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[Jacob Maslow]

Bangkok city rush hour traffic in Thailand (Stock Photo)

The Land Transport Department is implementing a one strike rule for bad-behaving taxi drivers. One single serious offence will cost taxi drivers their license.

Theerapong Rodprasert, director-general of the Land Transport Department, said it’s changing its “three chances” rule for bad drivers. Now, any taxi drivers who threaten a passenger’s sense of safety or are involved in serious wrongdoing will be put out of business. The Department is hoping the new one strike rule will help improve Thailand’s reputation.

Drivers who commit minor offenses will still be given three chances. Drivers will receive training and a fine of 1,000 baht for the first offense. The second offense will lead to a one-month license suspension and a 1,000 baht fine. After a third offense, drivers will be fined 1,000 baht and have their license suspended for 6 months.

Drivers that commit three offenses in one month will have their license revoked immediately. Thus far, the department has revoked two licenses and suspended 123.

The two drivers who have had their licenses revoked include one who abandoned a passenger on the Bangkok-Chon Buri highway, and another who would not use a fare meter. Both drivers picked up their passengers at the Suvarnabhumi airport.

-- 2015-04-23

[Mcffee]

These fallen taxi drivers can be perfectly used for the fishing industry so they don't need Rohingya slaves anymore. That's called a win-win situation.

[EyesWideOpen]

These fallen taxi drivers can be perfectly used for the fishing industry so they don't need Rohingya slaves anymore. That's called a win-win situation.

That is a great idea, just need to expand it a bit . So all the

crooked policemen and politicians, instead of the bizarre

inactive post punishment, should now be sent out on the

fishing boats to work until they drop with no money. Now

that would truly be a win win. And as near as I can tell,

given the endless corruption here, it should be easy to find

enough people to take over the spots from the Rohingya slaves....

So a new program like this would prevent the ban on seafood

from the EU. So really a triple win !!!!!!!

Edited April 22, 2015 by EyesWideOpen

[davehowden]

So no more licensed taxi drivers then!

[jerojero]

Well well well..... About time.

[rametindallas]

No shortage of out-of-work rice farm workers to replace those that lose their license.

[selftaopath]

If this becomes the norm.... GREAT. Or by this time next week it could be the typical.... memory and words.

Consistency and Action are rare in Thailand.

Show me... don't tell me.

[NongKhaiKid]

Proper and effective bans are about time and should be extended to other traffic offences but they can only be effective if enforceable.

It's going to cost a small fortune, and take time, to set up a national data base which can be updated as soon as someone is disqualified then comes the small matter of how the BIB access it providing they can be bothered although it would be a new source of tea money.

It will be expensive to set up a proper system and the junta might think the cash would be better used elsewhere.

[Pii Kate]

Please define "serious offense". Manslaughter? Raping or robbing a customer? Hit and severely injuring a motorcyclist? And I'm guessing if the victim is a foreigner it would constitute a minor offense.

It's not enough to suspend a license for 6 months unless you also take away the car keys.

[godden]

I'm surprised there is a license to suspend.

[rodknock]

normal Thai. dog and pony show!

all talk and all gone in a week or two.

since when is a drivers license required?

is that law like motorcycle helmet law! police ride with out helmets,who is going to ticket them?

no one cares!

you can have all the LAWS you want, but they are useless if not inforced.

[kiwikeith]

Please define "serious offense". Manslaughter? Raping or robbing a customer? Hit and severely injuring a motorcyclist? And I'm guessing if the victim is a foreigner it would constitute a minor offense.

It's not enough to suspend a license for 6 months unless you also take away the car keys.

Serious Offence -- Getting caught! while running away after an accident after consuming ya baa, caffeine drinks, then driving like a loony and killing innocent people.

Edited April 23, 2015 by kiwikeith

[razer]

Well done LTD. I always figured the Taxi Mafia was more powerful than the government.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

I hope it is not just talk this time. These guys are out of control. You would be better off just asking a taxi where he wants to take you and how much he wants you to pay him as opposed to trying to get one of these clowns to actually do their job and take you where you want to go.

Will they make the complaint line accept complaints in English too? If not they are just spinning their wheels.

Grab Taxi is much better and worth the little bit extra to keep the blood pressure down.

[butch333]

1000 bath , it's a joke ??? everybody know the thai people only like money . if the governement want to change the mentality here , he have to touch their wallet , the only way to make them understand . 10.000bath ofr the first , 50.000bath for the second , no need a thirt , no more driving licence for the life and canot come back to bangkok or any big cities . find him again in a big city , in jail for 20 years

but to apply this , PM have to change all the police , ALL . give 30.000 bath salary , and the first who take tea money , in jail .

can dream , nothing will change here .

[realenglish1]

Did the land transport office take the advice given here on TV From the structure of this is sure seems to be the case.

Regardless this is a good move on their part. Hope this helps to straighten out some of the scummy drivers

Good on you LTO

[SuwadeeS]

Realistic it would mean, half of the driver would lose their license, soon.

[connda]

You know the saying that when reading a fortune cookie, you always add the phrase, ".....in bed." at the end of the fortune to make it more interesting.

Here in the LOS, they should add the phrase, ".....unless they have a patron." to the end of any statement by the government about crackdowns on any Thais living here.

So this should read, "Bad Taxi Drivers Will Lose Their License After One Serious Offense...Unless They Have A Patron." Much better!!!

Edited April 23, 2015 by connda

[Jonmarleesco]

'... one who abandoned a passenger on the Bangkok-Chon Buri highway ...' I thought that claim was subsequently proven to be false.

[cookee68]

how do you define, bad, and minor

[cyborgx]

Please define "serious offense". Manslaughter? Raping or robbing a customer? Hit and severely injuring a motorcyclist? And I'm guessing if the victim is a foreigner it would constitute a minor offense.

It's not enough to suspend a license for 6 months unless you also take away the car keys.

And what's the fine for driving without a licence? Another Bt1000?

How many times have you had a driver that looks nothing like the picture on the licence?

I'm sure there's probably an appeals process that along with a bit of the usual backhanders will probably keep this number of actually banned drivers to a minimum, and as I said, what's to stop them driving without a licence anyway.....

I don't mean to put a damper on these things, since they are all little moves in the right direction......

Get those apps loaded on your phones and start clocking up those refused destinations, refusals to turn on meters etc.... and perhaps there will actually be a noticeable change......

[akc1956]

if they are bad drivers why do they have a license in the first place. So we have to wait until they kill someone before they are classed as bad?