PM calls for crack down on taxis going off-meter



BANGKOK, 22 April 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of Transport to take action against taxi cabs demanding high off-meter prices and for the Ministry of Commerce to ensure that its public center is efficient and transparent.

Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has opened a Ministry of Commerce Public Service Center, set up to field complaints from the public and offer business advice as well as carry out ministry work such as provide licenses. He called for the center to serve as a one-stop-service for the public and work efficiently and transparently for the benefit of citizens.

The opening preceded a meeting of civil sector heads chaired by the premier during which he expressed concern over news being circulated via social media indicating taxi cabs going off-meter to charge exorbitant fares. He said he was especially worried that some of the news showed the cab drivers threatening their riders. He has ordered that the Ministry of Transport take serious action on this matter.


-- NNT 2016-04-22

Again? What number is this one?

If it's successful like the crackdown on drugs, bribery, police, slavery...taxi can sleep tight

I think this is the third time he's called for a cut crackdown

Talk, talk, talk but nothing changes. Oh so Thai !

And the taxi drivers are still laughing at the PM for his last crack down.

Remember just after the coup the airport were cleared...for what? A few weeks?

And some nitwits on here actually think he's cleaning up the nation. This taxi scam can be seen as a microcosm of his failure.

Time for a committee and two sub-committees.

Another day, another crackdown. Which will go the same way as all the rest.

Keep hearing about all these crackdowns.... but nothing ever gets done.

They identify problem and say they want to crackdown on it.. then thats the last we hear about it...

Then its onto the next thing to crackdown on. Wierd.

Every time he ordered a crackdown, the situation to worse. Classic example, crackdown on drink driving during Songkran. Please leave the small matters too your ministers and concentrate on matters befitting your position.

Yes...rather than just enforcing the laws that exist...we lurch from "crackdown" to "crackdown".

Each "crackdown" inconveniences the guilty parties for a week/a day/an hour/not at all , then on to the next.

Guess he doesn't know that there are no meters in tuk-tuks and taxis in Phuket. The few there are are never used.

Unfortunately with officialdom in this country, stating an intention is regarded as the equivalent of the action needed to fulfill that intention.

If it is pointed out that nothing has actually been done, then a lower down official is thrown under the bus and that is the end of the matter.

Edited April 22, 201610 yr by KarenBravo

Another day, another crackdown. Which will go the same way as all the rest.

Yeah, but this time he ordered the Ministry of Transport to take serious action.

Again? What number is this one?

When is the PM going to get serious / dismiss some senior officials of the several agencies involved who are in reality doing nothing about this problem?

The taxi driver involved got 2000 baht fine and 3 month suspension.

1. these kind of guys shouldn't be allowed to drive taxis... 3 months??

2. 2000 baht? the fines should be ten times this amount.

A crackdown?

On taxis?

Called for by the mighty PM?

...wow...how unique and never before heard off!

High time there was a crackdown on crackdowns.

Time for a committee and two sub-committees.

Quite right and don't forget the ad hoc committee and the working committee which will be tasked with traveling to London, Paris & Rome to see how other countries manage their cab fleets.

Once the working committee has returned from their vacation they will report to the standing committee during the next sitting of Parliament. At which time decisions may be made. This should all be resolved by the time democracy returns to the nation.

Talk, talk, talk but nothing changes. Oh so Thai !

Sounds bit like TV members as well. If you're PM what is your plan to curb such behaviour?

Such a quaint little country where the PM needs to be involved in taxi fares.

like the crackdown on unlicensed street-vendors on Sukhumvit-Road - cleared the foodpath for one month, after that - status quo ante....

Every time he ordered a crackdown, the situation to worse. Classic example, crackdown on drink driving during Songkran. Please leave the small matters too your ministers and concentrate on matters befitting your position.

In that case, he needs to crackdown on filthy toilets, as that might befit his position.

It doesn't matter what the problem is, no matter how small and insignificant, our eagle eyed PM is on the job.

It's good to know that even after sorting out all the big stuff, he has time to take care of the little things as well.

Seems like every month there is another crackdown

On the taxies, yet nothing ever happens....please

Define: crackdown!!!

Talk, talk, talk but nothing changes. Oh so Thai !

Sounds bit like TV members as well. If you're PM what is your plan to curb such behaviour?

Seriously clamp down on corruption in the civil service. The rest will follow.

Have you not lived in any other developed country?

Too many licenced issues too many taxis on the road too much competition too little time to use the meter. None of this likely to change without some kind of reform. As reform is off the cards these next few years I have switched to using Uber. Much more reliable and cheaper service in BKK as long as you are not riding during peak hours. There is now Uber Moto to beat the mafia run Moto taxi queue.

Talk, talk, talk but nothing changes. Oh so Thai !

Sounds bit like TV members as well. If you're PM what is your plan to curb such behaviour?

Seriously clamp down on corruption in the civil service. The rest will follow.

Have you not lived in any other developed country?

No this is my first. So wise one easy to say clamp down on corruptiom when it's part of local culture since when..

As expert yourself please share your detail plan with the PM. I'm sure he'll appreciate your kind assistance.

And I'm sure once you cleaned up the blantant corruption cost of living will remain the same. It's one of the reasons most of us are here no...

Edited April 22, 201610 yr by bkk75