Suvarnabhumi bans taxi driver with rigged meter (VIDEO)

A Suvarnabhumi Airport taxi driver caught convincing a Japanese expat that a new law made fares THB75 at flagfall has been banned from the airport.

Udon Satsanasupin, a retired police officer-turned-taxi driver, was been banned from the taxi queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday after a passenger posted a video of Udon trying to explain why his meter magically started at THB75 instead of of the usual 35.

“It used to be THB35. The new starting fare is THB75,” he told the Japanese passenger in Thai. “The Department of Land Transport adjusted the meters of 80,000 taxis in December.”

The Japanese man then argued that he’d paid THB35 just earlier this month. The taxi driver smartly responded, “Some taxis have not been adjusted.”

After the video went viral, Suvarnabhumi Airport tracked down the license plate and banned Udon, who admitted to officials he was the driver in the video.

Deputy Director-General Jirut Wisanchit said The Department of Land Transport would summon Udon for questioning today and likely fine him the maximum of THB5,000. They will also consider whether to revoke his operator license, Spring News and Than Online reported.