Pattaya taxis apologize for surrounding a female driver they suspected as Uber taxi driver

 

 

PATTAYA: -- The Pattaya Taxi Drivers Cooperative yesterday expressed regret over the surrounding of a Uber taxi on the Pattaya beach road at Balihai Cape on May 3 saying it was the inappropriate behaviour of only a handful of taxi drivers.

 

The apology was voiced by the cooperatives’ president Anan Puekwatana after Pattaya police, transport officials, Pattaya City officials and soldiers met to look into the incident which was considered a disgraceful act that has badly tarnished the image of this world’s famous beach resort destination.

 

The incident went viral on the social media after a video clip was posted on Youtube showing about 20 taxi drivers blocked the car they suspected to be a Uber taxi, and surrounded the female driver who had a Chinese customer inside.

 

The incident paralyzed traffic on the beach road for almost half an hour. Pattaya 191 police were alerted and later managed to take both parties to the police station for talks.

 

It was later found out that the woman was not a Uber taxi driver, but just the driver of her foreign boss. She said she was assigned by her boss to drive his Chinese customer to rent a condominium room at South Pattaya.

 

While the taxi drivers claimed they thought her car is a Uber taxi and that they considered that she has violated the law for picking up passenger to Pattaya.

 

However both sides reached a couple promise and no charge was made against either part by the police.

 

Netizens called the Pattaya taxi drivers’ act in surrounding the car of a woman, and their shouts and threat barbaric and unacceptable. They called in relevant government agencies to deal with these taxi drivers they called “mafia taxis”.

 

But local officials considered the act of the Pattaya taxi drivers was inappropriate and was tantamount to take law into their own hands. The act has negatively affected the reputation of Pattaya.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pattaya-taxis-apologize-for-surrounding-a-female-driver-they-suspected-as-uber-taxi-driver/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-05-08

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

expressed regret over the surrounding of a Uber taxi

that wasn't a Uber taxi.

 

Cannot make this nonsense up !!

So what have we got here ?

Thai Taxi Drivers tarnishing the unblemished "Image" of Pattaya,

 

The police took both parties to the police station for talks.

What the hell 20 thugs illegally detain a woman, <deleted> should be jailed.

Lawless Thailand a country were taxi thugs terrorise other drivers and the useless police do nothing.

Iam sorry.

 

Im sure it will never happen again.

 

 

Lol

 

Time to parade a return of money by a (good) taxi again.

Staged!!!

 

Lol

Stuff your apology right where the best description is of what you behave like!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It was later found out that the woman was not a Uber taxi driver, but just the driver of her foreign boss

so what if she/he IS a Uber driver?

and intentionally or unintentionally picked up a passenger?

Does this give these disgraceful hoodlums the right to box-in a vehicle in order to scare,threaten and very possibly assault(track record) and probably beat someone up in mob-style?

Jeez!

Edited May 8, 20179 yr by pattayadude

Mafia TIT

'While the taxi drivers claimed they thought her car is a Uber taxi and that they considered that she has violated the law for picking up passenger to Pattaya'

 

And the best way to combat people who you think are violating the law - violate the law yourself. 

 

They should all have their licenses and taxi permits suspended for a duration. In future, call the police. 

But if it WAS an UBER driver they wouldn't have apologized for their criminal intimidation tactics ?...

 

....Apology is not sufficient, these guys need to be shown that their behavior is unacceptable. They need to be charged... intimidation and racketeering.

only a handful of taxi drivers???video clip was posted on Youtube showing about 20 taxi drivers ?

So what if she was an Uber?

who are they to talk about the law when all of them break the law by refusing to use the meter???

Quote

However both sides reached a couple promise and no charge was made against either part by the police.

I am guessing that means they reached an agreement, something like I won't hurt you now because I was wrong.

 

But, Thai logic aside does not the 'law' have actions here? Civilians cannot arrest people unduly without penalties, surely.

Just now, rkidlad said:

'While the taxi drivers claimed they thought her car is a Uber taxi and that they considered that she has violated the law for picking up passenger to Pattaya'

 

And the best way to combat people who you think are violating the law - violate the law yourself. 

 

They should all have their licenses and taxi permits suspended for a duration. In future, call the police. 

Agreed.however these or similar situations erupt and get out of hand before the cops arrive.

Furthermore, you are dealing with a mentality that isn't easily intimidated by the law,enforcement,punishment or being jailed.Unfortunately in some societies, losing face or honor is worth going to jail for.

