New Penalties for Taxis which Refuse Your Trip

[Guest fountainhall]

One of the regular gripes in Bangkok is taxis who refuse a fare. When this happens in the heavy rain after you've been waiting tens of minutes, it is doubly infuriating.

 

Now a new regulation will come into effect from Saturday.

Traffic police will introduce a new penalty for taxi drivers who refuse service to passengers by arresting and fining them without a prior warning, effective from Sept 1. Unhappy passengers could now petition the police directly without having to submit their complaints to the Department of Land Transport as before.

 

The complainants must inform police of the registration number of a taxi whose driver refuses to take them where they want to go, said Pol Col Weerawit Wajjanapukka, chief of the Traffic Police Division’s ticket information centre.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/309622/fine-for-cabbies-refusing-service

 

Those who feel aggrieved can also call the 1197 hotline. However, for those who do not read Thai, giving the license plate number will be a problem. So regular taxi-goers might be advised either to learn the alphabet, or have their mobile phone at the ready to take a photo.

 

But one increasing problem this will not address is taxis who cruise with their red ‘free’ light 'on' but just refuse actually to stop. Report these guys and they will claim they did not see you, even if you stand almost directly in front and wave your arms!

[Rogie]

But one increasing problem this will not address is taxis who cruise with their red ‘free’ light 'on' but just refuse actually to stop. Report these guys and they will claim they did not see you, even if you stand almost directly in front and wave your arms!

 

I don't understand. Are these taxi drivers cruising for a particular type of fare? For example would they be only too happy to stop for a businessman in suit and tie but not for a backpacker with whispy beard and hollow eyes?

[TotallyOz]

I think some of them just don't want to go into certain areas. When I was staying on Sathron for last year as well as at the Marriott there for almost a year 3 years back, it was almost impossible to get taxis to take us back to the hotels. Even at Central World, the taxis in the late afternoon would refuse the ride and the taxi helper would have to ask many taxis before one would be willing to go that route because of bad traffic.

 

I like this law. I wonder if the taxi's in Pattaya will ever be required to charge by Meters?

[Guest fountainhall]

Are these taxi drivers cruising for a particular type of fare? For example would they be only too happy to stop for a businessman in suit and tie but not for a backpacker with whispy beard and hollow eyes?

 

I have noticed no rhyme nor reason. They sail past young nicely dressed office ladies, tourists, Thai businessmen - heck, they even sail past me! And since they do not even stop, how can they know our destination?

 

Charitably, I can only assume one thing. In Hong Kong around 10:00 am and 5:00 pm there is often a dearth of taxis because this is shift change time. So the drivers have to get back to certain points where new drivers take over. Perhaps there is a similar changeover in BKK - but I frankly doubt it, for most drivers seem to work much longer shifts. Besides, would it not make sense to stop and find out if a prospective passenger might happen to be going roughly to the same place, and thereby gain a bit more cash?

 

I think some of them just don't want to go into certain areas.

 

Unquestionably. They want to avoid short thrips with heavy traffic jams.

[ChristianPFC]

The vast majority of my taxi trips is without problems.

 

I had only a few drivers who tried to overcharge me by quoting a fixed priced (about twice the amount it would cost to by the meter), and that happened only at the airport or in Silom (and there only right in front of Soi 2 or 4, if you walk a few meters no problem).

 

I don't remember free taxis not stopping, but I often have this problem with empty baht-busses in Pattaya. Sometimes empty baht-buses drive past, I beckon them to stop, but they wave their hand to show that they will not stop. I can only assume that they are booked and are on the way to pick up their client.

[TotallyOz]

I don't remember free taxis not stopping, but I often have this problem with empty baht-busses in Pattaya. Sometimes empty baht-buses drive past, I beckon them to stop, but they wave their hand to show that they will not stop. I can only assume that they are booked and are on the way to pick up their client.

 

I have had problems getting baht buses in Pattaya to stop at time as well. But, there are so many that it does not often take long. My one issue is when they say they are going on way and then they go another one and you have to get off and change buses.