyer said, with his wife, Cheryl, sitting next to him. “When we arrived at Hooters, we were suddenly surrounded by 10 scary-looking police in flak jackets shouting in Thai. We thought we had been arrested.

Complete story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-Police-defend-snaring-foreign-tourists-illegal/36086

Edited October 6, 2014 by NomadJoe

[iReason]

“When we arrived at Hooters, we were suddenly surrounded by 10 scary-looking police in flak jackets shouting in Thai."

"We thought we had been arrested"

"They asked us to get back into the taxi and have the driver drive us to the police station...” Mr Bowyer said

"They ordered us around like criminals."

"They wanted a picture of me pointing at the driver, handing the driver money."

"They asked me to sign things I didn’t understand.”

Absolute Buffoons.

Nice job turning the tide on Tourism...

[khunsiam]

Tourists taken as hostages to help the police crackdown on taxi's, nice!

[NamKangMan]

"Banged Up Abroad" - without actually being "banged up."

Arresting and/or detaining tourists, who have committed no crime - interesting.

Edited October 6, 2014 by NamKangMan

[Oziex1]

I left Phuket in late August after 3 months at that time the Taxi guys were still lurking sans their salas. This was on the Rawai beach road near the Family Mart and down at Nai Harn, they showed no sign of moving, I would guess they're still there.

Can some one provide update on this please.

[steelepulse]

I left Phuket in late August after 3 months at that time the Taxi guys were still lurking sans their salas. This was on the Rawai beach road near the Family Mart and down at Nai Harn, they showed no sign of moving, I would guess they're still there.

Can some one provide update on this please.

Still there. At Rawai beach they still park at Family Mart and have a mini sala/booking desk across the street at Salaloy. At Nai Harn, they park by the lagoon on that little corner area where you pull in to the beach. To add to the taxi/tuk tuk joy, they are now on private land next to soi Namjai close to where the market is on Wednesdays and Sundays. Throw in the buses that now park along Vichit from the speedboat company down to the sea shell museum, and you have a lot of "public transport" vehicles taking up a lot of real estate.

[Oziex1]

I left Phuket in late August after 3 months at that time the Taxi guys were still lurking sans their salas. This was on the Rawai beach road near the Family Mart and down at Nai Harn, they showed no sign of moving, I would guess they're still there.

Can some one provide update on this please.

Still there. At Rawai beach they still park at Family Mart and have a mini sala/booking desk across the street at Salaloy. At Nai Harn, they park by the lagoon on that little corner area where you pull in to the beach. To add to the taxi/tuk tuk joy, they are now on private land next to soi Namjai close to where the market is on Wednesdays and Sundays. Throw in the buses that now park along Vichit from the speedboat company down to the sea shell museum, and you have a lot of "public transport" vehicles taking up a lot of real estate.

Thanks Steele, didn't expect any change. I had high hopes, can anyone give good reason to keep the glass half full on the changes in Phuket and Thailand in general. I'm loosing the positive feel I had at the beginning.