Sad day for Thailand!

 

However both sides reached a couple promise and no charge was made against either ?part by the police.

 

taxi scum ........ 

1 minute ago, Mickmouse1 said:

However both sides reached a couple promise and no charge was made against either ?part by the police.

 

she was probably so terrorized, she didn't want to press charges because of possible reprisal in future

I blame the regulators to an extent.

 

This 'uber' paranoia is dangerous with unplugged neanderthals. Get the laws redrafted and start restructuring something that will not go away. 

2 hours ago, Pattaya28 said:

that wasn't a Uber taxi.

 

Cannot make this nonsense up !!

I judge people mostly on their intentions. And they didnt intend to harass someone innocent. They are clearly not clever enough to realize that their behavior has flaws and that this could happen.

Anyway, despite their intentions they should get harsch penalty, because they have no right to go after uber drivers. Thats the job of the traffic police. If they focused more on their own jobs then perhaps uber would not have seen a market in thailand in the first place.

another tale of the taxi mafia and the useless police

As optad has said above, this needs to be nipped in the bud before a really nasty incident happens with an Uber driver or suspected Uber driver as was in this case.

 

While they are at it, they need to ensure that the Pattaya taxis follow the rules and use those little meters that they all have installed.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

disgraceful act that has badly tarnished the image of this world’s famous beach resort destination.

I would not have thought it was possible to tarnish it any more than it already is.....

To begin with, a citizen's arrest can be undertaken by Thai citizens or foreigners and is covered by sections 79 through 84 of Thailand's Criminal Procedure Code. It only applies to offences listed in a schedule to the code. Several of these are political and related to international affairs. Those that are common crimes are:

Escapes by prisoners.

Rioting.

Injuring public security, communications or health.

Counterfeiting.

Rape.

Causing death (for example, murder).

Causing bodily harm.

Kidnapping.

Theft, snatching (theft by quickly grabbing something), robbery and extortion.

You can't execute a citizen's arrest if the crime isn't on the above list.

 

 

clearly the taxis were either trying to kidnap (i think restricting somebody to a certain space without consent is some form of kidnapping) the lady. or extort her. Or maybe they were going to cause bodily harm to her. 

either way, it is YOUR right, ney, DUTY to make a citizens arrest. Arrest the taxi drivers! :)

Edited May 8, 20179 yr by hobz

Yet another nail in the coffin for Thailands ever diminishing tourist economy. Well done lads, you've done your nation proud. Muppets!

2 minutes ago, hobz said:

To begin with, a citizen's arrest can be undertaken by Thai citizens or foreigners and is covered by sections 79 through 84 of Thailand's Criminal Procedure Code. It only applies to offences listed in a schedule to the code. Several of these are political and related to international affairs. Those that are common crimes are:

Escapes by prisoners.

Rioting.

Injuring public security, communications or health.

Counterfeiting.

Rape.

Causing death (for example, murder).

Causing bodily harm.

Kidnapping.

Theft, snatching (theft by quickly grabbing something), robbery and extortion.

You can't execute a citizen's arrest if the crime isn't on the above list.

 

 

clearly the taxis were either trying to kidnap (i think restricting somebody to a certain space without consent is some form of kidnapping) the lady. or extort her. Or maybe they were going to cause bodily harm to her. 

either way, it is YOUR right, ney, DUTY to make a citizens arrest. Arrest the taxi drivers! :)

and turn into a bloody pulp by these 20?

Nothing to see here. A normal day in Thailand. A bunch of small johns using group intimidation and other tactics to cover up their smallness.

The article seems to be a little vague on whether they apologized to the victim for terrorizing her, or to the city officials for exposing the city to some pretty universal ridicule.

Edited May 8, 20179 yr by impulse

Taxi drivers need about 30-90 days in jail for their actions...

They'll stop a Bangkok taxi attempting to take a passenger from Pattaya to Bangkok too. I haven't seen "surrounded," but I did witness one stopped by a handler and threatened.

6 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

They'll stop a Bangkok taxi attempting to take a passenger from Pattaya to Bangkok

opinion or fact?

2 minutes ago, pattayadude said:

opinion or fact?

 

Fact as stated. I don't spread nonsense here. I could relate the details of the incident but not really necessary. If you happen to catch a Bangkok taxi, try to be somewhat discreet or go through an insider.