In a new crackdown on cabbies this week, drivers found rejecting passengers will be immediately suspended while those repeatedly breaking the law will be fired.
Department of Land Transport (DLT) director Sanit Promwong vowed to get rid of badly-behaved drivers and announced the crackdown in Ratchaprasong area, where the most problems with taxi drivers have been reported.
In the past eight months, Ratchaprasong authorities caught 205 taxi drivers rejecting passengers, 158 who were not using their meter, and 325 who were not carrying their license.
Four of the drivers who were caught faced suspension after officials found they had broken the law several times.
To improve taxi services, Sanit said more police and military officers will be sent to Ratchaprasong landmarks including Siam Paragon, Central World, Platinum Shopping Mall, and MBK from 4:30pm to 10pm to catch badly-behaved drivers, the time period reporting the highest number of complaints.
The DLT has also requested the malls to install CCTV cameras and report bad taxi drivers back to authorities so they can be punished.
Officials have publicized the immediate-suspension measure to all taxi companies. Operators with many bad drivers will also be banned from adding more taxis, Kom Chad Luek reported.
Got rejected? Passengers can file complaints via hotline 1584 or the bilingual mobile application DLT check-in.
Photo: Sugree
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