Taxi driver punches Patong hotel staff for calling a Tuk tuk instead
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A taxi driver was charged with assault on Wednesday (Jan 13) for punching the Holiday Inn Patong's Human Resource Director in the face on Tuesday (Jan 12) after he saw hotel staff call a tuk tuk to service hotel guests.

Posted by เสียงประชาชน คนภูเก็ต on Thursday, January 14, 2016

A two-minute and 40 second video clip of the angry taxi driver punching the hotel's staff had gone viral after it was posted on a Thai-language Facebook (translated: Phuket Community page) by user Petch Dimond. The video was posted with the message: “Staff call tuk tuk to take tourists to the shopping mall for B200, Taxi driver upset and slap Holiday Inn staff... this is outrageous.”

The clip shows hotel staff leading a group of foreigners to a tuk tuk in front of the taxi driver. The driver then approaches a staff member and, a few moments, begins to assault him.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/-video-taxi-driver-punches-patong-hotel-staff-for-calling-a-tuk-tuk-instead-55792.php

-- Phuket News 2016-01-15

I had really hoped the Army would have straightened out these guys, and they did, for a month or two, now it's even worse then it has ever been with taxi drivers taking over more of what they consider "their turf" and defending said turf with violence, thuggery and glares.

Which is more outrageous? The violence of the taxi driver, or the Bt200 fare for tuk tuk?

I had really hoped the Army would have straightened out these guys, and they did, for a month or two, now it's even worse then it has ever been with taxi drivers taking over more of what they consider "their turf" and defending said turf with violence, thuggery and glares.

That's what happens when you have the mafia running the taxis.

Take his taxi license away for life.

Charge him with assault.

Oh right.

a 500 baht fine, license suspension for a week, and a public apology for harming Thailand's image.

I predict in another couple of years, serious altercations between taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers as they fight over an ever-shrinking pool of customers.

I can't wait......

I'm happy they are beating each other up now Instead of the visitor. Pretty soon they will be fighting for both customers.....

Outrageous! Yellow tuk tuks?

I had really hoped the Army would have straightened out these guys, and they did, for a month or two, now it's even worse then it has ever been with taxi drivers taking over more of what they consider "their turf" and defending said turf with violence, thuggery and glares.

That's what happens when you have the mafia running the taxis.

The mafia control big chunks of most tourist areas...what's one to do?

I had really hoped the Army would have straightened out these guys, and they did, for a month or two, now it's even worse then it has ever been with taxi drivers taking over more of what they consider "their turf" and defending said turf with violence, thuggery and glares.

That's what happens when you have the mafia running the taxis.

The mafia control big chunks of most tourist areas...what's one to do?

Tour Langkawi instead.

For those who may have missed the very first line in the article:

"A taxi driver was charged with assault on Wednesday for punching the Holiday Inn Patong's Human Resource Director in the face"

The headline seems to describe the incident clearly as well...

I'm happy they are beating each other up now Instead of the visitor. Pretty soon they will be fighting for both customers.....

Fail. He punched a Holiday Inn employee. These people already take abuse on daily basis and now they have to fear taxi drivers punching them in the face.

Great for the "image of Thailand".

Again small brain tries to take control.

The customers looked like indian tourists….maybe they specifically asked for a tuk tuk as it was cheaper...

The problem in Phuket is the idea customers in a certain location "belong" to certain drivers, even though that tourist has not asked for transportation yet.

When some one else "takes" that customer, it is regarded as robbery by the original driver as he has lost something that he thought he "possessed".

This really is the mentality here.

I cannot see how an honest taxi driver would ever react like that. If that thug is prepared to behave violently out of some bizarre sense of ownership of the tourists then he almost certainly had more in mind than switching on a legal taxi meter.

Boycott Thailand!

Which is more outrageous? The violence of the taxi driver, or the Bt200 fare for tuk tuk?

The violence of the taxi driver.

Another thumbs up to T.A.T. and the tourist industry in Thailand.

Which is more outrageous? The violence of the taxi driver, or the Bt200 fare for tuk tuk?

The violence of the taxi driver.

The most outrageous issue is the lawlessness of Phuket ...

....forgotten........ how many foreigners have been hacked to death.....???

Disgraceful

Hahahaha.

What a stunt.

....forgotten........ how many foreigners have been hacked to death.....???

One, not difficult to remember.

The holiday inn need to get there own mafia now so the can fight back these idiots who think they own the phuket.

Take his taxi license away for life.

Charge him with assault.

Oh right.

a 500 baht fine, license suspension for a week, and a public apology for harming Thailand's image.

I've witnessed fights like this before and your right 500 to 1000 baht fine and go home

Sad

The customers looked like indian tourists….maybe they specifically asked for a tuk tuk as it was cheaper...

What a stupid comment !!!

The customers looked like indian tourists….maybe they specifically asked for a tuk tuk as it was cheaper...

What an ignorant and stupid comment to make!!

The wild, almost zero force "blows" they are both frantically throwing clearly indicate neither one has any idea how to win a fight.

Train the staff to defend themselves, assuming this is the new reality.......

You're Welcome!!

I had really hoped the Army would have straightened out these guys, and they did, for a month or two, now it's even worse then it has ever been with taxi drivers taking over more of what they consider "their turf" and defending said turf with violence, thuggery and glares.

That's what happens when you have the mafia running the taxis.

You mean the country

I've had my moments here when I'd gladly pay the 500 or 1000 to punch the Thai person who treated me as less than, in oh so many ways. And yes, I AM happier back in the nanny state now where people for the most part are civil and even friendly. I'll probably end up in court for saying this but if Thailand had an <deleted>, it would be named Phuket, which I believe actually means Phuku.