PM Prayut concerned over taxi scam

[webfact]

PM concerned over taxi scam


Image source: Internet

BANGKOK, 4 April 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has expressed his concern regarding taxi scams in Thailand, urging fellow drivers to help report misconducts to authorities.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has addressed the persisting issue of Thai taxi scams, such as demanding inappropriately high fares particularly to tourists, saying that he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence.

He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials.

The Prime Minister has assigned the Department of Land Transport to strictly collect the service history of each taxi according to the license plate, and are authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation, should the evidence indicate so.

Tourists police have also been urged to improve their performance while servicing tourists, as tourism is a main economic driver for Thailand, in which taxi services also play a crucial part, the PM has said.

-- NNT 2016-04-04

[Ron19]

I wish him luck but won't hold my breath.

[Reigntax]

"he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence."

He is delusional.

"He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials."

He is deluding himself.

"authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation,"

Its not happening Prayut. All your associates and cohorts in high places are making too much money from this and most other scams.

[ezzra]

That kind of change doesn't start with a PM or a Tourist police, it should have started from home, when they were

young, they should have taught all that by their mentors and parents, but they weren't, they simply now do what

their parents did, which is to get as much as they can any way any how, and decency and honesty is an

alien concept to them as everyone around is engaging in doing the same.....

[Merylhighground]

Would this be the same taxi drivers, the majority of whom were supporters of the regime this waste of space ousted...? Good luck there General......

[colinneil]

How many times have we heard this?

It will never happen.Taxi drivers get fined 500 baht for wrong doing.

Get back on the street and then overcharge by 500 baht fine paid.

[leeneeds]

Your a tourist / wake up and expect / look for scams

not hard to figure out , some one will always be ready

to separate you from your cash.

the taxi driver is just trying to make a living !

with cream sometimes,

[MilesofSmiles]

This guy needs to learn how to prioritise. The economy is in the shitter, and he's worried about taxis and booth babes.

[trogers]

Address the roots of this issue. How are taxi driving licenses first being issued?

[selftaopath]

...urging fellow drivers to help report misconducts to authorities

Great proposal. That way it will be much easier to demand a brown envelope from "wrong doers" rather than the need to find them which might require some effort.

I know: Suggestion...

Tell all taxi scammers to send bt300 to the office?

[terminatorchiangmai]

"he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence."

He is delusional.

"He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials."

He is deluding himself.

"authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation,"

Its not happening Prayut. All your associates and cohorts in high places are making too much money from this and most other scams.

Be careful with what you say , before you know it you are in a re-education camp.

[JAG]

PM concerned over taxi scam

Image source: Internet

BANGKOK, 4 April 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has expressed his concern regarding taxi scams in Thailand, urging fellow drivers to help report misconducts to authorities.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has addressed the persisting issue of Thai taxi scams, such as demanding inappropriately high fares particularly to tourists, saying that he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence.

He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials.

The Prime Minister has assigned the Department of Land Transport to strictly collect the service history of each taxi according to the license plate, and are authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation, should the evidence indicate so.

Tourists police have also been urged to improve their performance while servicing tourists, as tourism is a main economic driver for Thailand, in which taxi services also play a crucial part, the PM has said.

-- NNT 2016-04-04

The Prime Minister has assigned the Department of Land Transport to strictly collect the service history of each taxi according to the license plate, and are authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation, should the evidence indicate so.

Golly, given the numbers of Taxis in Bangkok, that should keep the ministry busy!

That'll teach 'em to laugh in church!

[FireMedic]

It's a sad day when you are so "concerned" with taxi scams, that you ask taxis supervise themselves......

[tigermoth]

"he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence."

He is delusional.

"He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials."

He is deluding himself.

"authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation,"

Its not happening Prayut. All your associates and cohorts in high places are making too much money from this and most other scams.

I've been here for about 15 years and found 99.99% of all taxi drivers ok and friendly so stop lying on this forum. As for the remainder of your comments that is all that our so called PM does, issue instructions, like any military leader, which is where it all starts and ends with no results.

[Pib]

The Prime Minister has assigned the Department of Land Transport to strictly collect the service history of each taxi according to the license plate, and are authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation, should the evidence indicate so.

Oh, said another way, just do your job!

[mesterm]

"he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence."

He is delusional.

"He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials."

He is deluding himself.

"authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation,"

Its not happening Prayut. All your associates and cohorts in high places are making too much money from this and most other scams.

I've been here for about 15 years and found 99.99% of all taxi drivers ok and friendly so stop lying on this forum. As for the remainder of your comments that is all that our so called PM does, issue instructions, like any military leader, which is where it all starts and ends with no results.

I get what you mean but 99.99% is a real stretch. That's like saying there are close to zero taxi scams happening in Thailand, which is untrue based on all our personal experiences, experiences of people we personally know, and what we hear of and read in the media. Even the PM is coming out on the media talking about taxi scams, so...

You either live in a bubble or are extremely oblivious to your surroundings. Makes me wonder what you've been doing here the past 15 years.

