Uber drivers legal action threat while ride-share study undertaken

[webfact]

Uber drivers legal action threat while ride-share study undertaken
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Authorities have threatened to take legal action against drivers working for ride-sharing service Uber if they continue operating without waiting for the result of a feasibility study on shared uses of automobiles in Thailand. 

 

Department of Land Transport (DLT) director-general Sanit Promwong said that if there is any complaint against Uber drivers, the committee tasked with keeping order in the public transport sector, comprising military officers, police and DLT officials, will arrest and fine drivers who operate without a public transport licence.

 

He said to crackdown Uber is one of the National Council for Peace and Order’s policies in an attempt to keep order in the public transport sector.

 

The warning came after a meeting between the Ministry of Transport, the DLT and representative of Uber on Monday resulted in the decision to look at the possibility of legalising Uber through the study. The study is expected to take between six and 12 months.

 

In the meeting, authorities requested that Uber suspend its service nationwide until the result of the study is known but the California-based company rejected the request. 

 

Transport deputy permanent secretary Somsak Hommoung said if Uber refused to suspend its service while the study was being conducted it would make further talks between Uber and authorities, set for the next one or two months, more complicated. 

 

At the meeting on Monday, Uber urged the government to amend the existing Motor Vehicle Act to allow ridesharing in Thailand. 

Somsak said an amendment to the existing law will be made if the study shows that Uber taxi is suitable or beneficial to society. 

 

Amy Kunrojpanya, director of policy and communications for Uber in Asia Pacific, said the study is a good start to solving the problem, as Uber currently takes care of hundreds of thousands of passengers.

 

“Uber is pleased that the government agreed to conducting independent third party research into ridesharing regulations and the benefits they bring to Thailand, as they have in so many other countries in the region,” Amy said.

 

“We remain committed to our mission of providing reliable transportation for everyone and will continue to serve Thai riders, drivers and cities.”

 

Monday’s meeting was held after the DLT stepped up the crackdown on Uber drivers on the grounds that they were violating the law by using non-registered vehicles as taxis.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30309870

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-22

[clockman]

They want to play on the world stage. But no competition!

[pkspeaker]

Pretty Arrogant uber declaring that they intend to break the law like that.  Of course any country can regulate who can offer taxi service.  If the answer is no for whatever reason, an international company like that has to dis-continue it's service in that country.   

[longtom]

Uber is a ridesharing service as opposed to a regular taxi service? 

 

I like Uber but think they have to be regulated i.e. licensed drivers and proper car insurance. 

[hobz]

"keep order in the public transport sector."  There was no order in the public transport sector when uber arrived at the scene. To blame uber for disorder in the public transport sector is plain ignorant.

If there was order in the public transport sector then uber would not have such high demand.

Edited March 22, 2017 by hobz

[hobz]

30 minutes ago, longtom said:

Uber is a ridesharing service as opposed to a regular taxi service? 

 

I like Uber but think they have to be regulated i.e. licensed drivers and proper car insurance. 

Uber insures the passengers. The drivers have private license and use GPS to find their way.. Better than the so called licensed taxi drivers that can't read a map if their life depended on it.

[DGS1244]

Try living in Chiang Mai where the local Songthaews and Tuk Tuk's  have be ripping people off for years, there being no public bus service as such. Keep going Uber don't let them beat you down.

[outsider]

They need to study if Uber is suitable or beneficial to society? It's like conducting a study to see if air-conditioners are beneficial during the summer months. Idiots.

[malibukid]

was in back of a songthew today in CM, belching pollution, most  should be taken to the scrape heap.  

mandatory safety and pollution checks for vehicles, stringent screening of the drivers. is needed. 

cry babies.

what happen to the nice A/C 15 baht busses here in CM of few years ago?

the could have expanded the routes?  but no.  why?  let me guess? songthews want a monopoly at the expense of the public safety.

 

[impulse]

19 hours ago, pkspeaker said:

Pretty Arrogant uber declaring that they intend to break the law like that.  Of course any country can regulate who can offer taxi service.  If the answer is no for whatever reason, an international company like that has to dis-continue it's service in that country.   

 

Kind of throwing their drivers under the bus.  Sure, they'll reimburse any fines, but eventually the entrenched elite who benefit from the legally registered taxi oligopoly will demand harsher punishment like losing DL, a little jail, or the ever popular street beating.

 

I like the Uber model, aside from the uneven playing field because Uber drivers don't have all the expenses of a legal hack.  But I love the Austin, Texas model where they took Uber out of the equation with a public domain alternative app that puts more of the $$$ into the drivers' pockets.

[hobz]

20 hours ago, malibukid said:

was in back of a songthew today in CM, belching pollution, most  should be taken to the scrape heap.  

mandatory safety and pollution checks for vehicles, stringent screening of the drivers. is needed. 

cry babies.

what happen to the nice A/C 15 baht busses here in CM of few years ago?

the could have expanded the routes?  but no.  why?  let me guess? songthews want a monopoly at the expense of the public safety.

 

Yes, the red car lobby muscled them out / replaced them. http://www.chiangmailocator.com/114-chiang-mai-stories:public-transport-in-chiang-mai-and-the-red-cab-mafia