Taxi driver pays after roadside dispute with TV executive

[snoop1130]

Taxi driver pays after roadside dispute with TV executive 

By The Nation

 

 

A taxi driver who was caught on video demanding Bt1,000 from a TV executive was fined Bt2,000 on Monday for rejecting and being rude to a passenger.

 

The Land Transport Department also suspended the taxi licence of Rungnakhon Dulkul for 30 day, deputy director-general Nanthapong Cherdchu said.

 

Nanthapong on Monday summoned Rungnakhon to report to the department over the incident, which was filmed by a smartphone. The clip has gone viral after being posted on Facebook.

 

Nanthapong said the taxi driver had been fined Bt1,000 for rejecting a passenger and Bt1,000 for being impolite. Rungnakhon was also required to undergo a three-hour training session regarding proper service.

 

Rungnakhon said he did not normally reject passengers, but Thakolkiart Verawan, an executive at GMM’s One Channel, had been hailing a taxi at the corner of Soi Sukhumvit 33 where the road was clearly painted red and white, meaning he could not park his taxi there.

 

The taxi driver said he had signaled that he could not park to Thakolkiart, whom he did not recognise as a TV executive, but as he was making a left turn out of the soi, Thakolkiart hit his car.

 

Rungnakhon said he was angry because his car had been slightly damaged but Thakolkiart offered to pay compensation, so he demanded Bt1,000. He added that he thought the issue was over after he received the money.

 

“I would like to tell the person who posted the video clip, if you don’t know the truth, you should not post [the video] to cause damage to others. Normally, I am polite, but I am a human so I become angry sometimes.”

 

Rungnakhon also gave a message to reporters to be conveyed to Thakolkiart: “No matter how rich your are, please know that I make my living day-by-day. I was a victim, but I had to defend myself. My wife and children need food and we need to rent our house. We need to buy our rice. We won’t have income for a month now.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30311157

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-4-3

[Bluespunk]

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Rungnakhon said he did not normally reject passengers, but Thakolkiart Verawan, an executive at GMM’s One Channel, had been hailing a taxi at the corner of Soi Sukhumvit 33 where the road was clearly painted red and white, meaning he could not park his taxi there.

Yeah, right.

[Bluespunk]

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Rungnakhon said he was angry because his car had been slightly damaged but Thakolkiart offered to pay compensation, so he demanded Bt1,000. He added that he thought the issue was over after he received the money.

I bet he did.

[Bluespunk]

9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“I would like to tell the person who posted the video clip, if you don’t know the truth, you should not post [the video] to cause damage to others. Normally, I am polite, but I am a human so I become angry sometimes.”

So your message is don't post videos where I threaten someone because it might make me look bad?

 

Is there a fine for stupidity?

Edited April 3, 2017 by Bluespunk

[inzman]

These people just don't get it do they? There is so much morally wrong with the way they think!

[robblok]

5 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

So your message is don't post videos where I threaten someone because it might make me look bad?

 

Is there a fine for stupidity?

If more video's were posted maybe more taxi drivers would get caught and they might change their attitude. 

[rkidlad]

12 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

So your message is don't post videos where I threaten someone because it might make me look bad?

 

Is there a fine for stupidity?

Should be a fine for sheer arrogance. 

 

Scary times when people think it's their right to do whatever they want and not be held accountable. 

[Bluespunk]

9 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Should be a fine for sheer arrogance. 

 

Scary times when people think it's their right to do whatever they want and not be held accountable. 

On both sides. 

 

The taxi driver is clearly an arse. 

 

However, the exec should not have hit the taxi in the first place. 

[worgeordie]

First report said there was a gun involved,did it disappear. 

regards Worgeordie

[ldiablo72]

Did Thakolkiart also get his 1000b back?

[Reigntax]

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

Yeah, right.

 

Didnt seem to mind parking there to extort his 1000 Baht though.

[impulse]

Regardless of who's at fault here, there's something disingenuous about posting a video of the middle and end of an argument without posting the beginning that caused it.