[arrowsdawdle]

"he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence."

He is delusional.

"He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials."

He is deluding himself.

"authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation,"

Its not happening Prayut. All your associates and cohorts in high places are making too much money from this and most other scams.

So you bought into the disinformation like the little general anticipated and missed the between the lines implication of helping crony taxi mobsters eliminate competition by using this new tool for selective enforcement.

[Deez]

PM is concerned about tourists? LOL

[SABloke]

I'll believe it the day the day I gey a meter taxi on Samui (No, not one that LOOKS like a meter taxi

[Lampang2]

Good thing thar the problem is a knowledge at highest level, it's disapproved and it is discussed.

Can't see how this could be anything bad.

Government has been on the taxis for some years now, and that is actually a change from before.

There's an app for your phone to report taxis in BKK.

You can report them immediately if you run into problems.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

It doesnt matter about what he wishes,shows concern about,prays for.wants, is concerned about,the perpetrators will be punished,must understand that we need tourism,honest taxi drivers wouldnt do this.No matter what he changes,no matter how much they are fined,no matter how many passengers the threaten,scam,overcharge.No matter what he says.....They take no notice!

[Thailand]

Good thing thar the problem is a knowledge at highest level, it's disapproved and it is discussed.

Can't see how this could be anything bad.

Government has been on the taxis for some years now, and that is actually a change from before.

There's an app for your phone to report taxis in BKK.

You can report them immediately if you run into problems.

I don't think I would be putting up my name and telephone number to complain about anything in Thailand particularly under current circumstances.

[tuanku]

"he believes most taxi drivers are honest and would never conduct such offence."

He is delusional.

"He urged taxi drivers to help authorities by reporting any inappropriate conduct to officials."

He is deluding himself.

"authorized to punish taxi drivers who violate the regulation,"

Its not happening Prayut. All your associates and cohorts in high places are making too much money from this and most other scams.

I've been here for about 15 years and found 99.99% of all taxi drivers ok and friendly so stop lying on this forum. As for the remainder of your comments that is all that our so called PM does, issue instructions, like any military leader, which is where it all starts and ends with no results.

I've also been here for a long time and in my opinion this is what has been happening;

There have always been a number of unscrupulous taxi drivers/operators working in Bangkok.

Over time the business has become more competitive with the skytrain, airport link, etc., and there seem to be more taxis on the street too.

With these pressures, and the steady erosion of integrity and personal honour in Thai society, the proportion of taxi drivers who think it is OK to operate outside the rules has grown and it is now becoming closer to the norm, particularly in some parts of Bangkok.

It is probably reversible, but in my opinion, only by reducing the number of taxis licenced to operate to a level where they can be properly supervised and can make a decent living within the rules. This can be done in a number of ways, one of which is to open up the market to allow Uber, grabtaxi etc to compete and drive the less efficient firms out of the market. Another way would be to more effectively regulate and concentrate on removing unsafe vehicles and unscrupulous drivers from the streets. On the one hand these "solutions" demand an openness to change, on the other hand a different level of efficiency and effectiveness on the regulators part. As a consequence neither are likely to be attempted. The PMs public expression of concern is the normal attempt to look as if something is being done without accepting the challenge of doing it.

[Bluespunk]

"Tourists police have also been urged to improve their performance while servicing tourists,"

Erm...

[anon467848]

As has already been said, the current fines for offending taxi drivers are hardly a deterrent....

An example needs to be set with the scamming taxi drivers, such as impounding their car for a week or month, or taking away their licence for 1-3 months. They need to be hit in the pocket, it's the only thing they understand...

[Smarter Than You]

PM concerned about Taxi scam

Smarter Than You concerned about upcoming referendum scam

[Thian]

As has already been said, the current fines for offending taxi drivers are hardly a deterrent....

An example needs to be set with the scamming taxi drivers, such as impounding their car for a week or month, or taking away their licence for 1-3 months. They need to be hit in the pocket, it's the only thing they understand...

If the General is serious to stop this then he should use undercover agents to find the culprits. It's not the job of quality tourists to name and shame the bad drivers.

Just let a western looking undercoveragent test the taxi's. Use a hidden camera to prove it and arrest them later.

Then go to the Grand Palace and do the same with the scamming touts.

[hawker9000]

Your a tourist / wake up and expect / look for scams

not hard to figure out , some one will always be ready

to separate you from your cash.

the taxi driver is just trying to make a living !

with cream sometimes,

"the taxi driver is just trying to make a living !"

If that frequently heard little old chestnut is going to excuse any & all misconduct, tourists are in a world of hurt!

[kiwikeith]

I wish him luck but won't hold my breath.

Well I am glad he's concerned about Taxis and not guns murder traffic mayhem and corruption.

[Cuchulainn]

Usual whingers and whiners are out I see. Didn't see many of your much-loved politicians looking into the taxi mafia scams. But then again, it's easy to sit at your computer during your dreary school holidays and moan about every little thing.

Yaaaaaaaaawwwwwwnnn.