Fine for 1.283 taxi drivers at Ratchaprasong and Siam in Bangkok
The Department of Land Transport has fined 24 taxi drivers in Bangkok since March 1.283 this year for breaking the rules.
Most fines were given for not clearly displaying the taxi license and refusing to accept passengers or not turning on the taximeter. The Ratchaprasong and Siam area in particular received the most complaints about taxi drivers not complying with the rules, says DLT Director General Saint Phromwong.
The Department of Land Transport decided to intensify its inspections after the many complaints about taxi stands at four major shopping centres: Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Platinum and MBK. Thanks to a collaboration between DLT officials, the police and the military, the taxi drivers are now monitored for a large part of the day. They also receive video images from the shopping center operators showing misconduct, so that misbehaving drivers can be recognized and punished.
Taxi companies with drivers who repeatedly overstep the mark can expect a visit from DLT officials. They can be punished by no longer issuing licenses for new taxis or even by reducing the number of cars.
Source: Bangkok Post – http://goo.gl/q9vlsH
Very good, finally action is being taken that the taxis do their job properly.
Now something similar for the Tuk-Tuk's
In the city bus I get neatly, for only 9 Bhat, a ticket and almost always pay with 10 Bhat and always get 1 Bhat back neatly, always try to say that she can keep it, but then she is already busy with another .
The whole taxi system in Bangkok is a joke.
I myself live in Sathon opposite a taxi company (with 10 taxis)
They start drinking Thai whiskey and beer at 4 o'clock in the morning.
Around 6 o'clock in the morning the local police come to check and join us for a drink
The first taxis leave at 6 o'clock in the morning > by 4 o'clock in the afternoon most of them come back and change drivers, who in their turn also had a nice drink before departure.
Be very alert to this when taking a taxi.
I smell booze, and get out immediately.
As long as the police do nothing against their own controlling agents, this will never change.
Well, it's about time.
At those shopping malls, as a farang who wants to turn on the meter, I am always refused, or they 'don't know' where my hotel is.
It may sound crazy, but I never have any problems at the shopping centers in terms of driving on the meter. During the day it actually always goes well and the taxis are pleasant in my experience. We did have discussions during the night hours in the entertainment districts and from the airport. I am also now taking the Airportlink from the airport. I usually have an early afternoon landing and then it's pretty quiet and the case follows me. I take a tuktuk if there is an old boss on the box. They are more in the side streets.
Very good, we have been very annoyed in Bangkok (also in Koh Samui).
And yes, the drivers and cars may also be properly checked.
as a regular user of taxis, this problem is far from solved.
It doesn't matter if you are Thai or not. They structurally refuse rides. I do notice that they no longer ask to drive without a meter. The refusing taxis can mainly be found at the well-known places. This is also common practice in Pratunam.
Checks by the police have yielded 24 fines since March 1283. That is about 8 months, or an average of 5 per day. So a joke.
Stand with Siam for an hour. Try to find a taxi and you'll have to pass 5 to 10 before you find one willing to take a decent ride.
However, I do notice that the person who has a new taxi often does not participate in this.
By the way, they don't eat cheese from service. No matter how many bags etc you have, they just stay in the taxi.
Well and then a tip is not easily given. Calling is also unavoidable for certain drivers. I ask if they want to stop calling, the zigzagging driving behavior with a phone to the ear and constant braking does not invite you to make a ride of at least an hour.
There is no point in explaining because they just have a mentality of it doesn't bother me.
The loud music from the radio is also unimaginable. I ask if it can be turned down because I have to call. However, as soon as you end the conversation, they think you are in a moving disco..
Last week was indeed a high point. The driver said he was sleepy. This was noticeable. Lots of cars honking at the traffic lights... He had fallen asleep. (More coma than sleep)
So I asked him to stop at the first opportunity.
The tuk tuks also keep asking extortionate prices. And if you know the current prices a bit, 200 baht is a lot for a ride. Excuse if traffic jam is laughable since every day is the same.
I also sometimes say at the end point where the traffic is now… They laugh a bit. But it gives them the feeling that they can ask a high price
Then they ask what you want to pay. I'm not going to negotiate anymore. I walk away and take the next one. A difference of 20 or 0 baht is negotiable, but to go from 30 baht to 200 takes me too much time. And then a normal fare is 80 baht.
From Hua lampong to China town is about 50 to 60 baht by taxi. Ask a tuk tuk that dares to ask 150 for this.
Here again the good left there.
It remains a sport to travel through the city every day.
Just don't worry about it and you'll be fine.
Fortunately, the bus has standard prices. And for 9 baht you get very far ..
Fortunately, I can also often take the boat across the Chao Phraya. Quick and easy. Then by boat over the klongs.
In other words, you can get very far without a taxi or tuk tuk.