[craigt3365]

3 hours ago, impulse said:

Regardless of who's at fault here, there's something disingenuous about posting a video of the middle and end of an argument without posting the beginning that caused it.

Well put.  I see these "click bait" videos all too often.  They don't tell the whole story.

 

With that being said, taxis refusing to pickup passengers in lower Suk is a big problem.  They need to address this.  We'll go through 3-5 taxis before finding out they will use their meter.  Some get quite angry when we say "meter only".  One actually followed us down the soi honing their horn at us and yelling some nasty words.

Edited April 4, 2017 by craigt3365

[steven100]

6 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Well put.  I see these "click bait" videos all too often.  They don't tell the whole story.

 

With that being said, taxis refusing to pickup passengers in lower Suk is a big problem.  They need to address this.  We'll go through 3-5 taxis before finding on that will use their meter.  Some get quite angry when we say "meter only".  One actually followed us down the soi honing their horn at us and yelling some nasty words.

 

Bangkok taxis are disgusting .....     agree with what you said ,  try getting a taxi on Sukhumvit after 3.00pm ....   most will just refuse to take you and drive off.

 

It's time the government got tough on Taxis ...... 

[Tracyb]

Hey taxi driver, ....Boo-Hoo.  

Don't let your temper get the better of you and you won't have to go hungry.

Another fine example of Bangkok's kind, courteous, customer service oriented, happy, smiling taxi drivers.

It's UBER for me.

[sanukjim]

15 hours ago, inzman said:

These people just don't get it do they? There is so much morally wrong with the way they think!

It is the "ME FIRST" attitude with most Thais  and has been a long time.

[sanukjim]

Hey Mr. Rungnakhon,When a video of a very angry and intimidating  AXS HOLE such as yourself the video is for every one to know what type of person that you are.and it very polite for the person showing the video so that the public can be protected from you and the people like you.I just that when you once again jump out of your taxi  to intimidate someone that they beat you to the ground and if you have a weapon ,they shove it up your axs..

[Bangkok Barry]

15 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Should be a fine for sheer arrogance. 

 

Scary times when people think it's their right to do whatever they want and not be held accountable. 

Have you ever seen or heard of a Thai accepting accountability for anything? I've lived here for nearly 25 years and can think of only one time, when a dog ran out and bit me and the owner drove me to a clinic and paid all expenses.

[Reigntax]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Have you ever seen or heard of a Thai accepting accountability for anything? I've lived here for nearly 25 years and can think of only one time, when a dog ran out and bit me and the owner drove me to a clinic and paid all expenses.

But he still blamed you for trying to feed yourself to the dog. Right?

[elgordo38]

17 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

On both sides. 

 

The taxi driver is clearly an arse. 

 

However, the exec should not have hit the taxi in the first place. 

Yes your last statement is correct and also when dealing with hi-so's and this guy sounds like he fits the bill they will tell you when The Fat Lady Sings. 

[louse1953]

18 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

On both sides. 

 

The taxi driver is clearly an arse. 

 

However, the exec should not have hit the taxi in the first place. 

Taxi cant park in no stop area then passenger kicks the car,how can taxi driver be at fault.Then he asks for compensation,fair enough.

[Bluespunk]

3 minutes ago, louse1953 said:

Taxi cant park in no stop area then passenger kicks the car,how can taxi driver be at fault.Then he asks for compensation,fair enough.

Personally I think the taxi driver is being frugal with the truth as to why he didn't pick the customer up.

 

And as another poster pointed out he had no trouble stopping to get out and threaten the guy.

 

He is an arse.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Bluespunk

[louse1953]

5 hours ago, Tracyb said:

Hey taxi driver, ....Boo-Hoo.  

Don't let your temper get the better of you and you won't have to go hungry.

Another fine example of Bangkok's kind, courteous, customer service oriented, happy, smiling taxi drivers.

It's UBER for me.

So i can come around and i will kick and damage your car and then we can sit down a have a beer and laugh about it.Your buy as i am the guest.

[louse1953]

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

Personally I think trhe taxi driver is being frugal with the truth as to why he didn't pick the customer up.

 

And as another poster pointed out he had no trouble stopping to get out and threaten the guy.

 

He is an arse.

Of course,he was angry then for the car damage,emotion takes over.Before that he was trying to follow the rules,for a change.Hiso couldn't handle it,stop where i tell you to stop or else.

[Bluespunk]

10 minutes ago, louse1953 said:

Of course,he was angry then for the car damage,emotion takes over.Before that he was trying to follow the rules,for a change.Hiso couldn't handle it,stop where i tell you to stop or else.

Oh I agree the customer was wrong in what he did.

 

None the less the taxi drivers actions were the more threatening and potentially violent.

 

However for the sake of argument, I will admit both are a-holes.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Bluespunk

[geriatrickid]

19 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

On both sides. 

 

The taxi driver is clearly an arse. 

 

However, the exec should not have hit the taxi in the first place. 

We didn't get all the details. Just the  cleaned up taxi driver version. I have a feeling the driver was a lot more odious. Being extorted can  incite an angry reaction.

[Jonmarleesco]

There's no parking, and there's no stopping. A subtle difference.

[Mike45]

We recently flew back into Thailand from our vacation in the USA. At the airport we selected a ticket from the SUV/Minivan terminal. We walked over to the correct vehicle and the taxi driver opened the back so "I" could load all the luggage in. 

Then he tells my wife he won't use the meter. I looked around and there wasn't anyone official around to help me with the situation.

So I opened the passenger door and took a photo of his plackard. Then I walked up to him and took his photo with the flash on. I then took photos of his vehicle on all sides and my luggage in the vehicle. 

I asked my wife to tell him I'm going to report him (I don't care know if she did. She is intimated in these situations.) She told me he won't use the meter. 

For the first time I walked up close to him and spoke directly to him. I said "1000 Baht fine. No Taxi one month" My wife tells me his response was he would use the meter.

I'm pissed that this thing has to happen at all. There should certainly be someone there to assist if it does.

Three days later we needed a taxi from our hotel to Don Mueang airport. I had my wife call a taxi company and request a SUV /Minivan. We were willing to pay the 20 bagt call fee but we wanted to use the meter. THEY REFUSED TO SEND A TAXI ON THE METER. 

This situation is completely out of control and must be addressed by someone!

[geriatrickid]

17 hours ago, Mike45 said:

We recently flew back into Thailand from our vacation in the USA. At the airport we selected a ticket from the SUV/Minivan terminal. We walked over to the correct vehicle and the taxi driver opened the back so "I" could load all the luggage in. 

Then he tells my wife he won't use the meter. I looked around and there wasn't anyone official around to help me with the situation.

So I opened the passenger door and took a photo of his plackard. Then I walked up to him and took his photo with the flash on. I then took photos of his vehicle on all sides and my luggage in the vehicle. 

I asked my wife to tell him I'm going to report him (I don't care know if she did. She is intimated in these situations.) She told me he won't use the meter. 

For the first time I walked up close to him and spoke directly to him. I said "1000 Baht fine. No Taxi one month" My wife tells me his response was he would use the meter.

I'm pissed that this thing has to happen at all. There should certainly be someone there to assist if it does.

Three days later we needed a taxi from our hotel to Don Mueang airport. I had my wife call a taxi company and request a SUV /Minivan. We were willing to pay the 20 bagt call fee but we wanted to use the meter. THEY REFUSED TO SEND A TAXI ON THE METER. 

This situation is completely out of control and must be addressed by someone!

The infuriating aspect of this is that I understand you and sympathize. Yet, no one in authority gives a sh*t sufficient to intervene. We only get action once someone  goes way too far. Why it has to get to that point is beyond me. Sadly, the majority of Thai taxi consumers agree with you, but once again a small  vested group  calls the shots.

 

Oh and I am  waiting for some jerk to pop up and criticize you. They won't know until they experience it first hand.